No matter what, Politics has always been
dominating the lives of every commoner. Whether it’s watching the 7pm news
headlines together or discussing the political malpractices over dinner or
flipping the newspaper in the mornings or just updating your political status
on Twitter or Facebook. Being fallen into the category called ‘youth’, Politics
in India regarding anything and everything attract me to rethink about the
question of security, and more of humanity.
The other day I attended a lecture by
Dr.Manindra Nath Thakur, Dept. of Political Science, JNU, at Cotton College. He
addressed on Democracy and Social Movements. Unfortunately we know it well that
Indian democracy is under deep crisis. But he rightly pointed out that it’s not
a systematic crisis but a fundamental and philosophical crisis.
Choices are immense in India regarding
anything and everything, but not in terms of recent developments where
commoners are left with no choice to live a peaceful life. Blaming the
government has never been my cup of brew, after all we were the ones who chose
and elected our government amidst many choices. But just voting and getting
your favorite political party win the elections doesn’t end your duty as a
citizen. India is the largest democracy but certainly not the successful one.
We don’t speak up at the right of time. And whenever we speak, we criticize our
government. They are people, not God. She complained she can’t control the
class of 40 students….how come you can expect your Chief Minister to control a
million population? And again you will say why did he contest elections then?
My solution is why don’t you plan to contest in the next Assembly Elections and
bring things into track? No doubt government works under extreme pressure……some
people want to work but others dominate them and these others don’t want to
work but those some people don’t try to dominate them. Politics is not dirty;
the corrupt ones make them so. Yet deep down there is a guilt in the hearts of
many youngsters for they are constantly the viewers of the country’s
degradation.
Obama government kills Osama, we become
happy. But what about those terrorists, fanatics and insurgents who are killing
Indians physically, socially and mentally everyday? Few months back Aurobindo
Rajkhowa has been detained officially from ULFA. And now he is all set to live
a casual life……but what justice was brought to those innocent children who were
killed by ULFA at Dhemaji? What happened to that aged driver of Network
Travels, who left no stone unturned to rape a little girl and throw her body
into the septic tank? That day I saw Ranjan Daimary of NDFB at the court. He
was accused of the 2008 Guwahati serial blasts where hundreds were killed
unofficially. He is a criminal who paralyzed each one of our lives. Justice
delayed is never justice denied, yet questions arise big time. We are so busy
signing peace treaties that we couldn’t keep a track on the people hiring boats
and entering our country with arms and ammunitions and spreading bloodshed.
Mumbai attacks……what was its death toll?
That lady in Manipur fasting since 2001 in
response to that famous Malom Massacre. She is still raising her voice against
Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Do we bother to hear? Aruna Shanbaug
is lying on the bed of KEM Hospital, Mumbai on life support since decades.
Debates over mercy death are on rise, but did she get justice in the true sense
of the term? What happened to Mahendra Nath Das who brutally killed a person
and took his chiseled head to the Fancy Bazar Police Station? He was given
death sentence…but how come he is still alive? And here our logical critics
start debating over a ban on death sentences! Pritam Bhattacharjee, a Gauhati
University student on his way to Delhi, was viciously murdered by goons and his
body was thrown on the railway tracks in Bihar. He is yet to get justice. But
will Nitish Kumar pay any heed to this unpopular local guy?
We need more electricity, more employment
and more development……even if it is at the cost of completing the Lower Subansiri
Hydro Power Project and destroying the rural lives….leave marine lives aside.
New hydel projects continue to dominate the politics of the country. The 2012 BTAD
violence gathered momentum all over the country……even enraptured the city of Pune
and Bangalore. Do we know the historical records of the region’s leaders? And
now after 6 months, Rabha Hasong area is under deep crisis.
The Assam Movement of 1979 against the
illegal migrants was the most peaceful movement ever after the Nationalist
Movement. The Assamese people sacrificed their lives, shelters, jobs, education
and even families. AASU struggled and succeeded to sign the famous Assam Accord
in 1985. But the Accord has not been implemented even after 27 years and
illegal migrants from Bangladesh are feeling free to call Assam their homeland!
Youth in India has always been labeled to
be confused. May be because they read Chetan Bhagat, they watch Roadies and follow 3 Idiots. But excuse me; they know their roots for they still believe
in Mahatma Gandhi’s values and Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam’s leadership. But yet they
are doubtful of their Freedom of Expression. They are afraid to display their imagination
for you never know when another Pragaash
gets threatened, another Vishwaroopam
gets banned, another FB user gets arrested and another many have to get scared
of the system before they think to act.
NRC update, price hike, Assam and Bharat
bandhs, ethnic conflicts, border issues, the blame game, cases of- burglary,
extortion, killing, rape, suicides, eve-teasing, corruption, accidents….to name
a few- are the regular newspaper updates. Aren’t the law makers and law
breakers get bored??
Why can’t we have retirement ages for the
politicians of the country? How about having a Politicians’ Eligibility Test
before enrolling into politics? Are Autonomous Councils the only answer to
preserve ethnicity and stop insurgency? Why the logic of juvenile delinquency
can’t be limited to 16 years? Why young students can’t be trained to be good
politicians the way doctors and engineers are trained?
If Indians can fight against corruption, if
Indians can bring laurels with Olympic medals, if the country gets one,
irrespective of religion, to celebrate 2011 cricket World Cup etc….then
obviously change is possible through fresh vivid honest outlook. Indians are
emotional and if good emotions start flowing, that idyllic India is not too
far!
Recently I attended a seminar by
Prof.Rajeev Bhargava at Gauhati University on ‘Secularism: How should states
respond to religious diversity?” He raised some thought provoking comments on
the dire need to respect the heterogeneity of Indian land.
Being a human being first and later a
Hindu, we are believers of God- 33 crores. Every Friday we reach Majhar with a red rose. We offer riches
at Golden Temple, Amritsar, travelling so far. Further we celebrate Christmas
with all glitterati and paparazzi on 25th of December. This way we
are secular but where we are going wrong rest of the days? Aren’t we are
hypocrites in calling ourselves secular? Aren’t homes, families and our own
religion giving us wrong lessons of humanity and morality? We are taught ‘there
is god’ but not ‘there is one god with different name’. Loopholes are in the
mindset.
Yet youth have their hopes high for a
better tomorrow. Learn to say NO to wrong no matter what. Every change does
begin at home. Craving for the COOL tag, don’t compromise with your values. The
more you motivate people to build a better India, the more you will get inspired
to build a better India. Fight for your ‘rights’ and for what is ‘right’. More
or less, every issue revolves round money and identity. Thinking positively and
plausibly about these issues is sure to bring accurate answers to our confused
questions!
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