In college we had a subject called Political Science. We also had a lecturer who believed that ‘p’ should be pronounced not with a sudden puff of air but in a continuous release of air between the top and the bottom lip. As a result he would pronounce ‘pa’ as ‘fa’. Thus everything ‘Political’ became ‘Folitical’ and since the major discussion during our class was about a system responsible for making laws, for approving budgets and for providing an oversight of the executive branch, the word ‘Parliament’ became ‘Farliament’.

We were taught about how the sessions in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were presided by a Speaker or a Chairman, whose main job was to maintain order in the house and to ENSURE that the debates and discussions are conducted in a fair and impartial manner.

We were taught about the three major categories- The Legislative, which introduces and considers the passing of bills. The Financial, which includes the discussion and approval of the budget and other financial bills. And. The ‘other’ business- THE most important one which included ‘discussion’ of matters of public importance AND the scrutiny of the work of the government.

We were taught that ALL these proceedings are recorded in the form of the Parliamentary Debates which are an important source of information that provide insights into the views and opinions of ALL members.

We were taught that the opposition parties would often use tactics to stall the proceedings to press their own demands. BUT. It was the sole prerogative of the ruling party to ENSURE that the debates somehow took place.

We were also taught that it was only because of a Bill introduced by a member of the parliament that it became possible for the media to report Parliament proceedings.

Let me take a slight detour here, to introduce to you the young man who takes credit for this feat. His name was Feroze Jehangir Gandhi- the grandfather of Rahul Gandhi. Feroze, an upcoming politician, actively participated in the freedom movement and during Quit India he went to jail, along with his wife Indira.

In the initial years after our country gained independence, reporters were not allowed to report on the parliamentary proceedings. Having started as a journalist, Feroze understood the importance of the Freedom of Press. And it was he who introduced a private member’s bill advocating press freedom.

During his speech in Parliament on the bill brought by him, Feroze Gandhi said:

‘For the success of our parliamentary form of government and democracy and so that the will of the people shall prevail, it is necessary that our people should know what transpires in this House. This is not your House or my House, it is the House of the people. It is on their behalf that we speak or function in this chamber. These people have a right to know what their chosen representatives say and do. Anything that stands in the way must be removed.’

This was one of the rare occasions in Parliament when a private member’s bill was passed by all and became a law. After that it was possible for the media to report Parliament proceedings.

Therefore, today if you and I are able to witness what transpires in the Rajya and the Lok Sabha, it is thanks to this firebrand MP.

But that was not all. Now let me introduce to you the other side of this firebrand youngster- the Indian ‘Nathan’ of Hindenburg fame. A Congressman, a Freedom Fighter and a Crusader, he also exposed corruption in his own party’s government. Not all leaders are wrapped in muck and Feroze Jehangir Gandhi happened to be one. He not only played a crucial role in keeping the democratic fervour alive by raising issues that troubled his government, he also never shied away from opposing ANY issues he felt weren't right. When his father-in-law Jawaharlal Nehru was the prime minister of the country, he even had the audacity to unravel a huge financial scam- probably the FIRST of its kind in an Independent India.

During his Lok Sabha speech he said:

‘Mr Speaker, there is going to be some sharpshooting and hard hitting in the House today, because when I hit, I hit hard and expect to be hit harder. I am fully conscious that the other side is also equipped with plentiful supplies of TNT.’

After that he went on to present his well- researched facts of the Mundhra scandal in the newly nationalized Life Insurance Corporation of India and demanded an inquiry by an in-house committee. Within two months, the commission submitted its report indicating involvement of the finance minister, who was forced to quit. ‘When things of such magnitude occur, silence becomes a crime’ he said, thus embarrassing his own father-in-law.

Unfortunately, when Feroze was just 48 years old he succumbed to a second heart attack. As usual there was a controversy regarding his funeral rights. Hindus cremate, Muslims and Christians bury the dead. But Feroze Jehangir Gandhi was a Parsi. Therefore the dilemma.

Here was one young leader who was instrumental in building an Independent and Modern India. To link him to any Political Party; or even any Religion; and to debate on whether the body should be burnt, buried or ‘used by nature’ just shows how narrow and divisive our vision is. Anyway, I’m guessing an all- inclusive judgement was taken, because now his ashes lie cremated in the Parsi cemetery where the epitaph on his tombstone reads: ‘He is not dead who lifts thy glorious mind on high to live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.’

Back to the topic of ‘Folitical Science’ and the ‘Farliament’. What we were not taught in our college was about how the Houses would often resemble a fish market, where loud people with briny odours and foamy mouths would haggle and quibble and tear papers and hurl slogans at each other.

What we were not taught was about the lack of accountability and transparency.

What we were not taught was that with diametrically opposite stands on IMPORTANT issues, with no constructive dialogue and any kind of consensus, there would often be political deadlocks.

What we were not taught was that mikes would be muted. And records would be expunged without proper explanations.

What we were not taught was about the frequent disruptions that would ultimately lead to the adjournment, thus wasting our valuable time and resources. AND…

What we were not taught was how Technology, Power and Laws would be misused in future.

I wish our ‘Folitical Science’ lecturer had warned us about all this. Then ‘ferhafs’ we would have been less ‘disaffointed’ and better ‘frefared’. But to be fair, he did teach us that there were ‘multifle’ ways for a democratic ‘Farliament’ to function ‘froferly’. But silence isn’t one of them.

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