End of the road?

In a sign of the times,the Congress has abandoned its grand yatras in Uttar Pradesh,meant to revive its calcified organisation and rally against the failings of the Mayawati administration. AICC General Secretary Digvijaya Singh said that the party would focus on public meetings and agitations. The yatra,the long agitational march,has been an Indian political staple for decades now. Once,it served both a symbolic and a tangible purpose. Leaders physically travelled great distances to evangelise their cause and persuade people,literally gathering strength along the way. Public excitement grew gradually and incrementally,and people gathered to catch a glimpse of an inspiring leader they might have only heard of,and listen to her ideas. But over the years,the rituals of political yatras and rallies have become weary show business. TV,newspapers and the Internet have demystified politicians,their arguments are all too familiar,and theres very little left of the genuine drama of the past. Its well known that crowds have to be cajoled and bribed into showing face at a rally,to keep up appearances for the leader and it stands to sense,that even those convinced of the partys views would be reluctant to schlep themselves to a rally to show solidarity. It simply isnt necessary any more.Thats not to say that direct canvassing doesnt have its appeal. Attending a rally or a march can still move you in a visceral way,as opposed to television debates and speeches that convey an illusion of familiarity,but leave you feeling as though the action is happening in a faraway political arena. Theres a raw,galvanic power to the rally in a time when politics has disappeared into small screens. Look at Glenn Becks Restoring Honour rally in the US,or the ironic Rally to Restore Sanity that mocked the serious political rally even as it made a stab at sincere,rational discourse. Either way,political mobilisation is increasingly a blend of direct and virtual methods,with meat-space gatherings reserved for special occasions. And as the Congress shelves the long march this time,others too might consider saving themselves some of the effort and expense in future.