Monday, June 29, 2009

Family in Indian Politics

In Indian politics, we have seen the significant role played by many families. From the Nehru-Gandhi family to the Karunanidhi family, the list extends. To start with the Nehru-Gandhi family, everyone know that they are the biggest and most established in Indian politics, for a long time, from the struggle for independence till date. From Jawaharlal Nehru to Rahul Gandhi, this family had been a consistent influence in Indian politics. Indira Gandhi, daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, was a strong, ambitious and tactful politician who was followed by her son Rajiv Gandhi. After Rajiv's death, his widow, Sonia Gandhi took charge of Indian National Congress in 1998. Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Indian National Congress along with her son Rahul and daughter Priyanka, has kept the name of the family. They are still the uncrowned royalty of Indian politics.

Maneka Gandhi and her son Varun Gandhi, wife and son of Late Sanjay Gandhi(son of Indira Gandhi) were excluded from Congress after Sanjay's death and are now members of BJP. In the 2009 Elections Varun and Maneka were in the limelight due the controversy over Varun's election campaign. While both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi won the elections for Indian National Congress,Varun made his debut to Indian Parliament after getting elected as a MP from Pilibhit seat of Uttar Pradesh as a BJP contestant.

Another family that has a significant role in Indian politics is the Abdullah family from Jammu and Kashmir. The legacy of Sheikh Abdullah was further glorified by his son Farooq Abdullah and grandson Omar Abdullah. They have always been a prominent family in the history of modern Jammu and Kashmir.

The most powerful and famous political family in South India is the Karunanidhi Family. M.Karunanidhi, the head of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a dominant political party in Tamil Nadu is the most famous politician and the present Chief Minister of the state. His political legacy is followed by his sons M.K.Azhagiri and M.K.Stalin and his daughter Kanimozhi. Another famous politicians from his family include Former Union Minister Late Murasoli Maran, Karunanidhi's nephew and his son Dayanidhi Maran.

Other families in Indian politics include the Scindia's from Madhya Pradesh, the Thackeray's from Maharastra,the Pawar's, the Yadav's from Bihar, the Karunakaran's from Kerala and the Kairon's from Punjab. Thus most of these families have their on significance in Indian politics.


Sunday, June 28, 2009

"Famliy" matters!!!

"Anuvrataha pituhu putro
Maatraa bhavatu summanaahaa I
Jaaya patyemadhumatim
Vaachum vadathu shantivaam II" (Atharvaved 3/30/2)

Meaning: In an ideal home, children are obedient to their parents. The parents are well-wishers of their children. The husband and wife's mutual relationship is sweet and happy. Only such families always thrive and are happy.


This is what the tradition of India says. A family is not just comprised of a couple and their child (as in a nuclear family), but it is a wide web connected, interconnected an
d transposed to many others. It is always a strong family bond that moulds the character of a person. Family bonds are a link to our beginning and a guide to our future. The single most precious obesession in our life for all of us is to be loved. A sense of belonging is derived from the strong bond of family. Family is where our roots are and it is from there that we grow.
Family is the unit within which we are molded and it prepares us for what is in store for us in this world and how we have to face those experiences. Families embed a strong value base in us and these values are carried with us throughout our life.
Thus "family" really matters...