Political dynasty: The South Asian trend!

The USA is unique having no political dynasties. Families are involved in politics but each must succeed by his own merit. USA is one exception where power has been decentralised with checks and balances, although now the US federal government has become a vast bureaucratic machine, a Leviathan, and controls the American people and those of the world in various ways.

When the US was founded, the Americans did everything to avoid the European lesson of absolute rule. Lord Acton the 'historian of liberty' and one of the most learned Englishmen of his time [1834-1902], had famously remarked that 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely' The pioneer Americans fled away from European feudal monarchies and domination by church, and in no way wanted despotic tyranny back in their lives. They chose individualism and democracy, had power fragmented and did everything to see that none holds absolute power. However, that political philosophy seems distorted today.

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Dynastic politics lives on in South Asia starting from Nehru in India, Bandarnayake in Sri Lanka to Bhutto in Pakistan to Bangabandhu and Zia in Bangladesh. People, mostly frail and weak, tend to submit to human power and authority and this caused the practice of Divine Kingship and of monarchies to flourish for long until people no longer accepted human authority in any form. But, man's inclination to dominate man cannot be wiped out, and new forms of dictatorship and authority continue to plague the world.

Nevertheless, the struggle for freedom and liberty continues and will continue until the end of this world. Through centuries, man has trailed liberty and in the words of Lord Acton again, 'liberty is the prevention of control by others'.

As Muslims, we too are free from any human authority and control other than the Authority of God. Unfortunately, the Muslim political world is yet to be democratic where individual freedom and the right to dissent are anything but honoured.

However, man's frailties and his weaknesses are more pronounced when in poverty. In this situation, to speak up is to risk one's life or income. In Bangladesh, whether in business, in job or in politics, we readily agree with authority or risk getting into deep trouble.

Excessive loyalty or sycophancy has another human dimension. We will often do it for an afterwards reward knowing well that sycophancy is the only way to reach the top, or to get something. Here, merit, wisdom, integrity or experience is of no value.

We often hear that people are vile as they shamelessly run after power and authority, but they are far clever and realise that only sycophancy is the sure way to be somebody. In undemocratic conditions, Dr. F. A. Hayek, the Austrian free market legend and 1974 Nobel Prize winner in economics, fittingly tells, 'only the worst gets to the top'.

Bangabandhu was immensely popular but he was surrounded by self-seekers and sycophants. He did not live to see the true nature and character of his followers. Those who had pledged to give their lives for him were the first to run for cover. They were also the first to comment harshly about him, that they did not when he was living for the fear of losing their jobs and benefits.

Tarique Rahman, the legatee of another dynasty, had welcomed Sajiv as the new generation's new spirit to better the country. However, in politics, it is naïve to think that young age is imbued with stronger zeal or higher intelligence to produce something good. Knowledge, maturity, ideas, beliefs, do not come at young age. These take time.

Prophethood was bestowed on Hazrat Mohammed [SM] when he was 40 and not before, despite the showings of remarkable greatness at his younger age. But, he had a Message for humanity and struggled to teach us values and righteousness. King and dynasties, with their greed for power and authority, have nothing to offer other than war, hate, widespread poverty and exploitation.

Bangabandhu's grandson, Sajiv, has come to visit his home country but his visit has surprisingly become a political party's public celebration. Such public parade or open celebration would not perhaps have happened if the wife was a deshi. Sajiv is not a member of the party and still the party hierarchy must queue up to receive the couple is disgraceful for a 50-year old people's organisation.

Bangabandhu, returned as a hero from the prisons to a free Bangladesh had disappointed the people when he graced his dynasty into active politics. This was vastly disliked but Bangabandhu ignored the discontent and forgot about his earlier promises of democracy. The sycophants cheering the entry of his dynasty into politics had probably reassured Bangabandhu that his step was accurate.

Pakistan's President Field Marshal Ayub Khan [1958-1968] was opposed by Bangabandhu for doling out favours to his dynasty. Bangladeshi people had deeply disliked Ayub Khan for his autocratic rule with his sycophants reigning supreme.

Bangabandhu's agitation for justice, parity and democratic rule gained ground on the dictatorial blunders of Ayub but Mujib himself forgot the past and indulged himself into monocracy.

His grandson's entry into politics with his American wife is considered similar to Sonia Gandhi's political role and steadfastness. But, Sonia's Congress did not win the polls by her merit or of the Congress party's, but for the failures and excesses of BJP. BJP's Gujarat episode and their improper assertion that India's economy is shining cost them the government.

Macro figures can shine and so can graphs but our economic fact is different. The mathematical and computer generated figures hide truth. It is hard to believe those figures when reality is something horribly different. When people do not shine, those figures are untruthful, but plenty of money and time is spent to present those to the nation.

The now extinct Soviet Union used to claim tremendous economic progress but the woeful conditions were hid behind their Iron Curtain. Likewise, the strong macro fundamentals and the continuous assertion of the experts weave Bangladesh's 'bamboo curtain' but through it, plainly visible are our poverty. Ask the common people, not the armchair experts, if we want to hear the real story.

Dynasties in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, despite their involvement have done nothing significant for democracy or the economy, rather they have stymied democracy and economic potential by trying to hold on to power and corruption.

We wish the couple an enjoyable visit and safe return. The government is doing the right thing in providing them security but the law, not the rulers, must provide the same to those who criticise autocracy, for Bangladesh to become truly democratic.

Nizam Ahmad is Director of Bangladesh's first and only free market organisation called MOER (Making Our Economy Right, founded in 1991) and since 2002, he is with International Policy Network [IPN] as a researcher.