As in cricket, so in politics, the worth of your skills can only be assessed on its turf
A year ago, India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood star Rekha, among others, were nominated to the Upper House of parliament, the Rajya Sabha, under Article 80 of the Indian Constitution. This provision empowers the president, acting on the advice of the Union government, to nominate to the Upper House 12 people who have distinguished themselves in avenues such as literature, science, art, and social service, but who are disinclined to wade into the turbulent waters of electoral politics. The rationale behind Article 80 is to provide a certain heft to the debate in the Upper House.
But the performances of both Tendulkar and Rekha have been abysmal in the first of their six-year term. Tendulkar’s attendance in the Rajya Sabha is just one percent, against the average of 77 per cent, according to PRS Legislative Research. Worse, Tendulkar did not sign the attendance register even once in the winter session of 2012, nor has he in the
current session.
Tendulkar is, no doubt, among India’s most remarkable jewels. It is also said he apportions a percentage of his financial resources for charity. Nevertheless, the Congress Party, weaned on the patronage system, fallaciously and shamelessly saw in Article 80 an opportunity to embrace the famous and the popular as its mascots, cynically ignoring the question of their suitability in parliament.
We all knew Tendulkar just wouldn’t have the time to attend the Rajya Sabha, busy as he is playing cricket through the year around the world. Would it then be wrong to conclude that the Congress is contemptuous of public institutions? Our political class has a curious tendency to treat public institutions as their personal fiefdom, adamantly persuading even the reluctant to accept nominations to the Rajya Sabha.
Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar said about her stint in the Upper House, to which the BJP-led NDA government nominated her: “My tenure in the Rajya Sabha was anything but happy. I was reluctant to be inducted into parliament. In fact, I pleaded with those who urged me into Rajya Sabha to let me off … what did I know about politics? I’m sure Sachin knows more about it than me.”
It is for Tendulkar to judge whether his knowledge of public life befits the Rajya Sabha, but this much can be safely said: as in cricket, so in politics, the worth of your skills can only be assessed on its turf. Tendulkar simply refuses to walk into the Rajya Sabha. However, he did generously turn down the government bungalow allotted to him in Delhi.
Film star Rekha is unlikely to know much about politics either, judging from her public engagements. It is even debatable whether she could be said to have achieved artistic excellence, more famous and appreciated as she was for her glamour than her acting skills or contribution to Hindi cinema. Her attendance record in the Rajya Sabha? Just four per cent. Considering her film appearances have become rare, her poor attendance makes you wonder what could account for her absence from the Rajya Sabha, other than plain indifference.
The nomination of Rekha is so bereft of logic that it gives credence to speculation that it was done to taunt and torment cine-star Jaya Bachchan, who is also in the Upper House as a Samajwadi Party member. The rivalry between Rekha and Bachchan had spawned many headlines in the past, but at least in the Upper House the latter has established an unassailable lead. Her attendance, though lower than the average, is 57 per cent. She has participated in debates 16 times and has asked 146 questions. In a few sessions she even notched an attendance of over 90 per cent.
Perhaps the fact Bachchan is an elected member prompts her to take her Rajya Sabha duties seriously. For instance, even former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin in the Lok Sabha has an attendance of 76 per cent.
His and Bachchan’s records testify that cricketers and film stars are not innately unfit to discharge their parliamentary duties. Ultimately, it all depends on individual sensibilities. As of 2 May 2013, there is still one slot for a nominated member vacant. Hopefully, in filling it, the ruling UPA government will refrain from playing to the gallery. India’s already beleaguered institutions could do without further battering.
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