Deve Gowda's rant

The media is delighted a Deve Gowda's faux pas, and they are milking it for all its worth. And yes, I dont think it is any more than a faux pas. And no, our democracy has not stooped to new lows as the media would have us believe. If anything, it has risen higher on this day. And I mean this in all earnest.

For decades we have been faced with this glaring divide between haves and have nots, who seemingly live in different universes. And our politicians have been especially crucified for not being in touch with the "grass roots" and not doing enough for the "common man". Well, for once, a politician speaks the same tongue as the urchin on the street corner, and this is how we treat him. In fact, compared to what we hear on the streets, Gowda's rants sound polished. He still has a long way to go before he can claim to have connected with the lowest ranks of the nation.

If anything, I take offense to Yeddyrappa's retort that Gowda's choice of words reflects his culture. What does he mean? Sir, the entire nation speaks this language. Even the world - US politicians have been picked up using derogatory terms when they thought the mic was off. It is you who are out of touch and then you insult our culture? You owe our former PM an apology. Mr. Gowda may have stooped lower than any politician has, but in the process he elevated the office of the PM higher than our Manmohan can.