The Hindu : National : Manmohan learns the art of story-telling

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 02, 2006

National

National

Manmohan learns the art of story-telling

Harish Khare

A master of the understatement

New Delhi: Many old veterans compared Dr. Manmohan Singh's performance before the media to Indira Gandhi's track record of using a press conference to create headlines, and pronounced the Prime Minister's show on Wednesday as a damp squib; the young ones were somewhat confused by the deft way the Prime Minister controlled the media interaction at Vigyan Bhavan; and, the sober ones thought that Dr. Singh did a competent job and was "oozing confidence."

That Dr. Singh was doing a good job became evident half-way through the 90-minute performance when the senior Prime Minister Office officers began relaxing, and even whispered appreciative nods to one another as he gently wielded a rapier into Mr. Advani's political ribs. Mr. Advani is not going to call him again the "weakest Prime Minister ever." Perhaps the PMO officials were surprised that no journalist confronted the Prime Minister with an unpleasant question. Again a measure of respect Dr. Singh continues to enjoy, even among as skeptical a lot as the capital's press corps.

After 20 months in the Prime Ministerial seat, Dr. Singh has become rather well-qualified to tell his own story. After all, he has all the skills — a sharp intellect, years of experience of dealing with difficult interlocutors, a sense of history, erudition, and above all, a total command of the English language — to tell his story effectively and in his own words. The only surprise is that he remains oblivious to the need to periodically tell his story.

And unlike most "politicians" he does not get carried away by the sound of his own voice or with clever formulations.

He is a master of the understatement. When, for example, asked about Rahul Gandhi, he merely noted that "I will like all young men" to take up responsibility in public affairs. And, on the nature of relationship between him and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister managed to come up with a formulation which did not sound like an apologia. And to some extent he seems to have succeeded in normalising the relationship as morally acceptable and politically defensible.

When it was suggested to him that the various schemes were not being properly implemented, he made bold to suggest that it was not a "correct" assessment and perhaps the "public relation" chores were not being adequately performed.

And, when it was suggested that he was "a teflon man", he looked at the young lady and reparteed "now I know who wrote that article in the Business Standard." But added that "as Prime Minister I accept full responsibility, for all acts of commission and omission." Self-assurance. Self-confidence.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail