Poverty Is a State of Mind- Rahul Gandhi

Previously, I have written a column on ‘using figures of speech in public speeches’, in which I noted that politicians are often targeted by the media simply because the latter do not understand, or do not want to understand the real motif behind some statements. What they do is simply taking some words used by the leaders in isolation and criticise it. Two recent examples are one made by Modi on Gujarat riot using the analogy of pets getting killed in the accident and the other one is Rahul’s infamous quote on poverty. I felt the media rushed hastily to make the statement controversial. See the captions of most newspapers, “Rahul Gandhi Mocks the Poor, says poverty is just a state of mind”. It has to be noted that media had not been invited to the event by Dalit Resource Centre (DRC) at the Gobind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute (GBPSSI). Unfortunately, the complete statement made by Mr. Rahul is not given in any of the news media, even then Times of India seems to have given a comparatively fair record of it.

'Against the backdrop of a countrywide debate on poverty, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said that "poverty comprises two elements - poverty of thought and poverty in material conditions. While there is a need to overcome poverty of thought to attain self-confidence, it's the latter which manifests in terms of food, money, education and so on," he added. "Poverty of thought has to be overcome so as to lend self-confidence to voice, leading to politics of one's own and a share in democracy and its institutions". "I understand the internal weaknesses of our prevalent system. I will try my level best to help the people, but unless and until the voice of the marginalized comes out from within, nothing can be done. People and the system will always discourage you that you cannot stand on your own feet and this in my opinion is the biggest lie," said the Congress leader. He further said, "We have to chalk out a strategy together as I do not want to develop a one-day relationship with the grassroots people...but a long-term relationship. I want to develop a relationship that is deep from within, which provides space to people to share their good and bad points. In India, the voice of the poor people is heard less and my one and only political aim is to tune my ears to the voice of the poor and the marginalized." Times of India, Aug 6, 2013, 10.51 PM IST


Simply focusing on parts of the statement, media went on criticizing Mr. Rahul. If we analyse the statement in a closer look, what he meant makes sense. He not only talked about two kinds of poverty, but also showed the understanding that “People and the system will always discourage you that you cannot stand on your own feet and this in my opinion is the biggest lie.”
What I felt is Rahul does need a good media team even if not to challenge Modi, at least not to get misunderstood by the media.