An Open Letter

Open Letter to Kumar Vishwas

Why am I writing this letter? Well, because I wish you well. Firstly, I congratulate you and your party for changing the conventional way of playing politics. I congratulate you for re-kindling hope – hope for a positive change.

While I appreciate your confidence to stand for elections against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, the tenor of your claim reeks of arrogance.

It is brave. But brazen.

I am no one to tell you that media attention can sometimes create notions of invincibility. You know it. No doubt, you have a realistic chance of winning against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi. Why, even a young Rakhi Birla can win against Priyanka if she decides to contest in the forthcoming elections. Well, maybe.

The timing is right. You and your party have rightfully seized the moment. Disillusioned with the political terra firma, we are willing to give honesty a chance. We are fed up with personalities over-shadowing issues. And for this reason alone, you should be wary of boasting that you can defeat anyone – be it Modi or Rahul.

Please don’t allow personalities to eclipse issues. Else, you sound like the other forever aspirants of power. Yes, you can defeat Rahul. But so can others like Khemka, Durga Shakti Nagpal or Santosh Hegde. Time is fertile for anyone who is perceived to have led an honest life or has taken up cudgels against corruption.

How about learning a thing or two from your own leader Mr. Yogendra Yadav? For me, Mr. Yadav is a speaker par excellence. When he speaks, I can sense the honesty behind purpose. I sincerely hope and wish to see Prof.Yogendra Yadav as the CM of Haryana some day.

You have a tough task ahead - the task of being popular and not populist. Your party has to empower people and not make them dependent. Doles and sops don't work in the interest of the nation or the Aam Aadmi. Empowerment does. It is a tight rope walk.
Moreover, with disgruntled politicians of different hues like Alka Lamba and Mr Kamaal Farooqi wanting to make the most of AAP fortunes, you have an uphill task of assuaging egos and managing ambitions. One way to go about it is by letting your work speak more than your angst.

Did I tell you that it is a pleasure to listen to your chaste Hindi in a world where Hinglish rules?  I first heard your poetry recorded in the mobile phone of an engineering student, way back in 2009. While the rendition was flawless, what amazed me was your connect with  the students. This connect, I believe will strengthen with humility and not with unnecessary bravado. 

I am hoping that the poet in you will not fall prey to the enticement of the microphone. Why allow the media circus to mess with your noble intentions? Because the only thing shorter than public memory is public euphoria. All it takes for the public to swing from adulation to admonition is one comment. Just one silly comment. Remember Anna’s slip of the slap – Ek Hi Thappad Maara?


In the twilight zone before 2014, you and your party need to hold together as a team. Humility has been your party’s hall mark. Let it continue to be so. Of all the people, you should know that humility is not thinking less of yourself - it is thinking of yourself less.

 Good luck.