Actually it doesn't take much decoding into, not
even for the ‘theek hai’ element that prompted for some other elements of
inquiry to come up. Altogether, it was a routine Manmohan Singh stuff, in full
fervour with all the elements – delayed, written, without soul, without
substance, without connect and above all, not required.
©/IPR: Santosh Chaubey - http://severallyalone.blogspot.com/
We have become so accustomed of these elements
in his speeches that there wasn’t left much to think about.
First of all, some simple (cardinal) points:
what all that went wrong (‘theek nahi raha’)
If at all, Mr. Singh’s soul pushed him to speak
up on the issue, the father of three daughters in him should have delivered a
self-prepared, unwritten speech.
On such an emotional issue, he needed to have
established connect and the body language was must for it, but, for almost of
the whole time of the brief message, sitting stiff, he kept on looking at the
paper reading the speech.
The speech had many silly pointers like the
reference of ‘three daughters’ or ‘we will examine without delay’. You are
coming with a brief message and that too, after a week of the heinous crime
when there is public outpour of emotion and outage and yet, you go on to say
that your government will examine without delay the responses, when you
and your government are to take the blame, when the irresponsible acts by your
political class and the police administration made the matters worse by
mishandling the protests.
The protests on the Delhi
After seeing him speaking in monotone and delivering
routine and empty speeches for over years, no one should expect from Manmohan
Singh that he would be able to exercise the elements of voice modulation and
body language in his speech.
But given the high emotional quotient of the
issue, and him claiming the Connect on the basis of being the father of three
daughters, these elements should naturally have come into the picture. That
didn’t happen.
Even then the benefit of doubt could have been
given to Manmohan Singh on the basis that in his age, people are well adept at
covering emotions. But Mr. Prime Minister, that was not required here. We
needed an emotional prime minister on the screen here.
Public’s run of emotion and its outrage can be
gauged by its fury over the ‘theek hai’ slip during the recording.
A message delivered with heavy heart transcends
into your persona at the moment and the ‘theek hai’ question gave valid chances
to question Manmohan’s intent and his seriousness.
‘theek hai’ made him sounding like he was
detached with the words he was speaking. It conveyed as if the words were not
coming from inside.
‘theek hai’ summed up a speech that was entirely
hopeless. The positioning and timing of ‘theek hai’ utterance came to highlight
that hopelessness when the public on the street was demanding urgent action
from the prime minister of the country and was not ready to leave until some
concrete steps were taken.
‘theek hai’ finished up a speech that didn’t
mention, not a single word, against the police brutality on the protesters,
that the police shouldn’t have acted in such a high-handed manner. Instead, he ended
up lecturing us to maintain peace. The one-sided advice was again a misplaced
element in the message.
Naturally, for them, Manmohan speech was not
‘theek’ (right). And they rightly said ‘theek nahi hai’ over it.
Here is the Manmohan’s message on the Delhi India
PM’s
message
My fellow citizens,
There is genuine and justified anger and anguish
at the ghastly crime of gang rape committed last Sunday in Delhi
I also feel deeply sad at the turn of events
leading to clashes between protesters and police forces. Anger at this crime is
justified but violence will serve no purpose. I appeal to all concerned
citizens to maintain peace and calm. I assure you that we will make all
possible efforts to ensure security and safety of women in this country. The
Home Minister has already spoken about the steps being taken. We will examine
without delay not only the responses to this terrible crime but also all
aspects concerning the safety of women and children and punishment to those who
commit these monstrous crimes. Our Government will keep you informed of the
steps we are taking and the processes we are following.
I
appeal to all sections of society to maintain peace and help us in our efforts.
Link
to the ‘theek hai’ message on NDTV:
