What does Bangladesh crisis, general election results in Kashmir, and regional politics in India have in common?

Photo courtesy - Reuters

Bangladesh is undergoing a political crisis at the moment - the Prime Minister Sheikh Haseena, who was re-elected in an election which was boycotted by the main opposition party, has abdicated her position and the military has moved in to take reigns of the government. While the immediate development is clearly a jolt to democracy in Bangladesh, it hints towards a significant shift in the political landscape across South Asia, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. 

The ouster of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, the declining dominance of the National Conference party led by the Abdullah dynasty in Jammu and Kashmir, and the loss of power by the Congress party in India, all point to a common trend: the fall of dynastic politics and the emergence of leaders from non-elite backgrounds.

Historically, during the British Raj, royals from princely states colluded with the British crown for continuance of the Raj and their own kingdoms, while oppressing their own populations. These royals and the British were often opposed by elite from their own states who were were well educated, albeit sometimes even in Britain, but opposed to the British rule. Many of these elites were aristocrats like zamindars and some from former royal lineage like subedars and local satraps, but no longer belonging to immediate family of the ruling royal monarch. Few were also from from affluent households who got wealth in inheritance.

In the initial years of independence, these elite provided much-needed leadership to the young nation(s). Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah came from elite families. Similarly, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman considered the 'founder' of Bangladesh (titled popularly as Bongabandhu), belonged to an elite aristocratic family. Sheikh Abdulla, was the Sadr-e-Riyasat aka Prime Minister of the Maharajah of J&K in the initial years of independence.

The families and dynastic successors of these elite leaders continued to retain political power across national and regional governments in the subcontinent. Nehru was followed by his daughter Indira, who was followed by her son Rajiv; Sheikh Abdulla's son Farooq and then his son Omar both became Chief ministers of Jammu & Kashmir; and Sheikh Haseena, daughter of Mujibur Rehman was the Prime Minister for a combined total of over 20 years.

However today, Nehru's grandson Rahul, and his family, are relegated to a minority in the Parliament. In contrast Prime Minister Modi is as un-elite as one can get, epitomizing being a new age leader with no elite family background. The Congress party in India is surviving only on the crutches of a coalition of regional parties. Even in regional parties, dynastic leaders are facing setbacks and are trying to survive somehow.

The recent general elections in Kashmir have also been particularly noteworthy. Neither Modi's party BJP (which was credited with abrogation of Article 370), nor the Abdullah dynasty's National Conference emerged victorious. Instead, a jailed non-descript common leader, Engineer Rashid, won a parliamentary seat. Rashid was an engineer in the state government-run Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation. He is seen a simple man, dressed in Khan suit, taking public transportation and occasionally hitching rides on motor cycles. His victory highlights the growing disillusionment with dynastic politics and the desire for change among the people of Kashmir.

Even in other parts of the India, the trend against dynasty can be seen. In Punjab for example, the dynastic Badal family (which inherited the reigns from the revered  Shiromani Akali Dal political party) faces backlash and near oblivion from politics; in Maharashtra Eknath Shinde rebelled against Uddhav Thakare who again is considered a dynast trying to retain power within his party Shiv Sena only because he is the son of the founder Balasaheb. In UP, Mayawati who herself was self-made politician is losing relevance as soon as she tried to pass the baton to her nephew; and Mamata Banerjee similarly faces opposition every time she tries to anoint her nephew as her political heir.  

And the current hot potato Bangladesh is seeing ouster of Sheikh Hasina being considered an autocratic leader, with the recent election boycott followed by widespread rioting over decisions of her government forcing her to flee the country.

This trend of moving away from dynastic politics is a positive development overall, despite the potential for short-term emergencies, military coups, and anarchism. It represents a shift towards a more inclusive and representative democracy, where people from diverse backgrounds can participate in the political process and bring about meaningful change.

The fall of dynastic politics in Kashmir, Bangladesh and across India is a testament to the aspirations of the people to reject second and third generation scions of their beloved leaders. It is a call for progress, where leaders are chosen based on their merit, vision, and ability to serve the people, rather than their family lineage. Messy in the short term, this trends signals a shift towards a more equitable and just political system.

However, the transition from dynastic politics to a more inclusive system can be fraught with difficulties. There may be resistance from entrenched political interests, and the potential for instability and conflict cannot be ignored. It is essential that people remain engaged in the political process, than support autocratic rulers or alternative political ideologies like Communism. Further, once a new leader is chosen, people must continue to demand accountability, transparency, and responsive governance from their leaders. Civil society organizations, independent media, and international observers will need to play a crucial role in monitoring the transition and ensuring that it remains on track.

So while right now Bangladesh might be burning, democracy at the state level suspended in J&K; and local government in Maharashtra suspended (no elected municipal corporation exists in the entire state), it is crucial that we push through the momentum of rejecting dynasts and work towards creating a political system that is truly representative of the people. This will require sustained effort, commitment, and a willingness to embrace change. But if we stay the course, we can create a brighter future for all.

.