Brand Rahul

There is no doubt that behind the creation of the building that is the brand Rahul Gandhi is a huge superstructure. Curious, I googled around on the brand that is Rahul Gandhi to see if there are different phases in the way media has projected the man over the years.

How I did this. The methodology (if you can call it that) is very simple. I went to Google and typed Rahul Gandhi. Then I went to the news section and saw how many articles showed in particular date ranges. And I read through some of them. That’s it. Not rocket science, but a closer look at my assumptions.

The Google news date range starts off in 2006-2008. But this is not the period when the Rahul Gandhi brand machine has started off. So I started off in 2004.

The Lost Phase: The brand machine took off closer to the 2004 date range when Congress won the first of two successive general elections. Google news gives about 932 results for those two years 2004-06. The first steps are small. Stories like “Indias first family rises again”. There are news with Rahul Gandhi, up close and personal.  He had started “mingling with tribals”, “breaking the security cordon”, “Thousands of hysterical supporters cheered and showered Rahul Gandhi with rose petals and pink powder…” starts a piece. Jagadamba Prasad, quoted in this piece, sounds prescient. And since at that time the marketing machine was not really running, newspapers were not shy of sharing personal details as well like his companion then. 

In this phase of Brand Rahul, there is no real brand building. A few people have reported what they are wont to. This phase of shorn of hype.  But as you can see, there is absolutely no dissent anywhere. Nobody has yet questioned the legitimacy of the dynasty and he is seen more of an elite scion somewhere.  There also does not seem to be too much hope of returning to power either among the family or the media.

From 2004 onwards when the Congress coalition won the elections and formed the government, the brand machine takes a leap. From comparing Rahul to Rajiv, there is news of the impending coronation as Party President atleast. There are notes of Musharrafs son meeting Sonias Son (whyever?).

The Launch Phase: From 2005 to 2006, Google throws up about 681 results.  In 2006, a piece asks, “Has Rahul Gandhis time come?” Some people had decided then itself that he had it in him. Another piece informs us why Rahul Gandhi is not like Rajiv.  “Rahul steps closer to Gandhi throne” informs another piece.

Did you know that Rahul loves Go karting? Even in this phase, the brand machine has not quite sharpened.  “Sources close to the family say that the shy Rahul is unlikely to respond”. A private guard quoted in this piece I suppose sums it up well “Aam aadmi idhar allowed nahi hota hai”. So much for seeing the future. Wonder those who heard his speeches in the future where he talks about interacting with beggars et al have to say about this. Rahuls adventures in Mayaland had begun then itself.  This piece informs us that after much coaxing and cajoling, Rahul is willing to campaign in UP in 2006. “The story emerging out of Amethi is that while Rahul is still the toast of his constituency, he is nowhere near as popular as his mother and sister. In the eyes of the adoring constituency, Sonia Gandhi is warm, affectionate, heroic, and worthy of the highest respect post her rejection of prime ministerial office, while Priyanka Vadra is dashing, Indira Gandhi-like and a natural in politics. (I still wonder which genius came up with the idea of equating Priyanka Vadra with Indira Gandhi – instead of helping her carve out her own brand of leadership.) Yet the same Amethi had exploded in a paroxysm of joy, when the Congress fielded Rahul from the constituency. The people had poured into the streets, spilled out of terraces, and climbed atop trees for a glimpse of the Gandhi heir who was their ticket to name, fame, and prosperity.”  Too long to quote, the above piece is lovely piece of writing for those interested in “how to write about emerging scions of political families”. A Kabul trip is written about as “international exposure” to the budding scion who is now about 36.  The piece starts off with a, by now, predictable “Rahul Gandhi is, for all intents and purposes, being groomed for high office.”

This part is the real emergence of Brand Rahul. It focuses on his shyness, reticence, diffidence and also by and large portrays him as a normal human being. Keyword of this phase: Grooming. The shy boy is being groomed for a throne is assumed to be his, but he does not aspire for it, he is reluctant. He is not greedy, just a normal human being who is being offered the throne, but who, like other average human being offered a throne, would vacillate. The first thread of connecting with the common folks, I suppose. Whether it is a Congress throne or a national one.  Again, nobody has questioned anything about it yet. Well, why would anybody? 

Dynastic succession in India is as normal as an apple falling off a tree. 

Merit? That’s a misspelt brand of sewing machine.

The common factor through this phase is also about hope and no dissent whatsoever. And surely not in the India media – where there is little chance of mainstream dissent. And since the government is in the hands of a “competent” PM, it is hoped that the government will perform and the shine will rub onto the shy scion who is being groomed into the job.

The Hype Phase I: Now we go to 2006-07. That’s about 1590 results now. Hmmm, quantum leap? No? Exponential coverage then? Perhaps the brand machine has started whirring.

Perhaps watching the lackluster performance of the government, In this period, he is slowly pushed as a “pro poor mascot” a great irony in itself. But the story that came out was that he was the man behind the push for NREGA to be rolled out countrywide. This phase is the grooming phase at the next level where the branding goes into his roles as a catalyst that makes things happen when they would not otherwise. Considering the government has not really performed, this seems to be another attempt at a mini makeover. Fawning praise is almost normal. His image as a “pro poor” is now clear. Keywords: Future, pro poor, catalyst, history, grooming. So, from being a shy, reticent boy who is reluctant to rule over us, waiting for the golden era, he is now the catalyst. The catalyst who makes things happen in the background. The catalyst is a recurring theme from here onwards where everything that can happen is attributed to the catalyst. Not unlike cults which ascribe everything to the “magic” of one and only cult head.

In 2008, the brand machine has switched gears. 1670 results on google. The icon of Indian politics continues his love with the media. The star campaigner for many an election. The star campaigner has announced that “we will defeat terrorism”, crowds love the gen-next hero.

The Rahul for PM starts making itself heard slowly in this year.  Karnataka (the election year), Punjab were all stops on his itinerary. Of course, he has also taken on Mayawati in what can be seen as early attempts to build an audience in UP. He has also spoken in favour of the nuclear deal.

He has also been launched as the party mascot or so this piece says which makes for instructive reading.

The word “Yuvaraj” slowly moves out of the lexicon-since he has expressed his displeasure. The Dalit reaching out has begun. He has also turned down a MoS position in PMO. Congress sources, ever helpful in these matters have helped spread the word around about the “young” man’s contentment.

And a new brand of wannabe aspirants in his team. And the dalit tours have begun in right earnest. "Rahul was doing a Rajiv Gandhi, who used to be as carefree and open with his constituents and was known to make unscheduled halts at houses of the poorest of the poor and share a bite with them…” In between a spot of paragliding, support for Kolkata Knightriders is all building the image of the charming youth icon. Charm is the keyword. No dissent whatsoever. Media everywhere reports Congress sources dutifully, but rarely asks a question.

The fact that the Gujarat polls were a dampener barely finds a mention. The brand juggernaut rolls on building imaginary landscapes of charm and awe. All photos show him waving and smiling or smiling and waving or smiling or waving. There is no bad news associated with the man, at all. Notice that? Over all these years?

The Hype Phase II: In 2009, the UPA comes back into power comfortably. Meanwhile, his sister gives him a certificate.  And of course, his much hyped “poverty tour” with Britain foreign secretary David Milliband.

Lots of hopes that the man would be a minister in his second term, but he is content with his party post and leaves all the governance and ministry in the hands of someone else. So, in Manmohans second term also the country misses the man at its helm. Indeed he gives a “Certificate” to MMS as well. And there is talk of a Rahul Gandhi layer in the Congress leadership in Karnataka. 

Those photo opportunities are coming thick and fast. The heir apparent is ready to become PM one day, not PM the other day, but it is all his to choose. As the country waits, the brand machine rolls into our heads, smiling, waving and a blow by blow account of all those farcical tourism. All this while he is building the party while refusing a cabinet berth, he has come of age, visiting the poor for a meal,  a quiet revolutionary, lead campaigner.

By the way, how long did that austerity drive last? AS long as the photo opportunity, I suppose.

The sources always give the right news, observe. No source will ever say anything wrong. As you can see thus far, the man has made no mistake, he is like the proverbial Midas touch – with retrospective effect. Everything he touches has turned to gold and whatever has turned to gold already is because he has touched it. Never mind that which did not turn to gold – that is their problem. The case of sour grapes is slowly showing up, but only for those who care to see it. The media juggernaut, otherwise rolls on.

But this part of the brand campaign shows a certain tiredness. How long can he be groomed? Or be a catalyst, behind the scenes? Not that anybody asks a question, but it is worth a thought that it is becoming a tad repetitive with all those photo opportunities and prepared campaign speeches.

Thus ended 2009.

The Reality Check Phase: Searching for news in 2010 gives us about 3520 results. Phew. That’s a lot. Through the brand building phase, this year is where the brand began to show its first cracks. Remarkable, considering that most of the cracks came not from Indias media, but from wikileaks. As far as local media was concerned, it was the photo opportunities.

The year is all about reaching out to people, whether in Bihar, slum dwellers in Mumbai, warning US about Hindu terror while they were busy attacking the wrong religion for terrorism. And of course, wikileaks told us this, not Rahul.

The world of photo opportunities unlimited continues its momentous tour. And of course, he snubbed the Shiv Sena by taking a Mumbai Local train (did he take a ticket, I don’t know). And that made front page news almost everywhere.

He has told us that Bihar was not shining while not ruled by his allies (while the similar case of why India remains in dire straits despite 50 odd years of one family ruling us was never asked nor told) and of course he kept answering to us as why he was still not obliging to rule us.

Meanwhile, his mentor in chief has appeared magically and taken to making dubious statements, which count as news (surprise, surprise) in an apparent bid to drive votes to his mentee, but not too many have bit the bullet.

By now discussion of his breakfast menu, lunch menu were par for the course for every photo opportunity. And then of course after his patbhreaking meeting with students in Gujarat, he did not meet students ever again, preferring to meet just the illiterate.

Slowly, the reality checks started coming in. For one, 2010 was the year of the “There are two Indias” speech. Interestingly, perhaps for the first time in a mainstream journal (or was it in a blog), the Economist asks a question of Rahul Gandhi. The piece whose byline says  “Though no spring chicken, Rahul Gandhi has a lot to prove before he takes over the family business” is worth a read because no Indian media outlet has till this date carried anything remotely similarly worded.

2011 was no different from 2010, but with more questions being asked, though with velvet gloves in general. 2012 saw a huge take off followed by a fizzle – which in reality completes the reality check phase. Watch out for the next steps.

What I want you to think about is the nature of coverage over all these years.

Now look at this. Our so called prime minister in waiting has yet to give a simple coherent interview to the media. A simple press conference where he answers our questions. A simple conference where we know what is there, if anything, on his mind. All we get to see are photo opportunities, whats on his menu and all his campaign speeches.

And see through these nearly 6 odd years of media coverage. All vapourware. Not a single article of substance. And yet, every fawning media outlet worth its Padmasri has speculated when he will lead us. And he cannot answer a simple question from college students credibly.

Ask yourself, why does the media treat him with kid gloves (or mittens)? Why is he never ever asked a tough question? Why this obsequiousness media? Fearless Indian media, pick up that mike and hold a conference that is broadcast live. We want to know what the prime minister in waiting really thinks about us without having to go through the fog that is his mentoring and campaigning team.

Can we see that? Soon?

(X Posted in CRI)