Ramachandra Guha Explains His ‘Fifth Generation Dynast’ Remark Against Rahul Gandhi

Days after calling Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a fifth-generation dynast, historian Ramchandra Guha, in a series of tweets on Sunday tried to rest the ongoing controversy. In an eight-tweet thread, Guha said, it was patronising of him to chastise the Malayalis for electing Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad. Ramachandra Guha had called Rahul Gandhi a “fifth-generation dynast” and went on to say that Gandhi has no chance in Indian politics against a "hard-working and self-made" Narendra Modi, and Kerala did a disastrous thing by electing the Congress leader to Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi, who in 2019 general elections lost from his family bastion of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, had won from the Wayanad seat in Kerala.

His series of tweets came after parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor wrote, "Thanks for the clarification, @Ram_Guha. I'm sure you aren't elevating PM's capacity for hard work above its actual divisive consequences for the nation! Whatever you think about @RahulGandhi, he embodies an alternative vision of India that many millions support in resisting BJP.”

In response Ramachandra Guha wrote, "In view of the kerfuffle (to use a Tharoorian term) caused by the slanted and selective PTI report on my #KLF speech, a thread stating/restating my views on Rahul, Modi, Hindutva and India (sic)."

Rahul Gandhi's "lack of focus and administrative experience and, most importantly, his being a fifth generation dynast are a great disadvantage," he added.

"That said, I have been for many years a sharp critic of Modi's policies, as in my columns in @httweets and @ttindia (sic)," he tweeted.

What Ramchandra Guha said against Rahul Gandhi

Addressing the crowd, full of Keralites, he said, “Kerala, you have done many wonderful things for India, but one of the disastrous thing you did was to elect Rahul Gandhi to the parliament.”

“Narendra Modi's great advantage is that he is not Rahul Gandhi. He is self-made. He has run a state for 15 years, he has an administrative experience, he is incredibly hard working and he never takes holidays in Europe. Believe me I am saying all this in all seriousness,” he said.

But, even if Rahul Gandhi was "much more intelligent, more hard-working, never took a holiday in Europe, as a fifth generation dynast he still will be at a disadvantage against a self-made person", the 61-year-old author said.

He took on Congress president Sonia Gandhi too who, he said, reminded him of the “late Mughal dynasty” and how aloof they were of the state of their kingdom.

“India is becoming more democratic and less feudal, and the Gandhis just don't realise this. You (Sonia) are in Delhi, your kingdom is shrinking more and more but still your chamchas (sycophants) are telling you that you are still the badshah,” he said.