Is India Ready for a Political President?

India is a Republic - its a known fact. The President of India is the nominal head of the State- this is also a known fact. It is an established fact too that the President of India is mere a rubber stamp. However, one of our past Presidents have shown us that rubber stamps too can influence the government policies! I am talking about the very efficient and probably the most favorite President of India- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.


Dr Kalam did what no other Presidents in the past did. He showed that even if a President cannot dictate the Parliament, he can at least register his disagreement to the policy proposals. It is a different matter that he then has to sign it (or not sign by keeping it in his office itself) after it is again referred to him. But why I am writing all this? Because, I am afraid- as a citizen of India- will the present President of India, who has transformed himself from the 'so much active politics' to a completely 'apolitical avatar' be able to keep the Highest position free of politics?

The ruling party- struggling most of the time with its coalition parties- is not able to pass the policies and laws of its choice (thanks to didis in east and south and bhaiyas in north). Can the President who is now a President due to this party only deny signing ordinances, bye laws and even orders of Presidential rules in states? Won't the Rashtrapati Bhavan become the backdoor for passing all those laws that can't be passed in the democratic temple of Parliament? Hope, this doesn't happen!

Many Indians are not happy that the President cannot speak Hindi well. With all due respect to our national language, I would also like to say that our favourite Dr Kalam was also not from a Hindi speaking state but this factor never came to anyone's mind. Does the Indians not able to recognize their real fear - the fear of being in the hands of 'Potential Political President'! Probably yes that's why they are debating about language known or unknown to the President forgetting the larger issue. Or may be, they know in their hearts of heart that 'We the Indians' cannot choose our President!

With all my fears in my mind, I pray that the Highest position of this largest democracy influence the first citizen of India magically and he be the very apolitical and a people's President! Amen!