But in the end I felt myself part of a political process whose final result is some change in society. But it takes years and many people’s joint effort, people who often quarrel as much as they cooperate. Above all it takes time and patience and effort. Middle classes in India want instant gratification. Contrast, however, their behaviour with the people who set up the Bahujan Samaj Party. Kanshi Ram first set up a trade union for Dalits and then it became a party 10 years later. Today the BSP is 25 years old and there is a serious chance that its leader could become Prime Minister. It took Mayawati three defeats before she won an election to the Lok Sabha and now, 15 years on, she is at the very top.

Or take the BJP. As Jana Sangh, its members struggled for many years before they were a serious presence in Indian politics. In 1984 the BJP was down to two MPs. By 1998 they were 180-plus. Similar stories can be told about the CPI(M) and the CPI, which have a structure of regular meetings and some ideology which bears discussion and constant activity on the part of its rank and file.

Everyone who gets into political parties has to be ready for the long haul. There is no fast food in politics. Only dynastic parties, where sons and daughters get privileged lifts to be MPs or MLAs, offer quick reward. But they encourage despair among the ordinary citizens who may wish to take part in politics. They know that the road is blocked to them if they are not part of the family firm.

... contd.