India desperately needs you, Mr. Mukherjee, to start a national conversation on energy, environment and education
Dear President,
As the nation celebrates the journey of a village boy to the highest office in the land, there is a thrill of recognition that Indian democracy is still alive and walking. We hope now you will not only walk around the sprawling lawns of Rashtrapati Bhavan with abandon but also along the length and breadth of India — particularly small towns and villages where India pulsates with pain and possibility. Our nation cannot afford to let a President fade away from such a luminous life in politics into the haze of post-retirement nostalgia. India will move ahead when you are walking and awake. At a time when a nation finds itself edgy and on the brink of intense political and economic mood swings, making peace with the status quo is tantamount to giving up when your best is yet to come.
I fondly wish that your first official visit as the new President is to a school in a remote corner of North India. Your visit will likely draw the nation’s attention to a brick and mortar ghetto where girl children do not show up because there are no toilets for them. If the destiny of India is being crafted in such classrooms — you have to be a part of that karma as well. How about an unannounced visit to a village that has no access to electricity but has leapfrogged to solar power? One would also hope that you will show up in a stadium for an obscure sports event such as hockey or athletics so that the less privileged sports in India get at least some footage on television if not a boost from your presence. I dream that you will send a hand-written note of appreciation to a doctor in a public hospital who has saved precious lives working round the clock beyond the call of duty. I hope you will stand by a farmer with suicidal tendencies just as you would by a soldier who has found post-mortem glory. Perhaps you will surprise everyone by calling some of the homeless children who survive by scavenging leftover food from the Rajdhani Express for a once in a lifetime dinner at the presidential palace. You may agree that leading India is about connecting the best of India to the rest of India.
Who knows better than you that the President of India is not necessarily limited by his constituency and cramped by coalition politics. He need not remain a shatranj ka khilari confined to chessboard manoeuvres inside the durbar. I hope you will inspire politics of conviction that has been usurped by the politics of convenience. By virtue of being a representative of one-sixth of the planet you now embody the concerns and vision of a large part of our planet. India’s planetary concerns include the watershed crisis around water itself. Water has an economic value and can be used with greater foresight for all its competing purposes such as agriculture, industry and mere survival. India should think of its water resources not just as an economic good but as a sacred lifeline of our civilization. India tops the global groundwater consumption ahead of China and the United States. Yet, the quality of water consumed leaves more than 21 per cent of our country with crippling communicable diseases. The inter-state and inter-nation war over water will be the theme for the next decade and it requires no less than a presidential engagement to avert that crisis.
We have had a plethora of leaders in India who behave more like statues than statues themselves. Even statues are demolished when regimes change. However, it is difficult to demolish the statuesque inertia in dealing with corruption. I trust you will reflect on how a land of opportunity for all does not degenerate into the big bazaar of a few opportunists. The real threat to India comes not so much from external sources — it is from our inherent inconsistencies in dealing with issues critical to the nation. India desperately needs a President who will start a national conversation on energy, environment and education — on not just the right but also the relevance of education. We want a President who will close the credibility gap between rhetoric and reality about the state of the Indian economy.
Your true victory will be when the nation wins in spite of extraordinary odds that it is pitched against. Do take those dusty roads not travelled before and dare to walk alone! All said and done, this nation has preferred a committed walker over a distinguished Speaker! So, walk ahead and show us the way. Jai Ho and Jai Hind!
(Professor Debashis Chatterjee is Director, IIM Kozhikode.)
Keywords: Pranab Mukherjee, Indian president, India politics
Good message summarized for the need of the hour. I could sense that these are the excerpts from our current president‘s predecessor where they spent their time & money in visiting world countries rather than looking in to apna aathmi day-to-day life. I would definitely say that it is a fantastic start to set the expectation from the people of India and we would make Mr. President‘s life more of a service orientation towards uplifting people of India rather than a post-retirement life.
Yes a great article with practical suggestions from Dr Debashis. As one of the reader
suggested its a Herculean task. Yes it has been made such due to continued misgovernance
by many Governments during the past 65 yrs. As rightly suggested br Dr Debashis Shri
Pranab Kumarji with all his experience stature and will should be able to guide India to new
heights. Dr Abdul Kalam as President of this great Nation is a Shining example. Let Shri
Pranabda continue the good work to realize the Vision 2020 of Dr Kalam and the
suggestions of Dr Debashis. His initiatives and experience should guide his Government in
Policy making ,its implementation towards a clean good Governance. Same good work
should be carried by future Presidents and their Governments so that the Herculean task
becomes an achievable task. Every Indian should be able to get the basic needs of Roti
Kapad Makan Shiksha Swastha Bijle Rozgar. I request Dr Kalam Dr Debashis and the Best
of Indians to keep on guiding and advising us
1,2,3,4,5 - years would pass in a jiffy without anything achieved by any
President of India in uplifting the downtrodden to ground level. Let us
welcome the new President, after 5 years, in this same fashion. Instead
of requesting politicians, if people can contribute their mite in
providing food, shelter, clothes and education to the poor Indian poor
people would climb one layer above.
A very well written letter. Each and every word in the letter speaks
volumes. Accomplishing the aspirations of the writer will indeed be a herculean task.
An excellent letter to the President of India indeed. A versatile personality with over five decades of experience in public life President Shri Mukherjee can be the right face of modern India and spread the message of education, health for all and removal of poverty.He has the fire in him to launch a crusade against poverty and lift the country forward. Let his tenure usher in an era of peace, progress and prosperity for all. Let his untiring and messiahnic zeal lead him further to connect with the teeming millions deprived of the basic amenities of life.
Prof.Debashis Chatterrjee's 'open letter' is so full of goodness about it. He has done a good job. The second para, is humane and heart warming. The way he has pointed out the need of energy, environment and education is excellent. The closing note, on the untravelled dusty road, gives a very personal touch. Hope it reaches our dear president soon and he acts on it.
Dr. Debashis,
I would like to congratulate you on successfully bringing out the
voice of the nation and knitting it in such beautiful words.
I believe the letter is much so what the whole nation expects out of
the flamboyant leader turned Head of the nation.
I'd just like to iterate your words on the role of the President. A
president is someone who shouldn't be restricted to political nitty-
gritties but should rise above them and connect to the nation as a
whole. In India, a president has always been assumed to be
inaccessible to the commons, perhaps this is something that the mass
of India, who at this point of time stand betrayed by their
governments need. And Pranab Da, I believe, has in him what it takes
to travel those roads.
Jai Hind !
Sir ,
Very well written , Hope he will showcase atleast few things. We are suffering from a leadership in India . We need a leader you can bring change in the sociaty, by narroying the caste and regioanl favours.
We are so blessed by god , by giving water,sunlight and daily need. Today we need rules and education in place to bring awareness.
Indian
Well written letter by Professor Debashis Chatterjee sir, President
being a first citizen of India, having a rural background, vast
experience in politics and having played a vital role in Indian Financial System , hope our President can do his best of the best job in
visiting the most effected areas of the Nation. Definitely India needs
Mr. Mukherjee, to address on energy, environment and education as said
by Prof. Chatterjee sir.
Dear Debashish,
It may be coincidental, but I was thinking in the same lines yesterday, you have articulated very well. Yes, President Pranab Mukherjee, a lot of us has high hopes on your presidency. You have highest insights to India's problems having handled key portfolios, have our love and respect as a person of high integrity, and above all a man of action. You are our asset, like our father of nation. I recommend few things beyond what Debashish said.
* Schedule a visit to attend a Panchayat committee meeting every month in a village in India.
* Review their progress on Water/sanitation, energy, environment education, let the relevant officials be present at a weeks's notice.
* Specific focus on MNREGA.
* Meetings to be minuted, but no unwanted media attention.
* Plan a pilot for 6 months including all regions and specifically north east.
Some humble suggestions, take or leave , but we need you Sir!
Regards
"You may agree that leading India is about connecting the best of India to the rest of India".. My respect to the author for saying this. But I donot think much is going to happen(I hope and sincerely pray that I am wrong) because when Pranab da was named the UPA candidate for Presidential polls everybody was of the opinion that this is a deserved recognition for all the service he has rendered to his party and also as a farewell. I hope Pranab da does not consider this as his retirement but rather as a new responsibility.
I strongly disagree that the president should be a-political, I believe that the President should be a politically active person but a person who is beyond the party system. The president should be political in the sense that he/she should be the voice of the people of this country.
Somebody please maintain a list of significant actions Mr. Pranab takes henceforth.
We can ponder over it at the end of his tenure in another article like this and
compare how he fared vis-a-vis his predecessors. Rhetorics aside, that's what will
matter in the end.
Very nice article - but Mr. Pranab Mukerjee should have strong will
power and independent assessment on all matters - all his actions must
be pointed towards the common man and his basic needs - unless every
Indian has the basic amenities of food, clothing and shelter, India
cannot claim one day that it is the super power. With his rich
experience of more than 40 years in various capacities, the President
can definitely deliver good message to all Indians thro's his actions.
Very composed letter. Today, India needs a president better than one who only does visits to other countries spending people's money meant for other purposes. It’s a pleasure to have a president who has performed well while being in power. You had a very active role in improving India’s economic situation. So, given that you have a very good knowledge of Indian culture, it is highly expected that you will do the best for the future of Indians as the Mahamahim. Having seen the activities the govt. has indulged into, it is very difficult to envisage good results from the govt. But, being the president, you ought to show the correct way the govt should follow. It is also expected that the bills which are pending for the welfare of Indian’s be passed in this monsoon session.
` Excellant article representing the needs
of all WE Indians Pranab Mukerji as president
being relieved from clutches of Party obligations
can defenitely usher our sacred INDIA to a
proud and prosperous Nation
JAI HIND
The President will never react to this letters..
We all join Professor Debashis Chatterjee in wishing the new President Mukherjee well in his new role as the head of Indian Republic and hope that he will make a note of Prof. Chatterjee's hopes and expectations from him. May Mr. Mukherjee prove worthy of his high office and succeed in shining light on the plight of some 836 million of our people who live on less than Rs. 20 a day. May he succeed in bringing hope and sustainable relief to them.
Well said We need a leader who walks fast lke Ghandhi and the leader should visit all the villages before saying India Shining We do not want to hear speeches But we need actions Villages should get clean water,food,toilet fecility and electricity They need basic amenities and pverty should be irradicated before getting mobile phones etc Child labour should be abolished As a president we expect these actions from him Jai Hind
The glorious victory seems diminishing as no effort seen on the major
issues like corruption that completly entangled everyone and becoming
biggest hurdle to discover a new india where there is food,shelter and
security for everyone...The irony is that what is the use of such
economic portfolio of our nation where poor are striving from one time
meal.A humble request to president please make this Golden Chance a
Golden Era for our country.
Pranab should follow the foot steps of Abdul Kalam,the greatest of our Presidents, should be a good leader, simple and transparent life, easily interact with the commonest of individuals, dispense with all the pomp and show, do every thing to eradicate corruption. Do not spend the people's money on personal visits to other countries, advise the Govt to urge experts to achieve important goals like giving quality of life to the people, food, health and useful education. Help to get an honest leader for the country, irrespective of his family or political leanings. It may be difficult, since the most dishonest people influence the country. They instigate people in the name of ethnicity, language, religion, etc. to their advantage. Be determined and dedicate yourself to this great country. We all should feel proud of it.
Well written letter.
Hope Pranab will read it & act on it.
If he has the power( I am not sure he has), he should stop the vote bank politics of the subsidies that are bleeding the country.
The reservations that were envisaged originally was for 15 years only. But we are carrying them on endlessly.
Will he use his good offices to put an end to this EVIL PRACTICE?
your letter to Mr President is incomplete until u remind him that Ajmal
Kasab who waged a war against India is still alive.
He became president because Congress gave him the prize to leave Finance and have a
cushy job for his loyal service to the Gandhi clan. He is not there to have a dialog with
anyone. Grow up Prof. Debashis!
Professor Chatterjee: Brilliant! Let us join hands both realistically and metaphorically so that " THE BEST OF INDIA JOINS HANDS WITH THE REST OF INDIA" so that we have only INDIA, THE BEST. Let us all synchronize our thoughts, words and deeds for a glorious India. Jai Hind.
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