So, can an Indian Obama emerge? The greatest symbolism of the Obama moment lies in the politics of his colour. While he achieved near universal support from the minority vote — Blacks and also from the Hispanics —, his political appeal transcended the minority. In contrast, our politics remains a prisoner of our caste and social divides. Mayawati, for instance, is a real agent of change but despite her recent alliance with the upper castes in Uttar Pradesh remains too divisive a figure, hostage to the Dalit discourse. Narendra Modi is trying to build himself up as the candidate of a new Singapore-like developmental India, but his past can never be wished away. Historically, Nehru remains the only Indian political leader who successfully managed to delink his politics from his social origins to emerge as the harbinger of an overarching idea of India. Rajiv Gandhi did promise to be the great white hope but fell prey to the system within two years of attaining power. On a somewhat diminished scale, Rahul Gandhi now promises to introduce a new politics of merit, but remains unproven.  

Sure, we have had the politics of symbols. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad became the first muslim president as early as 1974 and K.R. Narayanan the first dalit president in 1997. But the head of state is not quite the same thing as the head of government. Moreover, the symbolism of the figureheads never quite translated into real political ascendance for disadvantaged social groups within mainstream national parties. This is why the Dalits turned to Kanshi Ram and Mayawati, and the Muslims of North India are still looking for a new direction after initial dalliances with the two Yadavs. One of the smartest things about the Obama campaign was that it changed the political geography of the US by tapping into the new demography of the young, and the minority groups migrating into the American heartland. In the youngest country in the world, can the BJP or the Congress take a cue?  

... contd.