Independence
Come 15th of August and there is a surfeit of articles glorifying our country for having stood the test of time and towering above the rest of the world as the largest democracy. I pause to ask a few basic questions.
1) Is there a vision for this country. Do we know the purpose of our existence ? Is there one common cause that can bring together all the people of this nation irrespective of linguistic, religious or casteist barriers ? For all the talk about the IIT's and IIM's changing the face of Young India have they produced a good academician who has drafted a grandiose dream for us ?
2) Our country is not in economic shamble because our politicians have been plain lucky. They never envisioned India as a software superpower -- If they had had their way we would have been begging for alms from the USA's and for that matter China's of the world. Can we point out even one decision not taken under duress or because of providence but with a sense of foresight that has altered the course of this nation significantly ?
3) If we are a hunky dory unified nation state why have there been so many separatist movements over the last 60 years ? Why do states want to break away even if they might not be able to survive economically and shall be eventually gobbled up by our neighbors ( If they become independent successfully)
4) Why do we celebrate the success of one bronze/one silver medal in the Olympics where as Tiny Cuba boxes away to golds and Mighty China churns out a factory of lanky men and women who have become the most feared athletes today. ( Don't be surprised if China goes on to win the Cricket World Cup in the next 10 Years).
Now my answer to the magical question -- Why is India still a democracy ?
There are close to 100 parties vying for a share of our treasury that can be emptied through their devious machinations. To keep the ordinary folk of the country engaged in their daily activities so that they can play their their game of loot and plunder , they decide to conduct a festival every five years. In this, the spectators are treated to a gala display of buffoonery in which they have to pick out the joker whom they liked the most. Once the populace is entertained our friends go back to their game.
No prizes for guessing what is what..........
Does that answer our questions ?
1) Is there a vision for this country. Do we know the purpose of our existence ? Is there one common cause that can bring together all the people of this nation irrespective of linguistic, religious or casteist barriers ? For all the talk about the IIT's and IIM's changing the face of Young India have they produced a good academician who has drafted a grandiose dream for us ?
2) Our country is not in economic shamble because our politicians have been plain lucky. They never envisioned India as a software superpower -- If they had had their way we would have been begging for alms from the USA's and for that matter China's of the world. Can we point out even one decision not taken under duress or because of providence but with a sense of foresight that has altered the course of this nation significantly ?
3) If we are a hunky dory unified nation state why have there been so many separatist movements over the last 60 years ? Why do states want to break away even if they might not be able to survive economically and shall be eventually gobbled up by our neighbors ( If they become independent successfully)
4) Why do we celebrate the success of one bronze/one silver medal in the Olympics where as Tiny Cuba boxes away to golds and Mighty China churns out a factory of lanky men and women who have become the most feared athletes today. ( Don't be surprised if China goes on to win the Cricket World Cup in the next 10 Years).
Now my answer to the magical question -- Why is India still a democracy ?
There are close to 100 parties vying for a share of our treasury that can be emptied through their devious machinations. To keep the ordinary folk of the country engaged in their daily activities so that they can play their their game of loot and plunder , they decide to conduct a festival every five years. In this, the spectators are treated to a gala display of buffoonery in which they have to pick out the joker whom they liked the most. Once the populace is entertained our friends go back to their game.
No prizes for guessing what is what..........
Does that answer our questions ?
posted by Shreerang at 11:47 PM
1 Comments:
I can't help commenting on your posts. They are realy well-written, and invite comments.
India has to be a democracy. As the cliche goes, 'Freedom is the right to choose your own chains', so I think the right to choose our own government is our right to choose the people who exploit us. And since these people are also in charge of making the laws, you can well imagine why India will always be a democracy!
Also, independence has given us the capability to blame ourselves for our failures. That is a step in the right direction, I believe, on the path to true independence...the ideals that Tagore best summed up in his lines :
"Where the mind is without fear...
...Into that heaven of freedom, let my country awake."
Post a Comment
<< Home