Free Chankya's Chant by Ashwin Sanghi Page B

make people understand what you want to achieve. Gandhiji’s moral authority was very great.’
    ‘And can you tell me what gave him that moral authority?’
    ‘The personal example that he set for others?’ asked Gupta’s daughter hesitantly.
    ‘Yes. We Indians continue to adore renunciation. It’s a tradition that has come down to us from the ancient yogis. Gandhiji was a modern yogi, in that sense.’
    ‘Because he lived in poverty?’ she asked, her emerald-green eyes widening.
    ‘Yes, but his poverty was a symbol. A symbol that gave him the political authority to carry people with him.’
    ‘And it saved the country lots of money?’
    ‘Hah! Sarojini Naidu—our first governor here in Uttar Pradesh—summed it up beautifully when she said that it cost the Indian nation a great deal of money to keep the Mahatma in poverty!’
    ‘Then why did he do it?’
    ‘That’s the power of renunciation for you, my dear!’
    ‘Like the way that you renounced becoming mayor so that Uncle Ikram could?’
    ‘Yes,’ chuckled Gangasagar, ‘something like that.’

    ‘We need to clean up this city, Ikram.’
    ‘You mean “clean up” as in “make a killing”, right Gangasagarji?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘You don’t mean clean up as in sweeping the streets and clearing the garbage, do you?’
    ‘Yes, I do. The city’s filthy.’
    ‘Taking control of the municipal corporation is all about making money, not about actually cleaning up.’
    ‘I’d be a fool if I said that corruption isn’t a way of life. We’re going to need money to strengthen the ABNS, but let’s also do some good along the way.’
    ‘Why? Who’s ever done any good in local government?’
    ‘We shouldn’t do it because we’re do-gooders. We should do it because we want to win the next elections without assistance from other political parties.’
    ‘If we make enough money in this term, we won’t need another term in the corporation. We’ll be rich.’
    ‘Who’s talking about the corporation?’
    ‘Huh?’
    ‘My dear Ikram. Real power lies at state level, not in local government. That’s where we’re all going to be five years from now—the Uttar Pradesh state government.’

    ‘Gangasagarji. The garbage collectors have gone on strike. They say that the new discipline imposed on them has resulted in longer hours—they want more pay and perks.’
    ‘They’re already overpaid, Ikram. The corporation can’t afford any more hikes.’
    ‘So what do you want me to do? The municipal commissioner phones me every ten minutes for a negotiated settlement.’
    ‘Negotiation must always be done from a position of strength, not weakness. If essential services are disrupted, they’ll have the upper hand.’
    ‘What’s your advice?’
    ‘Garbage collection mustn’t get disrupted. They’ll then be forced to negotiate from a position of weakness.’
    ‘So you want me—the mayor—to go around the city collecting garbage?’
    ‘No. But you have hundreds of ragpickers in your slum. Offer them a small daily allowance to do the job. They’ll not only do the job but also recycle the waste. It’s an economy-friendly and ecology-friendly solution.’
    ‘The garbage collectors will be enraged.’
    ‘Better they than us. Negotiate once they fall in line.’

    ‘The municipal hospitals are in shambles, Gangasagarji.’
    ‘Let’s improve and upgrade them, Ikram.’
    ‘We don’t have the budget. We’re in deficit.’
    ‘Then let’s rename the hospitals instead.’
    ‘How will renaming anything improve it?’
    ‘Simple. Who are the businessmen in this city who are being prosecuted for tax fraud?’
    ‘There are several. Why?’
    ‘Tell them that their family name will be associated with something charitable. Ask them for a substantial donation to upgrade the facilities and we’ll willingly rename the damned hospitals! They get the label of being benefactors and we get the money to upgrade the facilities.’
    ‘What if they don’t