India boasts several Nehru and Indira universities (about a hundred), a Rajiv Gandhi IIM, Rajiv Gandhi Sports Stadium and Rajiv Chowk and Indira Chowk in Delhi.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the Bandra-Worli Sea Link yesterday in Mumbai, and on the “suggestion” of Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, the Sea Link was named Rajiv Gandhi Setu.
The Government of India spent GBP 3.2 million of taxpayer money towards establishing the Jawaharlal Nehru Professorship of Indian Business and Enterprise at Cambridge University. Thats about Rs. 25 crore to a foreign university, paid for by Indians.

Most recently, the Government of India named the new Indian Institute of Management in Shillong the “Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management” or RGIIM.

A. Surya Prakash filed a complaint to the Election Commission recently, questioning the naming of over 450 government programs, projects and institutions after the Nehru-Gandhi family. Never mind that the Chief Election Commissioner himself is a Gandhi family aficionado.

An Indian can live in Rajiv Chowk in Delhi, eat breakfast under the Rajiv Gandhi Breakfast Scheme, study at Cambridge under the Nehru Scholarship, from a Nehru Professor, and return to India (landing at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport or Indira Gandhi International Airport, of course) and teach at Rajiv Gandhi IIM. There is an institutionalized mutual admiration society of some central and state ministers coterie around the family who have no qualms even admitting that they are bootlickers and “jee huzoor” men.

Of course, it goes without saying that once they aren’t around, their children will take their place and they too will get a university, an expressway, a school or some other government-sponsored, taxpayer-funded project or institution named after them, honouring the legacy and contribution of the Great Leader.

The media will go into an orgy of celebrating the rise of youth in politics, and the sons and daughters of the deceased or retired will go on television vowing to follow in the footsteps of their illustrious parents, and the charade carries on.
Media barons don’t upset the apple cart by taking on the establishment, for which they are rewarded with Padma awards and Rajya Sabha seats by the government.

Recent Padma Shri recipients include Rajdeep Sardesai and Barkha Dutt. HT Media owner and chairperson Shobhana Bhartia also received a Padma Shri in 2005 for “journalism”, even though Ms. Bhartia may never have penned a column. Ms. Bhartia is also a Congress-nominated Rajya Sabha MP.

Maharashtra’s Sakaal is owned by the Pawars, and the Sun TV Group in South India is owned by billionaire Kalanithi Maran, who also happens to be DMK chief Karunanidhi’s nephew. It seems like either media has a strong political affiliation or it’s up for sale.

Can we expect these news organizations to report on their owners, patrons and brethren with professional integrity and journalistic courage?

Niranjan Rajadhyaksha in his column at Mint wonders whether India is in danger of heading towards oligarchic capitalism.
It seems like politics in India is becoming a Family Raj without exception. Whether it is the Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, Samajwadi Party or DMK, all practise Political Religion, some more shamelessly than others.

Their only interest is Family Interest, not National Interest, the cost for which is borne by the Indian citizen and taxpayer. Fruit sellers and moori-walas will remain just that all their lives.
The politician-media baron complex controls the newspapers, television channels and publications that set the direction for political debate and public discourse. The dice is loaded against Indian citizens and the aam aadmi.

The responsibility for corrupting Indian political culture in this fashion lies unequivocally with the Congress. As the national political party which was present when India became independent, the Congress set the precedent. The Congress has led by example.
Where will India’s leaders come from? Where is the place for merit? The party with a difference is in complete disarray.
Without it, it would be accurate to classify India as a banana republic.