DOES INDIA'S HEART BEAT FOR MAHAJAN?

How big a leader is Pramod Mahajan?

He last won a Lok Sabha election in 1996. He lost in 1998. He did not contest in 1999 and 2004. The BJP has lost two successive state elections in Maharashtra, Mahajan’s home state. The party’s coalition lost the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Mahajan managed publicity as well as contestants for the party in that election.

Many of you might remember the government’s “Shining India” advertising campaign that claimed India progressed under BJP-led rule during 1999-2004. Mahajan designed the campaign. In 2004, the BJP lost every Lok Sabha seat in Mumbai, where Mahajan lives.

Mahajan’s most important job so far has been as India’s parliamentary affairs minister (not counting 13 days as defence minister in 1996). That’s not really big. He was never a mass leader and never a big-ticket mover and shaker. He has never led a mass rally on his own. He has never piloted any big political move on his own. Hell, he has never set the agenda for the nation’s politics even for a day!

If anything, Mahajan has supped with wheeler-dealers and been mostly the backroom boy for a few complicated political battles in national politics. Also, he managed party affairs in assembly elections in several states. Political manager, yes; mass-based politician, never!

Then why is there such media hysteria over Mahajan’s shooting? Why is the media covering his shooting like Mahatma Gandhi’s, giving the event eight-column screaming headlines? TV channels have made it seem as if millions across the country can’t sleep as Mahajan “battles death”. I’ll be hanged if that’s even remotely true.

These channels have minutely detailed how badly three bullets (or four?) have injured Mahajan’s pancreas, the small intestines and the liver. This is presuming that the viewers are really concerned enough to want to know how badly this guy’s guts are hurt. None actually. The only exciting story here is that a not-so-well-off brother has shot his older politically rich brother. It's a great story to investigate and tell. Talk off-camera with family friends, politicians, business associates, family members and scoop the true story of their (soured) relationship. Instead, the channels have gone crazy running highly adulatory stories on Mahajan. Deepak Chaurasia of Aaj Tak seemed as if he would break down anytime now talking about Mahajan.

I have a little exercise for you: why don’t you casually ask your family members and friends how concerned they are for Mahajan? I bet they don’t really have an opinion. Just ensure that these family members and friends aren’t journalists and are regular people.