On the eve of Indian Independence, towards midnight on August 14, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, delivered one of his most memorable speeches, which dealt with aspects that transcended Indian history. ‘Tryst with Destiny’, as the speech is known, is considered to be one of the finest speeches ever made by any political leader in the world.

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom,” he said.

While listening to the speeches of Rahul Gandhi, Nehru’s great-grandson, I am reminded of the statesman who guided Independent India to a hopeful future with great institutions and vision, not statues. Although Rahul may not be as wise or statesmanlike as his grandfather, he is not a toy leader, as some of his rivals would like to suggest. He maintains the scientific temperament that his great-grandfather stood for, and he has a global sensibility that is not against the interests of the nation. He knows the pulse of the world.
Since Rahul entered politics, he has faced more criticism than praise.

His opponents have called him names such as ‘Amul baby’ and ‘Pappu’. At first, his rivals thought he would never make it as a leader and ignored him, mocking him with silly jokes. However, the youth who witnessed the assassination of his grandmother and father was resolute and faced the mockery with grit.

Remember when he hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi after delivering a speech in Parliament? Such instances actually gave him an image makeover, which embarrassed his rivals who kept repeating the ‘Pappu’ rhetoric, without addressing the basic issues he raised for the interests of the nation. But such acts made Rahul more confident. After the political hug, which made headlines and caused embarrassment to Modi, a student asked Rahul why he chose to hug the Prime Minister. Rahul said he watched a ‘very angry’ Modi in Parliament running down his party, his late father Rajiv Gandhi, and mother Sonia. “So I thought that at least from my side, I should show him some affection.”

The youthful leader has gained the power to fight the odds, but his political rivals are sharpening their weapons against him. When he braved the climatic extremes and walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, wearing a T-shirt and growing his beard, those who verbally abused him felt the jolt. There were questions that the high and mighty in the corridors of power could not answer. When they have no answers, the best way is to attack the questioner in whatever ways possible. Even the motivation behind the recent case against him, which ultimately led to his disqualification from Parliament by a lower court, was political fear, according to political analysts.

But even this proved to be counterproductive for the rulers of India, who thought the young leader would be weakened once out of parliament. However, he knew well how to handle what his rivals thought his destiny would be.

The moment the court verdict came, the government was very quick to initiate follow-up measures to disqualify him as a people’s leader, thus preventing his entry into Parliament.

However, the public sentiment and even the political parties came together in support of the leader, indicating that there could be a political consolidation in the next parliamentary election.

We should not forget that Rahul Gandhi decided to take a bold step forward by launching the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) amidst the allegations against the rising wave of divisive forces attempting to pull the nation apart. This historic journey was flagged off from Kanyakumari on September 7, 2022, and covered nearly 4000 kilometers, mostly by foot, before reaching Srinagar after 136 days.

Not only did it serve as an image booster for the Congress party, but it also highlighted the pressing issues that continue to plague our nation’s secular fabric and economic backbone. From rampant unemployment and inflation to the politics of hate and division, the yatra addressed critical issues that sparked public debate on topics such as economic inequality, social polarization, and authoritarian politics.

This movement strengthened the Congress party’s grassroots connection while upholding the nation’s liberal, secular ethos and celebrating its rich cultural diversity.

Unlike many others, Rahul has a ‘boy next door’ image and the stature of a national leader with a global vision, both of which were further strengthened by BJY. He has a political tradition rooted in the nationalist movement and is well aware of his social and political responsibilities. He responsibly raises his voice against corruption that makes the rich richer overnight.

What is more baffling is that the ruling class is not ready to answer the very basic questions that he has raised over the last few years, including the BJY. The rush to disqualify him following the court order is not seen in answering the questions that echo in the socio-political landscape of the country.

Regardless of who the electorate chooses to rule the nation, Rahul has solidified his identity as a leader of the people, and this will remain a strong foundation for him even if he is not in parliament.

As an expatriate, I humbly request the Congress leadership to consider reaching out to the NRI community and establishing a strong foundation overseas. The overseas Indian community also holds a stake in Indian politics, and it is crucial that the younger generation growing up abroad learn about the party that led India to independence.

A well-planned strategy to connect with the diaspora can be highly beneficial for the party, and help it expand its support base beyond national borders.