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Suppose India were to scrap the Presidency and become a constitutional monarchy (like Great Britain), who will be your choice of monarch?
(Note that the line of succession will be governed by " male-preference cognatic primogeniture")
(Note : ND below is "nearest descendant")
(Note that the line of succession will be governed by " male-preference cognatic primogeniture")
(Note : ND below is "nearest descendant")
Let's discuss the merits of each choice -
Rahul Gandhi - To me this is a strong choice. A Nehruvian monarchy will take the Gandhi family out of active politics
(Contd..)
Rahul Gandhi - To me this is a strong choice. A Nehruvian monarchy will take the Gandhi family out of active politics
(Contd..)
Also while our politics going forward will naturally have a "HIndu slant", having a "liberal", "multi-cultural" monarch will be an interesting counter to it, and will assuage many external fears about India turning into a Hindu state
Shivaji - is no doubt a popular choice
He was the progenitor of the great Maratha resurgence that lasted two centuries
His many successors as well as the Peshwas who followed later left an indelible imprint on Indian life - from Tanjore to Jhansi
A very worthy choice
He was the progenitor of the great Maratha resurgence that lasted two centuries
His many successors as well as the Peshwas who followed later left an indelible imprint on Indian life - from Tanjore to Jhansi
A very worthy choice
Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last of Mughal monarchs
This may not be a popular choice. But underrated
While India will remain a Hindu country, having a figurehead Muslim monarch can be a "feel good" factor for the large muslim minority
This may not be a popular choice. But underrated
While India will remain a Hindu country, having a figurehead Muslim monarch can be a "feel good" factor for the large muslim minority
The fourth choice is of course the nearest descendant of Krishna Deva Raya
This is more problematic as it will be harder to chase down the descendant
But this choice has its own virtues
This is more problematic as it will be harder to chase down the descendant
But this choice has its own virtues
Krishna Deva Raya was the greatest monarch of the Vijayanagara Empire
The last of the great Hindu empires some might argue
And yes, this choice is a fine signal to the South which sometimes gets raw deals in a country whose political epicenter is understandably up north
The last of the great Hindu empires some might argue
And yes, this choice is a fine signal to the South which sometimes gets raw deals in a country whose political epicenter is understandably up north
