Some years ago, just as his hold over the television watching public in India had peaked, Lalu Prasad made a trip to Pakistan, the land of the well-heeled, well-spoken and khandani politician. He charmed his hosts with his ready wit, one-liners and, most of all, the shocking revelation that he was a first generation politician and that his early school years were spent wandering around on the back of a portly buffalo in the wilds of Bihar. It said a lot about India.

Several others over the years — whether thrown up by the national movement, Periyar’s, JP’s, Communist and Telangana, Lohia, Ram Mandir or Mandal movements — were marvellous testaments to the large Indian political canvas, its openness, its ability to accommodate not just dissent or difference but diversity of origins. This is obviously something rare, and to be treasured in a poor and large democracy. There was even a stone-cutter woman MP from Bihar, and several silent examples still exist.

But suddenly, it is threatening to become like Bollywood, an arena of immense possibilities being choked by just sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, even a nephew-in-law. It appears that people in key leadership positions in several parties are anxious to hand over to immediate and blood relations. Like family jewels, the “MP-ship” or “MLA ticket” is part of the family inheritance. Even caste seems to have been narrowed down to an obsession with kinship. Initially, the BJP tried to be snooty about it and indicate that playing house was something just the Congress did, they did not have a “dynasty”. But, over the years, children of various leaders have taken over, projected as legitimate heirs of political jagirs of all sorts.

... contd.