That childhood poem comes to mind when we consider the implications of the WikiLeaks on Manmohan Singh’s stand (on one toe) to make a historic peace with Pakistan that will be his legacy before he hands over to his heir apparent. Imagine MMS as sitting on a knife edged wall in an eggshell, oblivious to the realities of the world and falling down the Himalayas. That dream would stand shattered. Yet MMS will try and stubbornly fix it with quickfix.
Now post WikiLeaks, the future of The Indian national Congress as a party that led India to Independence with Gandhi (the original one) at its forefront is now at stake. If MMS is “permitted” to pursue his legacy dreams, the INC will face unprecedented losses at the hustings, even every “minority” community and their sympathizers vote for them all across India. Which is quite unlikely, since there are many in such “minority” communities that are sane and nationalistic.
If MMS had GK Pillai repremanded by SM Krishna for “speaking out of turn” in saying that the ISI is behind Mumbai 26/11, then what is MMS going to say to WikiLeaks?
If MMS will not allow the Home Minister to tackle the Maoists, then what will the INC when the next General Elections come around? Hope the Maoists vote for them?
If MMS will let Rs 6,000 Cr be spent on a useless CW Games while he sacks Manishankar Iyer as Sports Minister for having spoken the truth when Indian farmers are committing suicide and many more die of starvation, what will the INC say to their favourite Aam Admi when the next elections come around?
If MMS will do nothing to protect Tamilians in Sri Lanka from being ethnically eliminated through rape, murder and being burried alive, what will the INC say to Tamilians when they no longer have Karunanidhi to protect them?
If MMS will let millions of tonnes of food grains to rot in flood waters when godowns are rented out to friends, then what will the INC say to the Aam Admi when its balloting time?
If MMS will not allow a vote in parliament simply because the speaker is an INC stooge, what will the INC say to the world about Indian democracy?
Some decades ago, I used to be an ardent admirer of Manmohan Singh, when he handled the first round of liberalisation, forced by the World bank & the IMF as also readily encouraged by the then PM Narasimha Rao. Now he takes all the credit, forgetting that had the PM not agreed, like MMS does today, his rise to fame would never have happened. It suits him that the INC does not want Rao to be even remembered. As it does with Lal Bahadur Shastri.
But all said and done, MMS did a good job of that 1st bout of liberalisation.
But his legacy is going to be: The Best Finance Minister, The Worst Prime Minister. UNLESS, he deals with the reality that surrounds us AND puts India first, not his legacy seeking selfishness of peace with Pakistan at any cost. And that includes stop being a stooge of the White House as well as 10 Janpath. But that is, I’m afraid, a far cry for a man like MMS.
Ofcourse, in India’s interest, I hope I’m wrong.
@jsvasan