We love reading about the heroic achievements of Gandhiji and other heroes. Gandhiji’s followers were not experimenting with truth like him. But they were experiencing the truth and enjoying that path. Rahul is following Gandhiji’s footsteps and is practising the truth.

It is not possible or necessary to do what Gandhiji did. One need not indulge in ‘Experiments with truth’ like him to reach his exalted status. But the Congress party and its leaders can try to retrace the Gandhian path. Maybe, they are too conscious of their status to do it. 

If Gandhiji was self-conscious about his status he would not have become a symbol of simplicity with half dhoti; would not have achieved what he had with his moral courage in pursuing truth, leading the people. Rahul has such courage to lead people on the right path.

Some still have hesitations to Rahul’s leadership or listening to his ‘commands’ as their seniority, experience hurts them. Age is unrelated to the level of maturity or ability to create history. Maybe, many do not have the maturity if not age to understand the value of Rahul.

Age should not become an obstruction for anyone. It should not be used as armour against younger, energetic people making their contributions. They should make objective assessments based on quality and capacity. Mostly the objections raised are without rhyme or reason.

The culture of discussions is almost nonexistent. There is a tendency to impose views rather than a willingness to listen or elicit, encourage views, opinions from others. Whatever may be the forum or form of discussions they are to happen in a complete, comprehensive manner.

While the value of free flow of information, opinion, discussion, analysis is grossly underestimated and underutilised in general, it is more so among political leaders, executives who make all decisions affecting people. The platforms available are faulty, inadequate.

Congress is more democratic and does have a system of discussions especially at the top but it is not free-flowing and in-depth. This problem is not of recent origin. It corresponds to the period when organisational structure started weakening. So a correction is required.

The Congress party may be activated, rejuvenated sooner than later and may initiate measures successfully. Rahul recently in an interview referred to Gandhiji’s call for looking at self and said ‘the idea of India itself required an introspection into the self’. 

Rahul also stated that the nature of Congress is lost. The depth of Gandhi and the understanding of Gandhi Nehru is not there. If we extend it logically, Rahul may ignite self-analysis within the party. It will restart the culture of mature discussions, conversations in Congress.

Some may again try to assign failures to individuals. When the quantum of failures is so huge and repeated over decades, it is more due to the systems and practices adopted. Any interim, ad hoc, patchwork solutions evolved by individuals or groups will be totally inadequate.

In view of the massiveness of the task involved an exclusive platform and an analytical team in the background is needed to look into all issues deeply, dispassionately, concurrently without egos, prejudices allowing suggestions, criticisms. That will serve Congress, Rahul better.