Saturday, October 01, 2005

The invisible hand

Capitalism and the much-maligned, ‘Market’ might denote the epitome of materialism, but the dynamics of market and the propensity of its participants points towards one of the highest principles of spirituality. While the modernity project of Socialism aims at a regulated economy and directed history, Capitalism demands a hands-off approach by those at the helms.
The market-dictated regime-- far from being deterministic, as it sounds—is absolutely aloft on probabilities, uncertainties and the unpredictable. Thus, the contingent and the precarious character of outcomes leaves the individual endeavour almost at the mercy of the unforeseen/Unseen. And, therefore, the shrewd operator learns to believe less on his own prudence than the ordained/unpredictable dispensation. Perforce, he looks up to providence than his own autonomy and sovereignty.

Economy, like ecology, is an interplay of a complex tapestry driven by incessant logistics. While the notion of the market salutes its own supremacy, it abhors other interventions. But then, can any other interpolation—state or non-state—come sans the sanction of the greater Logistics, the larger Market?
The head of a party
BJP is a party in search of a new president now, but the whole episode is shrouded in mystery. The reason behind this sorry spectacle lies in our very perception of leadership in a democratic setting. Our Constitution, too, plays an ambivalent role here. It specifies that the leader of the party elected to power would form the government. But the chief executives of various parties have different designations, viz., chairman, president, general secretary, convener, co-coordinator etc. The problem arises when the leader of the party becomes PM or CM and a lightweight is elevated to fill the post of the head of the party.

There are certain supposed norms like, ‘one-man-one-post’ and 'separation of party and government affairs'. So, once in the government, the distance between the leader of the party and the head of the party increases leading to rivalry. When no more in power, the leader of the party wants to become the head of the party again. These kinds of simple problems can be easily settled if proper systems are put in place.

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