Who will occupy Raisina Hill?

May 19
NabanitaDhar

It was late at night on a Sunday when browsing through the channels on the television I saw a lady, thin and frail, dressed in the finest silk saree with the end piece draped around her head answering questions of a journalist in the most lackluster manner one could ever. Normally I wouldn’t care but I realized that this lady was the President of our country. She was Pratibha Patil!

Going by the personality and traits of the politicians of our country over the years it doesn’t astonish me when news items flash about how the President tried to build her retirement home on a piece of land meant for the soldiers of our country and their families or when she drags her entire clan on foreign visits wasting the tax payers money or when her itchy feet cost the nation a whopping 205 crores far exceeding that of any of her predecessors.

Since the time Sonia Gandhi pulled Pratibha Taai out of oblivion and made her occupy the Rashtrapati Bhavan, I have wondered what she has in her to even be remotely qualified for such a post. Since her selection as the Premier of this country, she and her family have been engulfed in one controversy or the other, everything pointing to just one fact that they are not averse to corruption and perhaps are a bunch of free loaders.

To the answer of a question regarding her relations accompanying her to foreign trips she blatantly pointed out that “This has been the international practice and in previous occasions also in the past guests and relatives have accompanied the President. So it is not that I have set a precedent.” These relatives of hers travel over and over again on public money and to top it all the governments of the host nations are made to pay for them too. Inspite of that our beloved president (loads of pun intended) without batting her eyelashes terms it all as being absolutely in line with protocol!

I think in my lifetime if there was anyone who had the stature, dignity and the knowledge to even qualify for such a respectable post it has to be Dr. Kalam. Who else, certainly not the other brusque politicians!

With the presidential nominations just about three or four weeks from now and the polls being four weeks after that, the political parties have started doing what they are best at; catapulting names to see which of their candidates could actually sail through. It is for them a test of their support and where they stand in the houses. While they should think of a candidate who has the stature and the ability to sit on this regal position in our country, they are instead busy looking for anyone who could earn them some brownie points and why not; since the party in power is sinking while the opposition is already a sunken ship. The nation is watching keenly to see what uninspiring steps these bunch of spineless buffoons take on the run up to the presidential polls.

All said and done, let’s hope this time Raisina Hill’s emphatic Rashtrapati Bhavan is not occupied by an irreverent personality like the last time.

 PS:All Pictures used in the blog posts are sourced from the internet.

37 thoughts on “Who will occupy Raisina Hill?”

  3. A well written piece…I identify with your sentiments..Let us hope, some political party gets the "crazy idea" of putting up Dr. Kalam again for Presidency…

  4. let's hope that this time some one who have a personality and have the guts to say "NO" should occupy, but honestly looking at current system this seems highly unlikely.

    still putting my finger crossed.Wonderful writing Nabinta.

  6. Hi

    Very Nice Writing…As such in our country the Presidents are more of a puppet figure….It was believed to be atleast so till Mr.Kalam took over office…He kind of showed what can be done by a President in our country….Pratibha Patil is proof that respect to women does not mean placing an incompetent and irresponsible soul in the highest office of the country.

  7. Excellent write-up Nabanita! The women of India deserved better than to have the first woman President muck up her job and her reputation.

  11. 'Pratibha Patil is proof that respect to women does not mean placing an incompetent and irresponsible soul in the highest office of the country.' I agree Jaish !

    Thanks !

  13. YOU have voiced the sentiments of-i think a majority of Indians-about this gaffe by the ruling party….i have read so many posts on this subject-each better than the next,but all this has come to our notice only now-when the damage has been done…where was the media when all this started? …RTI has helped us to know all this
    Talking of our leaders'morals–time was,when leaders of the era of Dr Rajendra Prasad didn't even draw their salaries…how far we have fallen now.

  20. Nabanita,
    Aah…Exactly this is the kind of noise we need around us…!Let's wait and watch…I hope better sense prevails :))
    Very well penned!

  21. Nice read Nabanita. I like how you write – smooth and free flowing 🙂

  22. what a lady she is? we won't get such presidential candidate hereafter…Bullshit

    thanks and nicely written…….

  23. That was very well put Nabanita.. You have correctly shared the agony that most of us feel being a part of India, more so because we know the reason for our misery and it is right in front of our eyes.. Alas! we cant do any thing about it.
    Lets hope that one day our country does become what the world looks at it as.. a true SUPERPOWER..

  24. Interesting point about Pratibha. There are too many things going on. I personally think that the post should be scrapped or make it directly electable.

  33. Agreed none to beat Kalamji for the post but the wretched politicians never want somebody like him !

  37. Campaign to protect the Rashtrapati Bhawan from the onslaught of caste and communal politics

    There are attempts being made to have the elections for the 13th President of India contested on the basis of caste. If attempt succeeds then all future elections will be on caste and regional lines. It is time now for us the citizens of India to raise our voice against caste, region and religion based politics. The “Restore the dignity of the Rashtrapati, is an attempt to atleast safeguard the Presidential Elections from being tainted by divisive politics. Please act now

    1. Visit http://www.facebook.com/RestoreTheDignityOfRashtrapatiBhawan
    To register your protest
    2. Forward this mail to other Indians

    India needs just 2 minutes of your time. Please do not forsake it now.

    Jai Hind
    Neera Kishore

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