You may not agree with everything Kanhaiya Kumar has said, but you have to admit he said it with style. His speeches, hours before he was arrested, and after his release have gone viral. Senior Left leaders have hinted that he may campaign in the upcoming elections in West Bengal and Kerala. He is being compared to everyone from Lalu Yadav to Che Guevara by his fans (yes, he has them).
Yes, Kanhaiya is Indian politics’ newest rockstar. He may well become an important, articulate and fresh voice. He is from Bihar, comes from modest means and his district (Begusarai) has had a strong Left presence for decades. For the moribund Communist Party of India (CPI), Kanhaiya is the first figure in decades to occupy national stage.
But if he has to be more than a flash in the pan, Kanhaiya needs to play the long game – and wisdom comes from the unlikeliest of sources. So here’s some advice gleaned from Hollywood, for India’s newest Red Star.
“Beware of the Hate, Young Padawan”
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That’s the gist of Yoda’s advice to both Anakin Skywalker (later Darth Vader) and his son Luke. And Kanhaiya Kumar is facing more than his fair share of hate. So far, he hasn’t responded to the trolls, both virtual and real, in kind.
He has stuck to the constitutional, open, broadly democratic socialist Leftism of the AISF and the CPI. By constantly referring to BR Ambedkar and Rohith Vemula in his speeches and interviews, he has kept the discourse open to various movements that are taking place all over the country.
He has not used Communist jargon, not spoken about “dialectics”, or the “Leninist party of the new type”. He hasn’t countered right wing hardliners with a taste of their own medicine.
With all the brickbats, the accusations of anti-nationalism, the temptation to give into anger and hate must be tempting.
He should stick to the open, idealistic politics he has been practising so far.
Anything else will lead to the Dark Side .
“With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility” - So Avoid the Power?
Almost immediately after Kanhaiya was released from custody on bail, there was some talk of him playing a role outside student politics.
He [Kanhaiya Kumar] is a Left activist. As a Left activist, he will naturally campaign.Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPI(M)
While taking centre stage in India’s politics with the upcoming West Bengal and Kerala elections may be tempting, for now at least, Kanhaiya might want to heed uncle Ben’s advice to Peter Parker aka Spiderman.
Many student leaders, from Lalu Prasad to Nitish Kumar and even Sitaram Yechury and his predecessor Prakash Karat, along with Arun Jaitely began their political careers with student movements. Kanhaiya can certainly take inspiration from them.
For now, student politics is where Kanhaiya should focus. That is where he has a voice, and has made a difference. The power, responsibility, conflict and confusion of the larger political arena can wait.
There is also a moral superiority and a clean image that comes from staying away from mainstream politics that Kanhaiya can hold on to as long as he is in JNU.
The chance of being the superhero that revives the Left’s electoral fortunes can wait.
“The Ring has a Will of Its Own”
Kanhaiya is on T-shirts, on Facebook walls, going viral on YouTube, the focus of prime-time ‘debates’ and front pages of newspapers. That kind of fame and merchandising has power and provides one with the opportunity to make one’s message heard.
But just like the One Ring in the Lord of the Rings, power and fame, and the media that provides it, have a will of their own. The best intentions can be ruined by it. But one should not forget that absolute power corrupts. One of the oft-cited reasons for the Left’s loss in Bengal is its arrogance. Kanhaiya, idealistic and appealing, needs to be careful.
Then there’s fame and adulation, lovely when you’re at the receiving end of it. Kanhaiya has already been compared to the Argentinian icon Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, who headed the Cuban revolution along with Fidel Castro.
Today, Che is on t-shirts and posters, but his message is largely forgotten.
About 12 years ago, this author interviewed people with Che merchandise across Delhi as part of a school project. Most people thought he was either Jesus Christ or Jim Morrison. His message of equality and internationalism was not in people’s consciousness, even though his face was across their torso.
Kanhaiya is appealing to people far beyond traditional Left voters and supporters. But he should be careful that his message isn’t lost in all the cacophony.
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