More than 75 years after Independence, have we truly moved beyond our colonial mindset? Or are we still searching for a king, a queen, or a supreme leader who will guide the nation?
Think about our electoral history.
Our politics has rarely revolved around institutions, parties, or even ideology. More often than not, it has revolved around individuals. Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Rajiv Gandhi, Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi. Different personalities, different politics, but the same pattern. Elections become a choice between faces rather than ideas.
There have been a few exceptions. P V Narasimha Rao was one. He was a respected and accomplished politician, a well known national leader, but he was never a cult figure. His government lasted one full term, but the Congress soon felt the need to rebuild itself around the personality of Sonia Gandhi. Even Dr. Manmohan Singh, whose authority came primarily from his work and competence, governed alongside the political weight and mass appeal of Sonia Gandhi. It is almost as if our political system struggles to function without a larger than life personality at its centre.
That should make us pause.
When politics becomes personality driven, leaders inevitably begin to believe they are larger than the office they hold. Some begin to see themselves as indispensable. Some as infallible. Some even as extraordinary beings beyond ordinary scrutiny.
But before blaming leaders, perhaps we should look at ourselves.
Do we treat elected representatives as public servants accountable to the Constitution? Or do we treat them as rulers, saviours, and unquestionable figures? In many constituencies, a politician is not merely respected. He is revered. His word becomes unquestionable. The constituency begins to look like a personal fiefdom rather than a democratic mandate.
No democracy can remain healthy if institutions become secondary to personalities. Strong nations are built on strong institutions, transparent systems, and accountable public servants, not on the image of one individual.
Maybe the real challenge before India is not changing its leaders. It is changing the way we look at leadership.
The day we vote for institutions over personalities, ideas over individuals, and accountability over adulation, our democracy will truly come of age.
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