GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUES

Sandip C. Jain
Politics may be a dirty word and we at Himalayan Times have shunned it like plague ever since we came into being. But then there is no denying the fact that Politics in a democracy like ours, is inseparable from society and we in this publication cannot avoid this topic for ever. This piece though not about politics is about a Politician and you guessed it – it’s about Mr. Subhas Gheshing.
Ever since he earned prominence after the Gorkhaland uprising in 1986 he has been in the center stage of Politic on the region and whatever he says or does makes news. He manages to evoke massive response both in the groundlevel as well as in the media- on the ground level his supporters implement all his whims & fancies and in the media - those who oppose him earn headlines.
Mr. Gheshing despite being in my opinion the most recognizable face in the last 150 years of Hill Politics has earned more bad press than any other politician ever in the Hills. The amount of media bashing he gets is just unprecedented. He definitely has managed to earn more bad press than anyone else in the history of hill politics. I don’t ever remember anything goods written about him especially in the English Print media. What I ask here is that, is all the media bashing he gets really justified??? Is he so bad or are his policies so bad that he deserves all the bashing that he gets?? If yes, then how come his word is as good as law and how come he has been sweeping elections after elections for the last 16-17 years?? How come life in the Hills comes to a stand still on one word from him??
My take on this issue is that Gheshing despite his several many short comings is still seen by the masses as someone who can deliver the goods. He is still seen as someone who managed to give the Gorkha community in India a national identity, after all he is the one who brought us the Hill Council and he will probably be the one who will get us the status and benefits of a Tribal Area. The recently concluded Assembly Polls being a testimony of his sway over the masses. He is still seen as someone who has done for the hills more than any other leader ever from the Hills.
While opposing the ruling party and its leaders is part of democracy- I feel appreciating its achievements too is part of a good democracy. While many of Gheshing plans & policies may be faulty and deserves opposition lets at least give the man some amount of credit for his contributions to the Hills.