28.12.09

An open letter to Shashi Tharoor

Dear Shashi Tharoor

I am a big fan. I really like the points you raise in your tweets. I loved your TedTalk on Soft Power. And I’m in awe of the way you left all the goodies of a private life to take on a public role. Bravo.

But today, I am going to join the mob and question you. Because I don’t want a good man to lose hope because of a dozen or more idiots.

You should have read the fine print before becoming a minister. They really never tell you that do they?

The silent clause about not having an opinion and most definitely not voicing it. Or the clause where you are meant to show party spirit even if you don’t agree with the way things are being done. Or yes, the one where you need to abandon all wit and carry a brooding look that looks like you’re part of running a country of over a billion.

You have the voice. You have more than half a million followers. And you chose to join a party and not create one of your own?

I mean, think about it, you could do a lot more for the country by just starting a newspaper.

Because anyway the media sucks, they have nothing enlightening to talk about unless some fanatic or idiot or both do something ungodly. Even then they can’t go beyond the ‘what are your feelings right now?’ kind of news.

And by starting a newspaper or a news channel of your own, you will solve a number of problems.

You will question the government on your opinions rather than suggest them.
You will talk about the micro issues as much as the ‘larger picture’.
You can say what you want.
And above all, with a writer like yourself running the show, you can lift the overall standards of journalism this country has stooped to.

Become a media baron Shashi Tharoor. Not a politician. For one, you are not built for it. You lack the required sleaze and ambiguity. For second, politicians seldom get anything done faster than Darwin.

Start a media house. Reach out to people. Tell them what they should be asking for. Tell them how to get it. Do something like this, that makes tangible difference to one life at a time. Don’t let your efforts become the part of a long drawn process that talks to everyone and touches no one. And if you do it, I will gladly give up my private life to help you in every way I can. That is an economically independent promise.

This country does not need leaders. This country needs an outlaw. The kinds that the people look up to more than the king.

An outlaw who gets things done. An outlaw who can become the hero.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Part of me agrees with what you've written, part of me doesn't...
Don't you think it's high time we make some reforms in the ever dirty pool called politics. He's alienated now.. but there has to be some start, somebody needs to take that 'risque..why not him?
Youth is intelligent enough to know what it wants, who it wants its leaders to be.. Unfortunately, we still can't do without leaders.. I feel we have a LONG way to go...

ChiciLata said...

But I want him to remain a politician, I agree it's going to be painstakingly slow for him to bring about any change, but it's a bloody start!

He's someone people like me, my generation which is so disinterested in politics, can trust and look upto. I know so many friends who now follow governance in this country thanks to him... He's a good start for a reform, and I'm sure him being in the cabinet will bear fruits.

If he becomes a media baron he will also in time just 'talk' and not really bring about annnyy chnage. What change have Karan Thapar, Prannoy Roy, Rajdeep Sardesai really brought about in our policies? All of them are visionaries, but they don't have the tools for reform. Which Tharoor does. I'm all for him being in the sphere he is. Tres inspirational...

Ramit Grover said...

My question is, if you have all these ideas, why don't you do the same thing?

But then, I have these ideas too. I'm not doing anything about it either.

Liked your facebook post too much. Will be back to read more. Followed you from Queen's.