Courage has its complexities but has a certain level of power attached to it. Standing up for principles in today’s world is both challenging and often costly. But it can inspire a whole new generation to follow that example. Rahul Gandhi brings forth that image of a man who would not bow even to the most powerful for expediency or to fulfill his ambitions.
Undoubtedly, Rahul Gandhi may be the most vilified man in contemporary Indian politics. Over the years, he has been an object of sarcasm and constant attack by a paid social media gang. The BJP may have successfully painted Rahul Gandhi as “Pappu,” an entitled beneficiary of dynasty politics. The widespread anger against the entrenched elite, who are far removed from the realities of the ordinary people, may also have aided that campaign to demonize him. To err is human; he may have made his share of mistakes, but this level of hatred and cynicism directed at him by the governing party of India is quite inconceivable.
However, the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY), the 4080 kilometers march under the banner of ‘uniting India’ from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, proved to be a phenomenal one that is beginning to turn the heads of the public. The march took place at a time when the people of India are increasingly polarized over religion and the Modi administration’s failure in governance that resulted in the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, high unemployment among the youth, rising inflation and marginalization of minorities.
India is no stranger to Padayatras, and from Mahatma Gandhi on, it has been an Indian institution that has produced major results for its stakeholders. Only time will tell whether BJY will translate into any electoral dividends for the Congress party in the upcoming national elections. Nevertheless, it appeared to have captured the imagination of the ordinary Indians and reflected their yearnings for a peaceful coexistence with everyone regardless of their faith, caste, language, or regional differences. One also wonders if Rahul Gandhi is such an ineffective and failed leader, why the BJP is so focused on targeting him. The truth is he is one of the few at the forefront to expose the duplicity and wrongdoings of this administration. He is totally unafraid to expose corruption at the highest levels and confront even the Prime Minister on issues like Rafael purchases or the Adani scam inside the parliament. In scanning today’s political arena, one might see other politicians struggling to put together a few words to express their outrage at the corruption or the ongoing anti-democratic measures employed by this government. The reason is simple: they know too well that they have many skeletons in their closets, or the government agencies are lurking around every corner. The very reason that people are awake and listening to the message of Rahul Gandhi during the Yatra has become such an unsettling or probably terrifying issue for the BJP government. Therefore, they have determined to silence the man by using any means. Even before the Gujarat verdict and further disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha member, wheels were in motion to expel him from the parliament based on his alleged ‘anti-nationalist statements’ made during a trip to Great Britain. He only spoke about the state of democracy, which is a global good.
Rahul Gandhi is indeed a brave person who is willing to face challenges. Despite two of his family members falling victim to the hatred and division in the country, he has shown the moral Courage to continue on their path to serving the nation. An essential aspect of being courageous is accepting yourself and life’s circumstances beyond one’s control. Watching his controlled emotions and measured reactions is astounding, considering his immediate disqualification from the Lok Sabha after the verdict and a quick eviction from his residence.
There is no doubt that Yatra has shown him as a man of empathy who understands the daily struggle of an ordinary citizen. It also allowed him to present an alternative vision to India that would unite people for a common purpose. That is in direct contrast to the current leadership that is increasingly distanced from the people it serves and pursuing policies that negatively impact their well-being.
As Martin Luther King said in one of the last sermons he gave before his death, “You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You only need a heart full of grace—a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant”. Is Rahul on the verge of becoming that celebrated servant? During his padayatra, his often-repeated mantra was, “In the market of hatred, I am opening a counter for love.” Let that love spread across India, touch humanity, and bear the fruits of peace and harmony for its 1.4 billion people. It is time for the people of India to wake up and smell the roses!
Jai Hind.

(The author is a former chief technology officer of the United Nations, and vice chairman of IOCUSA)