Token action: An Indian tradition

Token action has been the hallmark of Indian politics for generations after Gandhiji. One no longer sees the symbolic brilliance and impact of Gandhian gestures. But Tokenism is far from dead.

Recently two new Central ministers, were staying in a super luxury hotel in Delhi... The opposition did not miss the chance to make propaganda against government extravagance. The ruling party countered, by announcing austerity measures. Token measures, of course!u00a0

The Party issued a diktat that MPs should travel less extravagantly than their customary air travel, Executive Class. Fledgling Minister Shashi Tharoor (of luxury lifestyle fame) told reporters he would travel 'cattle class', in fellowship with the masses. 'Clever' comment but politically unwise.

As a token of leading by example, the 'High Command' (and 'Her' heir apparent, Rahul) recently travelled 'cattle class', though their security needs make it an expensive gesture.

But this is our political tradition. The Father of the Nation insisted on austerity: he travelled third class, subsisted on goat's milk and fruit. (Sarojini Naidu said it cost the party more to maintain Gandhiji in austere simplicity, than to keep him in luxury! His 3rd class travel meant reserving a whole bogey for him, his goats and associates.)

Token gestures seem to be the inherited birthright of the new politicians. Son of the soil, HD Kumaraswamy, slept in 'cattle class' village homes on his state-wide tours. It didn't do the State much good, but some villages got new roads; and HDK's village hosts got a new toilet and bedroom fit for a Chief Minister at government expense.

But, back to the Mahatma. In the freedom struggle, he and his followers courted arrest by the Dandi salt march. In defiance of the British ban on people's salt making, they marched unarmed to make salt from sea water. Their token action drew the world's attention to the oppressive tax on a commodity freely available in nature. The imperial power was humiliated for its meanness, without a blow being struck.

Decades later, when the oil-producing nations formed a cartel to raise crude-oil prices, our netas tried to emulate Gandhian token protest. Parliamentarians came to 'work' by horse drawn carriage, by bicycle, by bullock cart. It was a farce. Au00a0 pointless charade.

Gandhiji's token protests were, by contrast, no token gimmicks. He was prepared to lay down his life for his principles. And ultimately he did.