(The following article of mine was first published in Metro India, an English daily newspaper from Hyderabad, on October 10, 2013)
Who is not sick of politicians these days? There is a saying that “it takes a smart politician to keep the envy out of his voice when he accuses another politician of cheating the public.” I do not need to belabour the obvious by quoting the innumerable instances where politicians shake our hands before the elections and our confidence after. Is there a remedy?
Plato, the student of Socrates, is considered by many as the greatest Western philosopher, with only Aristotle as a close rival contender for that accolade. Indeed, Whitehead acknowledged this fact by saying that “all Western philosophy is mere footnotes to Plato.” So, we would expect that Plato would know a thing or two about how to run a country.
Plato asks us to imagine the following situation, in his attempt to weaken the case for democracy. Suppose you were to set sail in a ship along with many others. Any ship needs a captain. How would you and the others choose the captain? Would it be by lot? Would it be by vote? Would it be based on who is stronger? Would it be based on who can persuade you with his clever talk and promises to deliver? Clearly, doing so would jeopardize the entire journey because none of the people chosen by such criteria would be competent to sail a ship through troubled waters. They would not have the requisite knowledge to be at the helm of affairs.
So, what decision criteria would you apply? Clearly, you would want to choose only him as a captain who has familiarity with the year and the seasons and skies and stars and winds, and whatever belongs to the art of seafaring. Only such a person is really qualified for the command of a ship. No one else would fit the bill. Or else you would drift on the high seas unto shores you scarcely intended to go to.
The art of governing a country is analogous to the stewardship of a ship, but infinitely more complex. So, how can we entrust its governance to people and demagogues who mislead us with empty rhetoric, buy the votes through free-flowing money in elections, and base election platforms upon “vote bank” politics. Sadly, in every election we have no choice but to choose the lesser of the two evils. So, what is the solution? Abolish elections. Opt for IPS. No, not Indian Police Service, but Indian Political Service.
We need people in the Indian Political Service to be running this country, whatever be the means by which they are chosen (but certainly not by elections or lots). They should be informed about the cultural and historical ethos and traditions of the nation, informed about the socioeconomic realities and opportunities, informed about practical alternatives available for achieving chosen ends, and savvy with administrative matters. They should be able to take the God’s-eye perspective with an impartiality that can let them see into the heart of things and situations objectively, and not be swayed by sectarian concerns. Only such people can know what the Rosseauian “general will” is – what is good for all and not necessarily what the majority wills or a mere summing up of all the particular wills.
Many may agree that this is highly desirable, but may doubt if it is possible. I think it is not entirely utopian. Surely we can find such eminent people in the various fields of life, people who have served with distinction and honour in their chosen careers. If towards the end of their career, they are given the option to serve their country, many would take it. And whatever minor deficiencies be there in their competence can be rectified before they take charge. If we have to rewrite the constitution for this purpose, let us “We the People” do it. Citizens of the country, think! You have nothing to lose but the yoke of corrupt leadership!
Know Thyself 