War of the Royal Class
I think there are too many politicians who are concerned about our Minister of State Shashi Tharoor. He looks handsome even at this age, has worked in the UN, has a huge celebrity image among the urban youth of India which not many politicians enjoy, is rich and stays in a 5 star hotel. These are reasons enough for the majority of politicians (including the ones from his own party) to be jealous of him. And as the first “Twitter Minister” of India, he has been making news too.
Congress party says that Shashi Tharoor made a derogatory statement about the economy class of India, calling it the “Cattle Class”. Thanks to Tharoor, I have learned a new word that is used to refer to the economy class in the airlines. But it seems like not everybody has taken the effort to learn the word. The Congress has come in open against it’s own MoS, accusing him of insulting the economy class and that leaves me a bit curious. The attack was vicious and over nothing and they even went ahead and said that the High Command would decide if it should ask Tharoor to step down from the minister-ship!
It is amusing, because it was Kanchan Gupata, the editor of pro-BJP newspaper Pioneer, that used the term first on his question to Shashi Tharoor, but the Congress party is against it’s own minister! I wonder why. Is it because they thought that the “Holy Cows” reference was to the G family? Or is it it because the entire Congress clan is not so happy with the popular image that Shashi Tharoor enjoys so that they wanted to do something about him? We all know that the Congress wants no other celebrity in it’s fold except the ones from Gandhi family. And the G family has been in the news all over with its recent austerity drive, though it’s making it expensive to keep them austere.
And now the loyal servant has bowed down before the Queen. He said sorry. Her Majesty , the Prince and their loyal servants should be happy now.
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September 18th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Jo,
No individual is above the party. That’s the most essence of every political party, and that is one thing which people like Tharoor – who is drafted into the Ministership and MP-ship without any experience in working among people – should learn. When the whole government led by Congress is advocating austerity, its only that everyone in the party is expected to follow it.
Even if Kanchan Gupta has asked, he could have replied it in a different way. When Gupta is referring to people traveling in Economy as cattle, Tharoor with all his experience in UN should have identified it is a bait. But instead he has commented in a silly way on a public forum, which is not expected when you are representing a party, people and a ministry. I sincerely believe that. And believe me if he was a true politician, I am pretty sure he must have answered in different way. Shashi Tharoor, I personally believe is too early for Ministership. He should have worked among people before he took up any major posts. That’s what he should have done.
September 18th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Dhanush: What I have learned after this silly controversy is that Cattle Class is not a term invented by Gupta, but a common term referring to economy class and it seems even Oxford dictionary has added the word to it. Then why should Mr. Tharoor hold himself off from using the same term? And I don’t think Tharoor is representing his party or the ministry alone in his Twitter account. His bio describes his multi-dimensional personality so as a peson he should be free to express. And for that first line of yours (“No individual is above the party”), that almost made me think that you are a communist.
I hope we still live in a democracy.
And I will soon quote from a new source about the so-called Austerity move.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Hi, I totally agree with you. This has been blown way out of proportion and methinks a certain green eyed monster is to be blamed for it.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I wonder how many people truly understand what the term ‘cattle’ class means. It refers to the conditions in which people in economy have to travel – cramped , lack of leg space etc etc. It does NOT insinuate that people in economy are cattle !!! But even if that is what people think it means, I dont see why its considered an affront, given the cow’s ‘holy’ status.
Surely the Congress has real issues to address?
September 18th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
True. I do have communist heart, and I do not deny it. But I have never been in active politics at any level and nor do I advertise communism everywhere. I love it for its ideas, not because of the party in Kerala or anywhere else.
But the term party comes first is same for all parties. Do you think Jaswant Singh was ousted from BJP, just because he wrote a book (And of course there are double standards in that too and thats their problem)? No, because they thought he has not followed the party decisions about Jinna and Partition.
I do not know much about Oxford dictionary, but to me the term “cattle class” is derogatory. And any dictionary in the world do have all the derogatroy words
. The term is like abusing the majority of people in India, because we all tend to travel economy. And that term should not have come from a person who is holding an office of utmost importance, be it on the twitter or on the blog. He was and still is a multi dimensional personality, but that doesn’t make him above the people of a country and above a political party who is based on some discipline and ideologies.
Anyways I do not believe either in there austerity move. I only hope that they probably continue it to a good extend if possible.
September 19th, 2009 at 2:21 am
Every situation, a new thought… but why do I sense a touch of hypocrisy here. Why is Mohanlal shredded to pieces, yet Shashi Tharoor defended.
Frankly, being the icon of Indian youth(urban or rural), in this day and age, is no great title. Even actor Vijay is an icon. Maybe lucrative in some senses, but definitely not a measure of someone’s worth as a person.
In all this silly nonsense, Mr. Tharoor acted a bit rashly and got burnt. Trouble is, though we routinely are told never to judge a book by its cover, we normally do.
September 19th, 2009 at 4:43 am
it is rubbish really.
In India automobiles run over people and get away but we feel terrible if they run over a cow.
In reservation terms, they have an M or monkey class, so the cow/cattle class is definitely holy class. thus cattle class is a good term actually.
I hope people there leave tharoor in peace and judge him by work performance, not his hotel stay & travel details. If they help him perform better, fair enough..
September 19th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Jo,
Don’t assume Dhanush’s party. it might be wrong.
after all this discussion, I understood that cattle-class is a phrase against airline company. laughing at them saying that they are considering people as cattle in the economy classes.
But In india, the meaning changes. it is not the fault of neither Tharoor nor Indians.
IMO Since Tharoor is very educated and also a minister, he should know how to make a statement in public community.
- Joju
September 19th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Dreamer: Who is that green-eyed monster?
Dhanush: So Jaswant Singh was ousted because he has not followed the party decisions? How come then there are different rules in the party for different people – Ad-vani and Jaswant? About the term “Cattle-Class”, see Anupama’s comment above.
Jana: “Why is Mohanlal shredded to pieces, yet Shashi Tharoor defended”
I don’t understand that part. Could you exaplain what’s the relation between the two in the context of this post?
Joju: it is not the fault of neither Tharoor nor Indians. I agree. And that is why I think this has been blown out of propotion by Congress party.
September 19th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Stop Attacking Tharoor You [edited].He is smart and intelligent than many of us . Let that man do his job his style!
September 19th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
True. I completely understand about BJP. And thats why I said its their problem. There are clear double standards.
Thanks Anupama for the explanation.
September 19th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Praveen: Watch your language. And I hope his “smartness” shows up in his work (as a minister).
September 20th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Translating a slang into another language and then pondering over it is the stupidest idea I’ve ever come across. This kind of third rate journalism, supported by politicians belonging to the same class has helped blow things out of proportion.
Well, Dr.Tharoor surely must’ve learned his lessons. I sincerely hope these controversy flicks following one after another will end with this one. I don’t think he’ll have a platform to stand on if he gets into another mess. Keeping a low profile for the next few months won’t be such a bad idea afterall, even for someone like Tharoor.