“PURGE & PROSPER”
By
J.L. Gupta
J.L. Gupta
As he raised his glass to say cheers,
his face fell. Why? My guess was right. His eyes had fallen on the television
screen when someone in the house was seeing an old recorded programme. The
party president was announcing the election manifesto. He was livid with anger
and said, “Again we have this tamasha of
elections. A nauseating cocktail of petty politics, blame game and mudslinging.
Each party shall put up big bill boards. Larger than life posters. Take out processions.
Hold public rallies. Disturb normal life. A colossal waste of men, money and
materials! We are a poor nation. The people do not get two square meals a day.
We have not been able to ensure potable water or uninterrupted supply of electricity
even in a place like Amethi. How can we afford
such an unproductive expenditure?”
I tried to tell him that we are the
world’s largest democracy. It is government by the people, of the people and
for the people. It is the best form of government. It gives equal rights to
all. The poor and the rich. To vote and elect our representatives. They
deliberate, discuss and decide. They work for our good. To ensure that we may
have peace and prosperity. Be safe and secure. At the end of the term, we
assess their performance and determine as to who should lead the country. It is
necessary for the candidates to reach out to the people. Make them aware of the
party’s plans & programme. Hence, the hangama. Otherwise, see the
conditions in our neighbourhood. No elections. Only violence and war. What has
happened in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan?
I got a mouthful. “More than six
decades have passed since we got rid of the English. But have we got freedom
from the foreign rulers? What have we got? Not even freedom from want and hunger.
Or from illiteracy and poverty. At the time of election, the politicians present
economic, political and social agendas. Promise ‘rotti, kapda aur makaan.’
Raise slogans – ‘Humko lao, garibi hatao.’ The promises are never fulfilled. There
is a big gap between promise and performance. After election, they work only
for their own good. And the facts speak. At the end of each term only the politicians
are found to have prospered. The poor have only got poorer. Unless we change
radically, there appears to be no chance of end to the peoples’ poverty or
problems.
I tried to tell him that it is because
of the sacrifices of our leaders that we are a free country. Some were just shot.
Some had willingly gone to the gallows. Some had spent years in prison when
they could have lived in palaces. They had made supreme sacrifices so that we could
live as a free people. A free India was their dream. After attaining the
objective, they had opted for a democratic form of government. For peoples’
progress. And we have progressed.
He looked at me as if I had committed a
sacrilege. And after a pause, he asked - "What progress? Have you any idea
about the number of people living below the poverty line today? Has their
number increased or decreased during the last decade? Have you seen the slums
in your town or neighbourhood?”
While I was trying to cool him down, he
added – “I have not seen the leaders of yester years. They may have spent years
in prisons. But I am sure that there are many amongst us today who are living
in palaces while they should actually be in prisons. Some leaders of yester
years may have made sacrifices. However, the so called leaders of today need to
be sacrificed. Purge the country of the politicians and the people shall
prosper. I see no other choice. Hopefully, May 16, shall fulfil this hope! Will
it? Just a day more. Wait patiently!
Down at the mall, I am told, there is a mid-season sale. Democracy they say is available at a hugely discounted price. Rush people rush! The gimmicks that are being used to sell this precious commodity are ones that you probably have never seen before. So people make the most. This is the only time the politicians think that you are worth something. After they have been crowned there is an extremely important agenda on their priority list. After all they have to recover whatever was spent.
ReplyDeleteIs justice on sale too? Probably if you can afford it? The poor common man who was not so common before the elections will have to justify his presence now after losing his sole usefulness. He can only vote when elections come again. In the interim period he must struggle hard incessantly to validate the jobless growth of the country.
Will this kind of democracy continue forever? Or do we see a peek of that democracy which are forefathers fought for and envisaged for us? Waiting with baited breath to see what the future holds in store for us! All the luck, patient citizens of India!
A great man in his famous presidential inaugural address on 20 January 1961 urged his countrymen to participate in serving their country by saying:
Delete"Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country."
Jai Hind
It is a sad fact that the politicians have reduced the citizens of this country into a commodity. The recent (hopefully bygone) rule of the Congress party proves beyond doubt that the leaders of yore are gone. Making personal sacrifice is a concept alien to them. Instead, they are happy to sacrifice the country at the drop of a hat for petty personal gain. So the writer is absolutely right in saying that if this country and it's citizens are purged of the scourge of the politicians, we shall prosper!
ReplyDeleteI am hopeful that May 16 shall give birth to a different kind of politician/ public servant who shall take this country on the path of development and constructive change. Waiting with bated breath.
It is so true that our elected leaders have failed us in many respects and did not measure to our expectations. It is also so amusing to read about Uncleji's friend raising his glass of liquor or wine (I assume) cheering others with glasses of liquor or wine (I assume again) and talking about poverty and hunger. This is a typical bourgeoisie talk. People, when sober, should also take personal responsibility to make life better for the unfortunate others.
ReplyDeleteEveryone grumbles because it makes them feel better. The fact is that since our independence from the foreign rulers, we have come a long way. Although our national affairs may still look chaotic and there is still street crime, corruption, hunger and poverty, our love for democracy is flourishing, economic health of the nation is rallying, standard of living is improving, better education and health is becoming available to all. That is a phenomenon by itself and our neighbor nations are envious of us.
Jai Hind
The era of politicians belonging to Nehru dynasty, responsible for various ills of our democracy seems to be over. The anger associated with such people will also come to an end. can we hope to see the dawn of freedom where vote banks would be given a go by and all citizens will thrive with dignity
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