If there is one thing Rahul Gandhi has perfected, it is the art of delivering statements with misplaced confidence. His repeated attempts at invoking Hindu mythology only expose his lack of understanding, making us wonder if he genuinely believes what he says or simply relies on his coterie’s half-baked coaching.
Take, for instance, his recent tirade in Parliament about India being caught in a ‘Chakravyuha’ – a term he refers to with impressive incorrectness. That clip has gine viral on social media. While Abhimanyu’s tragic tale from the ‘Mahabharata’ is a lesson in strategy and sacrifice, Rahul’s version sounds like a bedtime story gone horribly wrong. The Congress scion confidently declared that six warriors trapped Abhimanyu – Dronacharya, Karna, Kripacharya, Kritavarma, Ashwathama, and Shakuni. The problem? Shakuni, that master manipulator, was never part of the Chakravyuha. In reality, it was Dushasana and Shalya, not Kritavarma and Shakuni, who held those positions. A minor oversight, unless you consider it is coming from the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Rahul’s grasp of Hindu epics seems to derive less from careful study and more from coffee-table chats with Uncle Sam (Pitroda) or lectures from the imaginary George Soros University. What is tragic, or comic, is his attempt to rebrand the Chakravyuha as a metaphor for the government’s ‘lotus trap’, completely oblivious to the actual symbolism of the formation. Lotus is the ruling BJP’s party symbol.
‘Daro mat, darao mat’ – but where?
Equally baffling are his repeated references to Shiva’s supposed wisdom, with Rahul boldly proclaiming in Parliament that ‘Shiva said, ‘Daro mat, darao mat.’ It sounds noble, but one wonders where he found this gem. The ‘Shiv Puran’ or any of the recognised Hindu texts make no mention of such words. If there is a source, Rahul should enlighten us. If there is none, he should perhaps refrain from attributing stray WhatsApp forwards to revered deities.
This is not the first time his philosophical forays have ended in embarrassment. Whether it is his clumsy attempts to invoke Shri Krishna during speeches or garbling terms like Tapasya and Karma, Rahul’s understanding of Hinduism seems to be a peculiar cocktail of borrowed ideas and poor homework.
Foot-in-mouth and the grand tradition
Let us not forget his earlier statements, in which he managed to conflate Hindu identity with political discourse. His self-declaration as a Janeu-dhari Hindu (a sacred thread-wearing Hindu) comes across as laughable when juxtaposed with his ignorance of the religion he claims to represent. His speeches are stitched together with random mythological terms, strategically dropped in the hope of sounding profound.
By his hilariously naive takes on Hindu philosophy, Rahul has repeatedly provided fodder for the ruling alliance’s amusement. His mentions of the Mahabharata and Shiva may have been aimed at connecting with the electorate, but they only serve to remind the audience of his persistent struggle with facts.
Sad state of the opposition
In a country as politically vibrant as India, the role of the Leader of Opposition is not a trivial one. Rahul Gandhi, however, seems to be fumbling through the motions, guided by questionable mentors and superficial narratives. His speeches, riddled with factual errors and unintended hilarity, reflect poorly on him and the Congress party as a whole.
One can only imagine the ruling alliance’s glee every time Rahul steps up to speak. In their eyes, he is less a political opponent and more an unwitting entertainer. For the rest of us, his mythological mix-ups offer a grim reminder – when it comes to political leadership, half-baked knowledge is no substitute for wisdom.