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It is truly a mixed blessing that 'Prathibha Tai', as she is more popularly called, is the President of the Republic of India. In an age when the country is straining every sinew to free itself from the shackles of poverty, unemployment and more importantly, women upliftment, her selection, though mired in controversy and mudslinging, serves as a shot in the arm to press the 33% women's reservation in the Parliament of India.

Every nation needs a welcome break. And we in India, who are a set of people famed for our deep-rooted morales,the power of unity and endurance,would like to leave behind the grays and blacks of our past, and only surge forward. Let time prove the President's ability to guide the nation .
As for us, we have learnt to tolerate and forgive our system and strive to bring it back to a new shape- a shape that will understand our true needs and cater accordingly.

To me, Pratibha Patil can best be described as India's Harriet Myers. Propelled to center stage by a morally and intellectually depleted political system which did not even bring up and question her imperfect past prudently enough, Ms. Patil is now being championed as the representative of the Indian womanhood. Go figure! That is truly a sad state of affairs of the Indian presidency (even though it is ceremonial, for most parts). Can Ms. Patil truly represent the Indian nation to the global audience? I think not.

Bottom line: Mr. Kalam will be a tough act to follow, and I predict that future Indian presidencies will be judged by the bar that Mr. Kalam has set.

Politicians will be politicians, whether in India or elsewhere in the world. It is a special breed - evolved after mutation in the general DNA sequence in humans. Therefore, they are bound to be the same and behave in a particular manner everywhere. And, till we keep selecting politicians for any position anywhere in the world, we are bound to get 'shocks and setbacks'. Pratibha Patil is no aberration.

Though the issue of Ms. Patil's successor is five years away, I wish to point out that India is also overdue a President from the Northeast. I think Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the highest position so far occupied by any Indian from the region.

Women's liberation is not an issue here. Mrs. Gandhi was a leader of enormous stature for many years. A free Bangladesh is her legacy, and a result of her political will and determination. Much of India's recent boom is the result of Jawaharlal Nehru's and Indira Gandhi's progressive policies in the 60s,70s and 80s. There is much distortion to this day in the US media about non-aligned India's 'tilt' towards the Soviet Union. In fact, Mrs. Gandhi's was a policy that served India's national interests. India's priority was to bring many millions out of poverty, and socialism deserved a chance(whether it failed or succeeded is a different issue).

The Indian President has limited executive powers. but he/she is bound to uphold India's honor in the world, and serve the interests of the country,particularly the middle class,poor and minorities. Hopefully, Mrs. Patil will fill Mr. Kalam's shoes well.

Women's liberation is not an issue here. Mrs. Gandhi was a leader of enormous stature for many years. A free Bangladesh is her legacy, and a result of her political will and determination. Much of India's recent boom is the result of Jawaharlal Nehru's and Indira Gandhi's progressive policies in the 60s,70s and 80s. There is much distortion to this day in the US media about non-aligned India's 'tilt' towards the Soviet Union. In fact, Mrs. Gandhi's was a policy that served India's national interests. India's priority was to bring many millions out of poverty, and socialism deserved a chance(whether it failed or succeeded is a different issue).

The Indian President has limited executive powers. but he/she is bound to uphold India's honor in the world, and serve the interests of the country,particularly the middle class,poor and minorities. Hopefully, Mrs. Patil will fill Mr. Kalam's shoes well.

Women's liberation is not an issue here. Mrs. Gandhi was a leader of enormous stature for many years. A free Bangladesh is her legacy, and a result of her political will and determination. Much of India's recent boom is the result of Jawaharlal Nehru's and Indira Gandhi's progressive policies in the 60s,70s and 80s. There is much distortion to this day in the US media about non-aligned India's 'tilt' towards the Soviet Union. In fact, Mrs. Gandhi's was a policy that served India's national interests. India's priority was to bring many millions out of poverty, and socialism deserved a chance(whether it failed or succeeded is a different issue).

The Indian President has limited executive powers. but he/she is bound to uphold India's honor in the world, and serve the interests of the country,particularly the middle class,poor and minorities. Hopefully, Mrs. Patil will fill Mr. Kalam's shoes well.

Women's liberation is not an issue here. Mrs. Gandhi was a leader of enormous stature for many years. A free Bangladesh is her legacy, and a result of her political will and determination. Much of India's recent boom is the result of Jawaharlal Nehru's and Indira Gandhi's progressive policies in the 60s,70s and 80s. There is much distortion to this day in the US media about non-aligned India's 'tilt' towards the Soviet Union. In fact, Mrs. Gandhi's was a policy that served India's national interests. India's priority was to bring many millions out of poverty, and socialism deserved a chance(whether it failed or succeeded is a different issue).

The Indian President has limited executive powers. but he/she is bound to uphold India's honor in the world, and serve the interests of the country,particularly the middle class,poor and minorities. Hopefully, Mrs. Patil will fill Mr. Kalam's shoes well.

Women's liberation is not an issue here. Mrs. Gandhi was a leader of enormous stature for many years. A free Bangladesh is her legacy, and a result of her political will and determination. Much of India's recent boom is the result of Jawaharlal Nehru's and Indira Gandhi's progressive policies in the 60s,70s and 80s. There is much distortion to this day in the US media about non-aligned India's 'tilt' towards the Soviet Union. In fact, Mrs. Gandhi's was a policy that served India's national interests. India's priority was to bring many millions out of poverty, and socialism deserved a chance(whether it failed or succeeded is a different issue).

The Indian President has limited executive powers. but he/she is bound to uphold India's honor in the world, and serve the interests of the country,particularly the middle class,poor and minorities. Hopefully, Mrs. Patil will fill Mr. Kalam's shoes well.

Women's liberation is not an issue here. Mrs. Gandhi was a leader of enormous stature for many years. A free Bangladesh is her legacy, and a result of her political will and determination. Much of India's recent boom is the result of Jawaharlal Nehru's and Indira Gandhi's progressive policies in the 60s,70s and 80s. There is much distortion to this day in the US media about non-aligned India's 'tilt' towards the Soviet Union. In fact, Mrs. Gandhi's was a policy that served India's national interests. India's priority was to bring many millions out of poverty, and socialism deserved a chance(whether it failed or succeeded is a different issue).

The Indian President has limited executive powers. but he/she is bound to uphold India's honor in the world, and serve the interests of the country,particularly the middle class,poor and minorities. Hopefully, Mrs. Patil will fill Mr. Kalam's shoes well.

Good for her, but I'm surprised she wasn't aborted as a baby just for being a girl and not a boy.

To clarify, my earlier post criticized Mr. Akbar's journalism credentials. To answer it by pointing out his religion is shocking and bigoted. Zakaria is an excellent journalist. Akbar is not. Their religion has nothing to do with it.

If you think about it, Sonia Gandhi was the least fitted person in India for the role of leader of India's major political party. Yet the party won a general election under her leadership and she is probably now more experienced in public life than her late husband ever was.

And take Phoolan Devi who became a parliamentarian representing a constituency of the oppressed and took on a liquor mafia that probably finally got her.

The point merely is, that right or wrong, public office in India's democracy forces people to play roles much larger in scope than their individual persona. So Pratibha Patil too might grow more suited to her post as President of India than she is presently.

This is just a pious hope, not a certainty, of course. As already pointed out, it did not need to be this way and if Sonia Gandhi, her partymen and their leftist allies and their voters had been sounder people, it wouldn't have been this way; but what is done is done and one can just hope.

First this lady(Pratibha Patil) is accused of helping to cover-up the killing done by her brother.

Second she started blade company (Financial scheme where poor people will be lured for investing saying they will get large interest & giving loans to others with very hig interest) and stole money by declaring bankruptcy (This is very common, please refer latest multicrore himalaya case)

Now In this forum everybody is upset about what Akbar said

No wonder she got elected.

I appreciate the comments on faith of Journalist.we may achieve any academic degree or intellectual standards but we are confined to the same dirty standards and discussing the religion politics theories and expecting miracles from our fraternity of literate class.It proves nothing but our moral bankcruptcy.
It is sad story.
What MJ Akabar has written about Pratibha Patil is true.She deserves this highest office,despite of being a woman,she has to her credit all the feathers that the contemporary politicians have,she has made best use of her positions to advance her family interests.That's how we Indians are,selfserving and since Pratibha tai has proved her credentials in her earlier assignements,she deserves the highest office of the country to further progress the agenda of her family interests.As President of India she will have all the powers to Pardon her brother if at all convicted in the murder case of a political rival.

I agree with those of you who opine Madam Patil is a bad choice. There is no comparing between Dr. Kalam and Madam Patil.
Someone who thinks she has had conversation with a Dead Guru should see a psychoanlayst before becoming President of India.
Bad choice indeed.

The role of the President in India is ceremonial and has no power. In reality President can lend an effective voice to ethical standards, in the private discussions. India did have persons of eminence as Presidents in the past. Dr. Radhakrishnan, Dr. Zakir Hussain are the names that comes to one's mind. Dr. Kalam is in the same mould of great persons. When such people of honesty and merit occupy the Presidient's chair they bring a sense of comfort because in the event of excesses of the Ruling Party, a dissenting voice from the President, though not legally binding, will have a enormous force in checking abuse of powers by the politicians. Put in a poor and bad choice like this Madam Patil, the politicians will have a field day.

After the glorious days of Dr. Kalam, choosing Madam Patil is a horrible choice ,made by the ruling party, which itself is being led by a corrupt lady. Birds of a feather it seems.

The role of the President in India is ceremonial and has no power. In reality President can lend an effective voice to ethical standards, in the private discussions. India did have persons of eminence as Presidents in the past. Dr. Radhakrishnan, Dr. Zakir Hussain are the names that comes to one's mind. Dr. Kalam is in the same mould of great persons. When such people of honesty and merit occupy the Presidient's chair they bring a sense of comfort because in the event of excesses of the Ruling Party, a dissenting voice from the President, though not legally binding, will have a enormous force in checking abuse of powers by the politicians. Put in a poor and bad choice like this Madam Patil, the politicians will have a field day.

After the glorious days of Dr. Kalam, choosing Madam Patil is a horrible choice ,made by the ruling party, which itself is being led by a corrupt lady. Birds of a feather it seems.

I am not surprised to see the comments in this blog. Most Indian's deserve this kind of treatment. They don't participate in general elections, they vote based on caste, region and bulk of vote bank is based on religious fatwa. Congress has done very well to serve Indian public in last 60 years - no better than British used to. We are second class citizen in our country. Vote bank politics rules by dividing country and society - Congress always!!
Current Prime Minister and would be President, both will be in a foreigners hand. Communist and regional parties have no national interest.
Fools will be thinking of a change in Indian politcal class.

India was fortunate to have been lead by qualified technocrats like Kalam and Manmohar Singh. These leaders not only lead by example but also set out a clear vision for where the country could go. Unfortunately, Patil's appointment sets the country back to the era of political cronysim and corruption. The post of the president is largely a ceremonial one but a truly capable and visionary leader like Kalam can create an impact by being an inspiration to the people.

First of all I am deeply disappointed by the comments this article has received from religious bigots. It is a true shame that journalists as capable as Mr. Akbar, and articles that are as astute as the one here, are at the receiving end of mindless bigotry. I would strongly recommend that moderating comments would go a long way in maintaining the WP brand name.

As to the article itself, I think it just misses one key point. Historically presidential seat has seen a bizzare degree of 'show' candidates - we have had three Muslim presidents and a backward caste hindu, and another religious minority - Sikh and certainly that isn't by accident but by design.

Indians are always fighting among themselves...What will be the future of India?

President Kalam was best of the lot. His powers were limited, and he can only use words to instill hope. He has no budget to spend for his vision.But, his vision gave hope to many. The rest of them are midgets elected on caste basis or like the left on a fraudulent 19th century economic theory which bakrupted many in the world and continues to hold back economic progress in Kerala and West Bengal.I hope if Prathibha Patel is elected she will act independently and give hope to Indians.

India has had women as prime minister, representative in UN (almost 5 decades back), booker prize winners, movie directors, corporate CEOs, mayors, heads of states, governors, members of military, pilots; women in india do almost all the jobs that men do; they do it better, well and are the firsts in some categories even compared to western world. Why is it unique that a woman becomes a president of India, it is just another of their accomplishments. At the same time, should one take a morally corrupt, inept, politically partisan, bigot person to be the next president just because that person happens to be a woman? If you say, all male candidates were like that and so why Indians can't have an inept and corrupt woman president, please join the celebrations in New Delhi.

I could not agree more about the characterization of Mrs Patil : Holier than thou in public, shadier than thou in private.

For thsoe who have attacked Mr M J Akbars character - they are farcical - because Mr Akbar is not a candidate for the post of President of India.

It is fascinating to read how people drag one side to the other way of the world.The topic raised was Indian President. Pratibha Patel, soon going to be the first female President of India is very inspiring model to the youngsters of world most developing country India. I guess Present is more important than future.Nominating and electing one of the female President in India itself is, I had written above a very astonishing act for the future women. It is like give us a girl and we will return it as a Lady.It is very easy to judge a person, without being in their shoes.

I was wonderig how long it would be before someone made a reference to "Islamic Terrorist". Navin, you get the prize...how imaginative!

Sanjay,
When I talked about the vision, it was not that of Congress or whichever party you name. I was talking about Mr.Kalam's vision - Vision 2020 etc.

Sanjay:
Is stopping Mrs. Gandhi sufficient enough? Even so, if he had power to stop Mrs. Gandhi, why did not use more of it to effect what he preached and asked others to dream? Why did he distribute dreams like credit stamps of a bankrupt bank? While Mrs. Patil is expected to abuse her power as the president, Mr. Kalam is guilty of underusing it or using it for nothing, even for things he purportedly believes in. I am not critical of him as a person: For all his admirable personality traits, he was a near-so failure as a president. He had everything to make a difference, but he did not act. Mrs. Patil, with her legacy so far, is hopeless, unless her dead guru 'redeems' her in next 5 years. So, I dont want to talk about her.

M.J. Akbar and Pratibha Patil both are hooked at the hip via congress party. At a basic level both are frauds.

Ms. Patil is an apologist for the Congress Party and M.J. Akbar is a apologist for Islamic Terrorists.

As simple as that. I followed Pratibha and MJ for thirty plus years. They are very consistent in their thinking.

Topic of discussion is Pratibha Patil - not Akbar or Zakaria! Please, please, please limit your postings to the topic as hand.

Mr.Akbar and Mr. Zakharia are both excellent journalists. If they happened to be Muslims, so be it. They did not carry their religion on their sleeves and their religion has not coloured their writings.
Mr. Akbar has very correctly pointed out the low level to which the presidential elections has nose dived in India. The leftist leaders who are acting as extra and super constitutional powers behind the Government, wanted a politician with stature, as the President. They opposed Kalam last time. This time too they said no to him for a second term, even though the whole country wanted him to continue. They said no to the candidature of Shivajirao Patil and Karan Singh. "They lacked stature". When Sonia Gandhi, in desperation, proposed Pratibha Patil's name, Karat et al. were caught in a trap. They could not veto a woman, so they said yes, stature be damned. So, our leftist parties and particularly the CPM leader Mr.Karat has to bear a large share of the responsibilty for the mess India has landed itself in. This is what happens when an unelected leader has power without responsibility and accountability.

I am sorry. My previous post was in response to what "Dionysus Diogenes" had posted and not Devesh as i have mentioned in my post.

Mr. Akbar's views and the various comments posted either in support or against the presidential choice clearly demonstrate the need for a concerted action by the Indian citizenry to rid themselves from the clutches of the corrupt parliamentary establishment. It is true that "morally bankrupt and sycophantic nature of the bulk of the Indian political intelligentsia" is very much alive and thriving well in India simply because the Indian masses tolerate such excesses waiting for some messiah to deliver them.
Jai - It is precisely because of this tolerance a few elite families have taken advantage of and clung to the power with relative ease and highhandedness. It is not the President elect who needs a fair chance, but the ordinary Indian who has been dreaming of a just and fair India for the past 60 years.

This can only be done at the polls.

Dr. Kalam does not need my defense. However, I question as to his being called a "bizarre populist". He may have been quite different from the kind of politicians who are usually nominted for the post. I think he has distinguished himself very well, considering that the post of a President doesn't carry many responsibilities and powers, save in extraordinary circumstances.

As to Mrs. Patil, she seems to be definitely from the usual mold. I do not know anything about her. I wonder what happened to the short list everybody had, at the time Dr. Kalam was chosen. I know one or two from that list may have passed away.

As to Mr. Akbar, and Mr. Zakaria, it is totally unnecessary to drag their religion into question, while discussing their opinions. I have listened to Mr. Zakaria on occasion on the television shows, and haven't been overwhelmed by his insight. Of course with the provincialism evinced by the US pundits, anybody with a foreign background, who can objectively question the government's short-sighted policies would naturally come across as a raving intellect.

I am very sorry to hear personal and patently false attacks on MJ Akbar and Farid Zakaria on religious grounds. I am an Indian, and proud of the accomplishments of these two gentlemen from my country. To insinuate that that their professional judgement is clouded by their religious beliefs only exposes the bigotry of the accuser.

To Devesh,
You ask what has Mr. Kalam done for India. Well the best thing he did for India was that he stopped the superbly ambitious Ms. Sonia Gandhi dead in her tracks and put to rest her ambitions of becoming the Prime Minister. That she still contiues to rule India behind the scenes and in the process cause irrepairable damage to the country is another matter. Plus he has braught tremendous amount of dignity to the office of the President by refusing to be a stooge of the Congress Party and the communists. That is why they oppose him. Just wait and see how Ms. Patil will agree to all the extra-constitutional manouevarings that the Congress and the Communists will engage in once she becomes the President. You talk about vision - the only vision that the Congress and the Communists have is how to loot the country, promote corruption and impede any progress that the country makes. The results after 40 years of Socialist rule was for everyone to see - India had to go begging to the World Bank when its foriegn exchange reserves were almost depleted. The World bank forced India to free up its economy, while Mr. Singh conveniently took credit for it. There was no other alternative that India had at that time.

People familiar with Indian politics know that Mr. Akbar was a member of the Indian National Congress and an active politician some time ago. I won't comment on his journalistic qualities nor him as an individual, because it not worth the time.

As far as the President's post is concerned, I believe Mr. Kalam was the only individual who brought dignity, integrity and respect to this office. He, for one showed that even the President's office which is mostly ceremonial, can be a balancing factor and has certain powers that can humble even the likes of Ms. Sonia Gandhi. Imagine that during a get-to-gether with India's who's who (in politics), Dr. Manmohan Singh, thought to be India's cleanest politician had to have a chat with the President to probe his mind on what he, the President planned to do with the Office-of-profit amendment bill, that was sent to him for a second time.
Mr. Kalam was an individual, who had no scandals evenly remotely connected with his name. Alas, good times have to come to an end sometime and it is inevitable that Indian has to go back to it's old ways.

I feel so proud every time I read a new Fareed's article. His religion as nothing negative with anything he rights - but he is uniquely Indian in mindset - deep thinker, covering all angles, idealistic and seeking perfection in world and his work.

Akbar with all his warts and all, is a good choice for this forum. He does have some deep insights and "plugged in"to Indian scene.

The audience for his forum, as evident from postings, is far more intellectual than average media consumers. We are capable of filtering and sorting thru the views and biases.

Lets stick to the point at hand and Akbar was on point with Ms.Patel.

To Devesh:

What has Mr.Kalam done after all his promises, and techy talks? He might have been the first president of any country to use powerpoint slides in office. His achievements stop there. What else he achieved despite his much hyped vision..? Created a new science culture in India? Was he able to create a path to bring millions of young deprived children to schools and full nourishment? He was not even able to create or help create an institution for higher research and development despite his vision speaks of science redeeming the society. He was a good politician - a non-political politician who was able to sell his dreams as a book (hope he gets enough royalty out of it's sales) or books. He was more talky than anything concrete. Good person, yes. Good scientist, yes. Good president,..Nay. He could have done a lot with the popularity he had. As usual he lacked the courage. His vision ended with audience of his talks. He brought dreams and then, utter disappointment to those who believed in them and him - intelligensia of the country. People of his clout rarely get to office as he did and now, he had laid his chance waste. Ms. Patil is expected not to dream, have vision, talk techy, or make things possible - and she would not disappoint. Isn't it what Indians need after some one like Mr.Kalam?

Mr. Akbar is well known commentator to those who are in touch with India's current political situation . Therefore his observational are always welcome. Guess the only thing that is new in this scencerio is why did it take congress to select one of their puppet to be the presidential candidate with a very shady past.The holier than Pope Left exposes itself to hypocrisy of being unwilling to stand on principle becauseof their current political clot or actually more of their survival. without congress they are doomed so really they make noise and than wage the tail.A pathetic commentary on the political parties for a powerless and ceremoonial office.

Well, this happens to be my first post here. And the reason I had to do it was because a couple of posts wrongly insinuated that the reason Mr. Akbar was invited to post an Article was because of his religion by a a fellow religionist.
Mr. Fareed Zakaria is an excellent Journalist, whose columns I regularly read in Newsweek. His viewpoints, if taken seriously by the U.S. govt would go a long way in improving our image in the rest of the world. And while not familiar with Mr. Akbar's previous writings, I feel he has correctly pointed out that the selection of Ms. Patil for the post of the President has everything to do with loyalty to the Gandhi family and nothing to do with advancing the cause of women in India, as the Congress Party and the Leftists claim. That they have managed to fool a large number of Indians, including educated ones,into believing this, goes on to prove why such morally bankrupt and hypocrite politicians are ruling India today. Indians get the politicians they deserve.
As for Mr. Kalam, India was very lucky to have a President of his stature, and it will be a long time before we see someone like him again. We will miss you Mr. Kalam.
As someone else has also pointed out, please leave the faith of Mr. Akbar and Mr. Zakaria out of this.

Thanks for the post. Fareed or anyone in Post.

Although neither of the two gentleman need my defense, I cannot let these attacks on Akbar and then Zakaria pass without posting my protest.

I do not know much about Asian Age but Mr. Akbar was instrumental in getting the paper The Telegraph started and take on the old Calcutta institution of The Statesman successfully. His foray into politics was short lived but he did beat the Indian Wahabi Mr. Syed Shahabuddin at his home turf. I also have fond memories of the debates arranged my Mr. Akbar on issues of the day with intellectual heavyweights at the indoor stadium from my college days. I learned a lot about civilized debates from those sessions.

Also, it is odd that people complain about Akbar and Zakaria's religion. Both of them have shown in their career that they act as journalists and commentators who happen to be Muslim. I have no idea how religious they are but that certainly did not color their judgments - not that I agree with all their judgments.

Regrading Miss Patil - as a political junkie I was surprised to find a presidential candidate whose accomplishments are not known to me. After that whatever came out regarding her did not make me proud. I was not in favor of Mr. Kalam continuing - we should have a turnover in these positions but Congress definitely failed the country with its choice.

It is shameful to see some of the commenters above dragging in Mr. Akbars' religion unnecessarily. It is one thing to question his political background and affiliation, but leave his religion alone. I am quite sure that he does so when he is presenting his opinions.

When Mrs. Patil's name was first announced it was a shocker. But after it was unearthed that she also has a fair share of exploits ( looting money, hiding crime etc), there was a sense of relief all around that after all, she is not a newbie. Left wanted someone from the political class and yes, India has delivered a real political president to the left!!

To Arun Kumar,

Kalam a bizarre populist?
What was bizarre about him? Please enlighten.
And what populist leaning actions he took as president, holding a largely ceremonial office? Please expound.

Kalam is a scientist and a gentleman. If nothing, he has conducted himself honorably, has been a source of inspiration to many young Indians and has glorified the office he held by showing that one doesnt have to be a down and dirty politician or a stooge of politicians to get to the highest office in the country.

Mr. Akbar's faith (or that of Dr. Fareed Zakaria) has nothing to do with this posting. Please do not drag extraneous and utterly unrelated elements into the discussion. Mr. Akbar is an eminently qualified journalist and writer. And President APJ Abul Kalam is no "populist" - unlike professional politicians in India who come to power solely to serve - themselves and their bank accounts, Kalam is a scientist, thinker and true public servant. That's why he's leaving Rashtrapati Bhavan with 2 suitcases - full of his belongings, and not bribe money. And how much did Ms. Mayawati (her name serves her exceedingly well) declare her assets to be, with the Election Commission? Rs. 520 million ($ 13 million) - all on an honest teacher's salary. Wow - amazing! The main reason why I was critical of Mr. Akbar's posting was his apparent hypocrisy in being critical of the Congress' pathetic choice for President, given the fact that he himself was part of the Congress Party, having been elected to Parliament from Bihar. Congress, and just about every political party in India ranging from the right-wing BJP nut jobs to the armchair-communist-but-halfway-in-the-closet-capitalist Left Front, who are oh-so infatuated with Beijing, is full of hypocrites of the highest order.

Why the Journalist's faith has to be attacked. I don't know Mr. Akbar, but he has right to his point of view. It is a disgrace that the largest democracy in the world is conducting its election in such manner. Person's credentials not their faith should matter.

Why the Journalist's faith has to be attacked. I don't know Mr. Akbar, but he has right to his point of view. It is a disgrace that the largest democracy in the world is conducting its election in such manner. Person's credentials not their faith should matter.

Why the Journalist's faith has to be attacked. I don't know Mr. Akbar, but he has right to his point of view. It is a disgrace that the largest democracy in the world is conducting its election in such manner. Person's credentials not their faith should matter.

Mr. Akbar - you were yourself part and parcel of the Indian National Congress, having been elected from Kishenganj Constituency in 1989 in the shadiest of Indian states - Bihar. Since you have sampled Indian politics first hand, why the seeming element of surprise in the choice of Pratibha Patil, a no-namer amongst equally dubious and worthless politicians ? As much as I disagree with the choice of the incompetent candidate, I am not really surprised by it, as I personally set the bar very low, especially for a party that revolves around a family that hasn't produced any son (or woman)-of-the-soil since the late Jawahar Lal Nehru, whose biography you wrote so elegantly. For decades now, sycophancy, not meritocracy, has been the operating principle of Indian political parties. Indira Gandhi took this to heart, and so did your former chum, Rajiv Gandhi. I do agree with you that India needs statesmen and apolitical/non-partisan public servants, like the outgoing President and the current PM, and not professional politicians prone to lying and voodoo from sunrise to sunset. But let's give her a fair chance, irrespective of her most dubious track record. The oft-ridiculed Zail Singh was written off at the very beginning, and he showed a healthier respect and deeper understanding of the Indian Constitution than Rajiv Gandhi, who thought than a 420 seat majority in parliament was a ticket to run over the Constitution.