Social scientist Shiv Visvanathan, who would rather call himself a 'social science nomad', shares his thoughts and analysis on what lies ahead for the Congress just when it celebrated a centenary of one of its biggest post-Independence mass leaders, Indira Gandhi, at a juncture when the party seems overwhelmed by the Modi government’s capacity to create tectonic shifts, like with the currency reform. Asked whether the grand old party of India has hit the end of the road or is merely at a difficult crossroads, Visvanathan says that to not be reduced to a museum piece, the Congress needs a bit of magic and needs to give up its obsession with the past and connect with aspirational India. Excerpts from an interview with Shiv Visvanathan
Where does the Congress stand on the 100th birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi?
Originally, the Congress embraced a wider social fabric. It was the microcosm of India, representing all segments of Indian society: Dalits, minorities, the forward castes. It does not represent the whole of India anymore. The Left is no longer with it, the regional parties have hived off portions from its umbrella stature, taking away constituencies and therefore its claim to an overarching role. The Congress still has a role as an opposition, but as a benign force to uphold the constitutional values of secularism, socialism and democratic norms. The poster of Indira Gandhi the party has put up (for the centenary) is quite telling. She is no longer portrayed as the goddess. It's a more gentle, nurturing image.
What factors have led to the decline of the Congress?
Three things contributed. The Congress is in need of a hearing aid. It stopped being a social movement and a trade union movement. Also, the middle class changed with the liberalisation of the economy. But the Congress too had changed by then -- from being a large coalition, it shrunk to a family legacy, a poor version of its old legacy.
Is there hope for the party in future?
There is tremendous hope. But it has to change at two levels: in raising and reviving the organisation, and in using its own stalwarts. No other party has as many stalwarts as the Congress, whose services the party must find ways to utilise. It's a question also of an image overhaul that can open up possibilities.
How should it go about that?
The Congress needs to recreate itself. It's still the biggest brand. But the brand needs revitalisation. It certainly has a future, but it has to rethink it, reimagine itself, without being too preoccupied and obsessed with the past.
Is dynasty the only option for the Congress or do you see scope for someone from outside the family leading it?
The party can have a leader from outside the family fold. Yes, it is the Gandhis who catch the eyeballs. But the family name cannot be bigger than the party itself. The Congress now is not a political party, it is a hyphenated structure. It needs the Left or the regional parties. If it begins modestly, it can still galvanise itself into something.
The Congress badly needs a touch of magic. Without something magical, it cannot catch the people's imagination. It has to become a talking point of the people again, come back into the conversation to come out of the current stasis. It's not a question of management strategy alone. It can't just talk about succession, it has to talk transformation.
Can the party hope to lead the anti-BJP forces or will it become a smaller partner?
Eventually, it has to lead. Before that, the Congress, to be a real family, has to be more than the Family. Unless it gets a sense of the breadth and width of the voter's mind, unless it connects with aspirational voters, it will become a museum piece. This needs two changes at the level of conception: one is organisation, one is leadership. Unless it settles these two, whether there is a way to go forward could be doubted.