Opinion argues India glorifies power over merit and accountability

This is an opinion article about whom India chooses to admire.

The author says history books sometimes describe invasions and conquest too gently.

He believes this teaches people to respect powerful rulers more than ordinary citizens.

He uses Rahul Gandhi as an example of someone presented as a representative of struggling students despite family and institutional advantages.

He uses Arvind Kejriwal as an example of a politician whose anti-corruption image conflicts, in the author’s view, with criticism over his official home’s renovation costs.

He also discusses Salman Khan, who gives advice about behavior on television despite convictions, bail and other controversies described in the article.

The author says these examples show that public figures are not always judged by the same standards as everyone else.

He argues that people should demand merit, consistency and accountability from leaders and celebrities.

The article was submitted by Akshay Sharma and was published without editing or fact-checking by ThePrint.