Sookdeo Bissoondoyal, one of the most prominent and respected figures in recent Mau-ritian political history, once stress in a meeting during an election campaign the importance of truth in politics. Although I was then a schoolgoing boy, I can still clearly remember his words. “Truth can never be hidden for long. Do what you like to cover, dilute or weaken it, it must come out some day and the author will get unmasked and known to everybody.”

It has to be loud and clear to our aspiring politicians that words uttered in their meetings should “come out from the depth of truth”, as Tagore would say. Gone are the dark days of colonialism. Trying to simply criticise, overact and play up by appealing to emotions through eloquence and oratory could have been at one time a good technique to hold the crowd spell-bound. So many things took place without most people being aware. If anything was known, it would be too late to take proper action. The rate of literacy was low; only the privileged few could get access to education. Time was when it would be hard to find someone in the neighbourhood to read you an urgent official letter; to make a reply would be something still far to imagine. These are now things of the past. And the whole truth is that times and conditions have changed and are much better today.

There is thus need for a new style - in line with 21st century political trends of transparency, and truth. Our candidates advocate a revolution in communications and a high rate of literacy (among the highest, if not, the highest in this part of the world). The average Mauritian is quite well-informed and knowledgeable.

Genuineness on the part of would-be MPs is an absolute necessity to make politics worthy of its name. If anyone comes blinded by ambition to use the electorate as a ladder to attain that “heaven of invention” ever craving for , he or she would be wrong , trying to catch the stars eventually. So that all their words are translated into actions, there should be always truth and only truth sparkling.

Remember trust built on truth is hard won but easily lost in case of a slight miscarriage or just a false step. Unless you are on the side of truth, no elector owes you a vote. Many have come and have not long after disappeared from politics, which is something sacred, a social service calling for commitment, dedication, hard work and sacrifice.

However , if you are an adventurer seeking fortune in politics under a mask of generosity, honesty, sincerity , and truthfulness, you will simply be wasting your time: you will be soon unmasked. Too many mechanisms are at work to remove the masks in order to get to the naked truth. The electors are for sure in need of Mr Clean. They are looking for genuine MPs who can usher in a new era in the country’s affairs.

Despite living in an age of enlightenment and enquiry, some prospective MPs still believe they are living in the past : they can at any time drift away from their course of action and break their promises (often hollow) to satisfy their selfish ends; they can take the electorate for a ride. These individuals should keep in mind that one can fool some people all the time, some people some of the time, but not all the people all the time. “The eye of reason” according to J.J. Rousseau, enables truth alone to triumph.

<B>Kaviraj SOHUR</B>