Jaago India Jaago!!
Note:- This is a guest post, written by Abhi.
The dates for the general elections in India have been announced. The country goes to polls between 16th April and 13th May. All parties are gearing up for it. Money is being poured in and all parties are busy making their calculations. Prospective alliances are being looked at. Those who were at each others blood until yesterday are smiling away together, hand in hand. Friends are turning in to foes, and vice versa.
What does this tell us ? Or to the general public? It is very clear that our politicians are only concerned about the throne and being in power. For that they can join hands with just about anyone. No one really cares about you, me and the common public. There is no real interest in public issues. The parties will come up with loud mushy slogans claiming India to be shining, to be progressing and what not. Why, they have even started riding on the Oscar wave, with making ‘Jai Ho’ a punch line. Do they realize… and do we realize as well that the Oscar has nothing to do with the Government of India?? This attitude of the politicians needs to be changed.
But public memory is short lived. Its been more than two months to the Mumbai terror attacks. What has been done? Where is the ‘fitting’ reply to Pakistan? Kasab is still our guest and with the elections coming up, I really don’t think anything will happen to him… for, the Government might lose minority votes. No??
But why blame only the politicians? What happened after the terror attacks? Everything was forgotten after two of the top notch men in the Government were replaced. Everyone has forgotten. You, me, the media and the politicians. We had other things to worry about, isn’t it? Global recession, Satyam, Sensex, gold prices…and yeah IPL?? We burnt tonnes of wax at the Gateway demanding a change. And then we moved on.
I feel terrorism to India is not about only Pakistan or bomb blasts. With Pakistan, we at least have a last resort called ‘WAR’. But what about the terrorism inside the country? What about the power hungry politicians? What about corrupt babus? What about extremists like Muthaliks, Thackerays and Modis? Who goes to war against them? How do we tackle them? Will sending them underwears and condoms really help?? NO. It will not change anything. After the Pink Chaddi campaign, we could see shameless party workers holding out the panties in their hands for photographs. They are brainless morons; we can not change their mindsets.
Yes, we need a change for sure. But how do we make sure it happens? We just can’t let the fire; the anger and the anguish die down. And if anything can change or really hurt these people is our votes. Losing out on power is something that will hurt these people the most.
Everyone should vote if we desire a change. And vote for the right person.. not only because someone is really famous or a film star/sportsman. Let us make sure that we vote and we really vote for the right candidate. Let us not vote for gangsters. If the existing candidate hasn’t done fair amount of work for your constituency while in power, let us show him the door. Let us vote with our minds and not with our hearts. Only then we can expect them to really care about the common man.
This dirty system is being followed for 60 years now. It will not change overnight. It will take time, but we have to start now. So let us vote sensibly this elections and make a start. Let us ensure that at least our next generation gets to live in a much much better India.
Jaago India Jaago!!
P.S. 1.- All views on this post are solely of the author.
P.S. 2.- If you are also interested in writing a guest post here, contact me through this form but before that please read some guidelines on the same.
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Destination Infinity said,
March 6, 2009 @ 7:16 pm
How do we know who has done enough and what they have done? Can we trust the media? Can we trust their campaigns? Can we trust our intution even if some good work has been done in the constitution, can’t it very well be inspite of the politician and not because of him? Accountability comes from the individuals. From everyone of us. From the countless Govt and private employees. Leaders are just the shadow of the kind of individuals that a society has. The easiest thing to do is to blame the politicians.
Destination Infinity
Tarun said,
March 6, 2009 @ 11:41 pm
I see a fragmented results of election.
Which means a fractured mandate, which means a plump inconceivable government with incoherent and incomprehensible policies.
I think apart from a meltdown,I can see lots of monies changing hands.
Recession,weak government in the center, too many allies, too limited defined philosophy.
One more thing … I think we have to separate the truth from the sham that is projected by the media. The worst is yet to come, socially, politically, economically.
Deepu said,
March 7, 2009 @ 7:19 pm
I think i will be back in India, just in time for the elections.
Abhi said,
March 13, 2009 @ 10:14 am
Destination Infinity,
We just have to look around us and ask simple questions.. E.g. Do we travel on roads or in potholes? Are you safe enough when you go out on the roads? Is your hard earned money which you pay in taxes is utilized properly?? Let us just look around us with open eyes and we will find out. There need not be a fixed formula to ascertain the performance of your candidate.
NO. The media cannot be trusted completely. However, there are some websites which are doing some good work. Jaago Re is one of them. Even the Lead India campaign which Times is running, in my opinion is a good cause.
And, yes I agree with you. We all are accountable. See what I have said in the 4th paragraph. We just cannot simply blame the politicians for forgetting and moving ahead. It is up to us to keep asking questions. Our politicians know very well that public memory is short lived. Hence they give false assurances, and then something else comes up and we forget everything making it even more easier for the politicians to be ignorant. But yes, the leaders will have to take responsibilities for failures. Though the employees are certainly accountable, it is up to the leaders to ensure that the administration is proper. The person sitting at the VERY TOP has to ensure that the men just beneath him are working efficiently. It will automatically make sure that everyone works efficiently right down to the bottom of the pyramid. This applies everywhere, be it government or private organizations.
Tarun,
Your forecast could be true. However, we can only do what we can do best. That is go out and VOTE.
Deepu,
Dude, we are glad you will be here for the elections, for every single vote matters.
Cartographer said,
May 15, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
I was just reading on the right and the duty of the youth to vote. wanted to see what impact does my vote have on the electorate. Googled “Miniscule vote india” and stumbled onto this very thought-provoking article by some MMM.
http://miniscule-musings.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-doesnt-india-vote.html