Theme India

As in cricket, so in life. Indian cricketers finally chose a coach for themselves last week, and our political class is sure to zero in on the appropriate contenders for residency in Rashtrapati Bhavan. One may carry a well-worn coaching manual, the other may be the guardian of the Constitution. But look who8217;s choosing them. The very people whose professional affairs are to be overseen. This is why, in the coincidental overlap of a job hunt for the two posts, the selection principle is the same. He/she who makes the least number of people nervous will best fit the profile.

Graham Ford, able successor to Bob Woolmer as coach of South Africa in the months when the Cronje matchfixing nexus became news, seemed to know it instinctively. His courtesy to the presiding trinity in the team may not have been of the same order as Giani Zail Singh8217;s deference to Indira Gandhi, but in spirit there was uncanny resemblance. Ford made plain his 8220;respect8221; for Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar. No wonder the players wanted him. A deferential coach would presumably be so much more effective in getting the Prince of Calcutta to speed up his scoring than was Greg Chappell, that disciplinarian who actually dared to threaten the batsman with eviction from the team for under-performing.

So, how will it be with the presidency? Here are some of the points on the wishlist, and cutting through the euphemisms and the desired profile of the next president are obvious. He should not be indispensable for the ruling government 8212; read, he should be aware that the honour coming his way is not on merit. He should be political 8212; read, he should, unlike the present incumbent, know that next time disqualification looms over the legislative class, as it did in the profit-of-office phase, he must put himself in his elector8217;s shoes. He should be acceptable to the 8216;third front8217; 8212; read, a Sunil Gavaskar kind of self-assertion by marginal decision-makers is under way. But be afraid. Coaches can have the last laugh, as Ford showed by promptly declining the Indian offer. Now can we expect a presidential nominee to do the same? The suspense is killing.