A Tribal as the President of India

P. A. Sangma or Pranab Mukherjee. The former is from Meghalaya, a tribal and a Christian; former Speaker of Lok Sabha, former Congressman and former NCP member. The latter is from West Bengal, a seasoned Congressman and Sonia's trusted lieutenant who enjoys the respect of his party members. 

Whom do I favour? 

India is a land of much diversity. Different ethnic groups flock together and sometime even fight one another for space. Sangma is a Garo tribal; and Mukherjee a Bengali brahmin. The former is a Christian and the latter a Hindu. One is of the mongoloid stock and the other an Aryan stock. These differences run so deep in shaping the personality of each individuals and also the communities they belong to. These differences have persisted across centuries and they will continue to remain as they are now for ages to come. As long as human individuals differ, differences in various facets of their lives will continue. This is a reality that we must live with. There are, however, similarities between each individual and social groupings  despite the differences. This is a reality that we must acknowledge. 

Since there are differences between individuals and religious and ethnic communities, is it political feasible to consider as if the differences are virtual? No, as far as my thinking goes. And if we admit that there are genuine differences, then how do we formulate political vision so that each individual and social groupings is given political space to flourish? Well, Sangma rightly underlines the importance of having a tribal President this time since people of different social persuasion has been positioned at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Political merit does not come with number alone. But that were so, a nation like India will collapse -- or should. Justice has to take the social equation into consideration and distribute position and advantages according to the equation. Therefore, in this regard I do consider that we should not pretend as if the 'tribal argument' has no merit at all. The 'tribal argument' underlined by Sangma has a point. 

Having said that I do think that there are tribal leaders who are more deserving that Sangma to be the President of India. I would not want Sangma nor Mukherjee to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhavan.