Apparently, the latest brainwave is to boycott elections and refuse to pay taxes. This is from people who have divested from the Indian state and generally consider the democratic process a task best left to the unwashed masses. What was the voting % in South Mumbai last time? Now, the terror has hit home a little too close to comfort, the cocooned Indian elite is suddenly discovering that state matters.

I am no fan of Indian politicians but politicians matter. Ultimately, this country is going to be run by someone–an elected politician remains our best bet. This generalized anger against politicians led by the rampaging anchors of CNN-IBN and NDTV is not only meaningless but dangerous. By vitiating the atmosphere against the politicians, it attempts to rob India of one of her true strengths–democracy.

Also, it wastes the citizen’s best weapon: Accountability. Not all politicians are equally culpable–the ones who rule at the center and state government bear direct responsibility. When Gujarat 2001 happened, the fingers were rightly pointed at the man at the helm–you did not blame the Congress opposition because it did not run the government. It is also amusing to see TV anchors like Bakrha Dutt who were usually seen marching in candle light vigils nears Wagah border and have done as much as the politicians–and here the blame must be equally apportioned across both Congress and BJP–to delegitimize the Indian state suddenly turn into warriors for the terror hit. I guess when your regular hangouts are hit, terror does seem more real.

Anyway, two lessons are important. a) Accountability needs to be fixed not just at the political level but must embrace every facet of the government–from intelligence bureau to NSG for running an unprofessional rescue mission. Second, institutions matter. When has the Indian philanthropist contributed to schools of public policy and national security?

Individuals are responsible and need to be fired. But that is no answer for a wide-spread institutional malaise.