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| Sunday, May 2, 2004 |
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| Sunday, May 2, 2004 |
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The Art of Electoral War
Not much is known of Sun Tzu, who is believed to have lived in China over 2,500 years ago, but scholars seem to agree that his solitary work, compiled a century after his death, is the oldest treatise on warfare. Legend has it that Napoleon always had this book by his side and Mao Tse-Tung, although 2,400 years apart from Sun Tzu, had modelled his famous Red Book after The Art of War.
All elections are simulated battles and are based on deception. Truth does not count, but perception does and victory is clinched by using the mistakes made by the opponent to your own benefit. The battle of ballot is fought in the mind and the one with a better strategy emerges the winner.
Madhuker writes that the emotional card must not be played in haste. Be wary, he says, of destructive emotions, as there are certain things, which if destroyed, cannot be brought to life. Nations fall into this category—the most important of all lessons that our leaders need to know.
Madhuker's book would be of use to those who are in fields that call for man-management skills, tightrope walking and striking a balance between being intelligent and being cunning, regardless of who plays by the rules. For a book that can be lapped up in under an hour and has as many illustrations as the number of pages, it has much to offer. The fairy-tale bold print and two-odd interpretations per page make the reading light even for the non-practitioner of politics. While lessons on tactics, plotting, deception and cultivating of spies could leave some squirming, our netas may very well have hit on the winning mantra. This book is sure to find a place at the bedside of politicians and aspiring leaders even if for sheer curiosity. It is a must-read for that section of enlightened electorate that wishes to know what "skills" make a success story. |
THE timing of Madhuker's book could not have been
more perfect with the election scene hotting up across the country.
Being a journalist for nearly three decades and having had a stint with
the BBC, he apparently has an insight into the mind game that is
politics. The views in this book are, however, not his own, but are
drawn from Sun Tzu ping-fa or The Art of War by master
strategist-warrior Sun Tzu that has transcended time and geographical
boundaries.
Politics, as we know, is a dirty game with few
statesmen and even fewer visionaries. The stakes are high and the desire
to win prevails over everything else. Foul means are adopted with ease.
Madhuker says that a good leader ought to focus on demoralising the
rival and his workforce without a fight, which means winning by
intelligence, but at the same time the speed factor and finances,
besides the power of conspiracy and information, cannot be undermined.
Secrecy is vital for a leader and misleading his own
people and workforce may be essential to retain the element of mystery
about him. The role of the media also comes under focus and leaders are
advised to guard against over-exposure that may be counter-productive.
From managing funds to running a campaign and
ensuring a sure-shot win, it is all dwelt upon in this step-by-step
guide. There is an entire list of dos and don’ts that are meant to be
strictly adhered to for success to follow.
