There was once a man who had no army, no money, and certainly no WhatsApp IT cell to spread his message. Yet, he took on the might of an empire, rallied millions behind him, and built a nation with an idea. His name? Mahatma Gandhi.
Contrast that with Rahul Gandhi, who does have an army—his party, does have money—courtesy of Congress coffers, and certainly has an IT cell—though whether it works for him or against him is another debate. Yet, election after election, he finds himself on the wrong end of the people’s verdict. Why?
Because while Modi is selling a dream—whether one agrees with it or not—Rahul is merely selling an opposition.
The truth is, you don’t win elections just by pointing fingers at the ruling party and shouting, “They’re bad! They’re ruining the country! Beware!”
People don’t vote for doom and gloom. They vote for hope. They vote for a vision. They vote for someone who can make them believe in something larger than themselves.
Mahatma Gandhi didn’t just tell people that British rule was terrible. He gave them a dream—a free India, where every citizen, regardless of caste or creed, had a voice. Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t just say racism was bad. He gave people a dream—one where his children could walk hand in hand with white children. Even Modi, love him or hate him, doesn’t just bash Congress all day. He sells a dream of Viksit Bharat, of a global powerhouse, of national pride.
And Rahul? Well, he seems to be selling one idea that “Modi must go.”
Now, if Rahul Gandhi wants to start winning elections, he needs to do what successful leaders have done throughout history—give people a dream they can believe in. A dream of an India where there is freedom of speech, where journalists don’t fear speaking the truth, where young entrepreneurs aren’t crushed by bureaucratic hurdles, and where progress isn’t just about GDP numbers but about genuine development at the grassroots.
Rahul needs to ask himself: What kind of India does he want to create? And more importantly, can he make people believe in it?
The only way forward is to capture the imagination of the people, to paint a picture of an India where they see themselves thriving, and to show how Congress is the vehicle to get there.
So, here’s some free advice, Rahul: Take some time off, sit down, and dream of the India you want to build for the people! Then, sell us that dream.
Maybe, a democracy we can feel proud of. A future we can work towards.
Because, as history has shown us time and again, people don’t follow those who just criticize the present—they follow those who can lead them into a better tomorrow…!
The Author conducts an online, eight session Writers and Speakers Course. If you’d like to join, do send a thumbs-up to WhatsApp number 9892572883 or send a message to bobsbanter@gmail.com
