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By:

Abhijit Joshi

31 August 2024 at 10:09:24 am

The Pawar Paradox Never Ends

As speculation over Sharad Pawar’s equations with the NDA resurfaces, Maharashtra is reminded that its most enduring political constant has always been uncertainty. There is an old Mumbai saying that seasoned political observers have long enjoyed repeating: “Ghode ki laath aur boss ki baat par kabhi bharosa mat karna” (never trust a horse’s kick or a boss’ word; either can come without warning). If Maharashtra’s politicians were updating the proverb today, one more cautionary line would...

The Pawar Paradox Never Ends

As speculation over Sharad Pawar’s equations with the NDA resurfaces, Maharashtra is reminded that its most enduring political constant has always been uncertainty. There is an old Mumbai saying that seasoned political observers have long enjoyed repeating: “Ghode ki laath aur boss ki baat par kabhi bharosa mat karna” (never trust a horse’s kick or a boss’ word; either can come without warning). If Maharashtra’s politicians were updating the proverb today, one more cautionary line would surely be included: “Sharad Pawar ke siyasi faisle par kabhi bharosa mat karna” (never assume you know Sharad Pawar's next political move). Few leaders in independent India have reinvented themselves as often, confounded both allies and adversaries with equal regularity, or remained politically relevant across nearly five decades quite like Sharad Pawar. Every major realignment in Maharashtra has, in one way or another, borne his imprint. Backstairs Intrigue That reputation has once again set the state’s political circles buzzing. A late-night meeting between senior NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Jayant Patil and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, followed by indications that Pawar's party could extend conditional support to the Centre's proposed Delimitation Bill, has revived speculation that Maharashtra may be headed towards yet another political reshuffle. Supriya Sule has firmly dismissed suggestions that her party is preparing to join the NDA, insisting that any support for the Delimitation Bill would depend entirely on safeguards ensuring fairness for every state. Yet, the rumours persist. That, perhaps, is the enduring ‘Pawar effect.’ In Maharashtra, a single meeting involving Sharad Pawar is often enough to trigger discussions of an entirely new government. Pawar’s political career has consistently demonstrated that certainty is an illusion. In 1978, barely 38 years old, he engineered one of Maharashtra’s greatest political upsets. Breaking away from the Congress, he toppled the Vasantdada Patil government and stitched together the Progressive Democratic Front, or Pulod, by bringing together parties separated by ideology but united by arithmetic. He became the state’s youngest Chief Minister, a distinction that still defines his public image. That episode also revealed the two principles that have shaped his politics ever since. Ideology, for Pawar, has rarely been an immovable barrier. Political arithmetic has almost always mattered more. Equally, power has never been viewed as permanent. The pattern repeated itself through the decades. Pawar moved between Congress politics and regional politics with remarkable ease, served as India’s Defence Minister, broke away to establish the Nationalist Congress Party in 1999 over Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, spent nearly fifteen years governing alongside the Congress, and then stunned the political establishment yet again in 2019 by helping construct the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Few believed the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP could coexist under one roof. Pawar proved otherwise. Even the dramatic dawn swearing-in of Devendra Fadnavis and the late Ajit Pawar in November 2019 ultimately enhanced Sharad Pawar’s reputation. Within days, he had reunited most of his fractured party and succeeded in installing Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister. What initially appeared to be his biggest setback became another demonstration of his political resilience. Today, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP is no longer the formidable organisation it was before the split of 2023. While he retains considerable public goodwill, national stature and a respectable parliamentary presence, his legislative strength within Maharashtra has diminished considerably, prompted questions about the party’s future. Reports suggest that sections within the NCP (SP) are increasingly uncomfortable with the prospect of remaining in perpetual opposition and favour exploring some form of understanding with the BJP. Pawar himself is believed to have resisted such suggestions, while Supriya Sule has repeatedly ruled out any immediate shift. Yet the existence of internal debate appears difficult to dismiss. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has publicly asserted that there is no question of new entrants joining the Mahayuti. His statement reflects political logic. The BJP already enjoys numerical dominance alongside Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP. Bringing Sharad Pawar into the alliance may strengthen the NDA externally, but it could also generate fresh leadership ambitions, competing centres of influence and unnecessary internal tensions. Issue-Based Cooperation If there is any movement, therefore, it is more likely to begin with issue-based cooperation in Parliament than with an immediate formal alliance. That explains why the Delimitation Bill has assumed such significance. Supriya Sule has indicated that her party could support the legislation provided the Centre guarantees a uniform 50 percent increase in parliamentary seats for every state. The position differs from that adopted by several INDIA bloc partners and has naturally fuelled speculation. Yet issue-based support should not automatically be interpreted as political surrender. Sharad Pawar has rarely subscribed to the idea that opposition requires opposing every government initiative. Throughout his career he has maintained working relationships across party lines, often separating legislative cooperation from electoral competition. That flexibility has repeatedly helped him preserve political relevance even when his party's electoral fortunes fluctuated. If, despite present denials, Pawar eventually chooses to support or formally align with the NDA, the consequences would extend well beyond Maharashtra. For the INDIA bloc, it would represent perhaps the most damaging psychological blow in western India, depriving it of one of its most experienced strategists and consensus-builders. Congress would lose a veteran ally at precisely the moment it is attempting to rebuild its organisational strength in Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) could find itself increasingly isolated, forcing a reassessment of both alliances and political strategy before the next Assembly election. And for the BJP, it would amount to the political neutralisation of perhaps its most accomplished regional rival. Sharad Pawar’s greatest political strength has always been his refusal to close any door before absolutely necessary. Strategic ambiguity has been one of its principal instruments. At 85, he remains among the last practitioners of an older style of coalition politics, where negotiation often counts for more than confrontation, and where tomorrow’s ally may well have been yesterday’s fiercest opponent. (The writer is a political observer. Views personal.

Restoring Values in Science: Honouring Dr. Kalam’s Vision for Tomorrow

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s values matter more than ever in today’s age of innovation.


On July 27, we remember Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, not only as India’s ‘Missile Man’ or a former President, but as a scientist who combined knowledge with kindness, ambition with humility, and vision with values. He believed that science should not only fuel growth and power, but also serve humanity, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. “Science is a life-giving tool if used with values,” he said. As we mark his death anniversary, the best tribute is to ask: Are we building the kind of science he dreamed of?

 

Today, science and technology drive national pride and economic growth. From space missions to clean energy and artificial intelligence, we see rapid innovation. However, as success grows, so does the pressure to publish more, patent more, raise funds, and launch new ventures. In this rush, we may lose sight of what matters most. Dr. Kalam always asked: What is the true purpose of science? Is it about creating wealth or improving lives? About solving problems or building a better world? His answer was clear: science must do both, but only when guided by what is right. Righteousness, for Kalam, was not just a personal value; it was the foundation for a peaceful nation and a just world. He once said: “Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.” This was his formula for national transformation, starting from within.

 

Around the world today, people are asking what we truly value. Mark Carney, now the Prime Minister of Canada and a renowned economist, writes in his book Value(s) that what we measure and assign value to is not always what we care about most, such as trust, fairness, or community. His analysis is timely. What Carney explains through economics and policy, Kalam embodied through science and service. Both deliver powerful messages: progress must be guided by values.

 

Today, science often operates like a marketplace. Researchers are judged by the number of publications they produce. Institutions are ranked based on citation counts. Funding tends to favour ideas that are quick, profitable or currently popular worldwide. While these systems improve efficiency, they also exclude essential work, especially research that requires time, addresses rural needs, or offers no immediate results.

 

As a result, important areas are overlooked. Efforts in village sanitation, small-farmer tools, or affordable healthcare often receive minimal support, even though they significantly impact lives. For example, locally developed portable water purifiers and soil microbial technologies for dryland farming have shown potential but lack steady funding. Judging science solely by market value ignores compassion, fairness, and the public good.

 

Less than 10 percent of India’s science funding reaches grassroots projects, even though 60 percent of the population lives in those areas. This shows what we prioritize and who we choose to serve. Kalam believed that true scientific excellence must be inclusive.

He was not against commercialization. He supported transforming research from labs into practical applications, from missiles to medical implants and solar energy for rural communities. However, he emphasized that the ultimate goal must be national growth and dignity. “Science is a tool of service,” he said, “not supremacy.” True progress requires humility, courage, and purpose.

 

He also shared a simple equation: Knowledge = Creativity + Righteousness + Courage

 

This idea reminds us that knowledge needs imagination, ethical principles, and the courage to do what is right. Young scientists can learn much from Kalam’s life. He rose from a humble background, overcame setbacks and turned each achievement into public service. He inspired students not only to dream but also to act with purpose. He believed that success should not be measured solely by papers or patents. Teamwork, mentorship, integrity and long-term societal benefits are equally important.

 

He urged institutions to focus on long-term value, originality, and national needs over global rankings and trends. To industry, his message was clear: science must serve stakeholders, not just shareholders. Innovation rooted in service like clean energy or eco-packaging was, for Kalam, the path to lasting leadership.

 

India aims for global scientific leadership. But that leadership must come from within, rooted in our values, environment and people. We need a unique scientific language, one that combines Gandhi’s moral clarity, Raman’s curiosity, Bhabha’s institutional vision, and Kalam’s deep compassion.

 

This will require bold reforms. Science funding must expand beyond elite institutions. Education must include ethics and courage along with technical knowledge.

 

Kalam’s vision of PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) was ahead of its time. Though it began slowly, its core ideas remain vital. In today’s digital age, rural broadband, mobile diagnostics, climate-smart farming and water technologies must be integral to India’s scientific goals. From climate change to public health to artificial intelligence, our future depends not just on innovation but on trust, ethics, and cooperation. As Kalam said, science must be “the conscience of civilization.”

 

In remembering him, let us pledge not only to pursue science but to do it ethically. Let laboratories become places of service. Let each discovery embody a greater responsibility. Let every innovation uphold our shared humanity.

 

And let us not forget Kalam’s timeless message, which deserves a place in every institution: “Righteousness in the heart leads to beauty in the character, harmony in the home, order in the nation, and peace in the world.”

That is the science the world needs. That is the science India must lead.

 

(The author is the former Director, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune and Visiting Professor, IIT Bombay. Views personal)

 

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