Tough Questions

Waiting in anticipation for the result of the assembly elections which is going to be declared tomorrow .The government that does set foot in the assembly would have the grave responsibility of keeping up to their promises and delivering accordingly. The common voter today is much sharper, bolder, forthright and unbounded by conventions. The gamut of information being doled out by the media ensures that none of the political candidates remain in the dark for too long. The probing media of the recent times, does an exceptional job of keeping the babus on their toes and of cracking the whip when the need arises.

But, the aforementioned smart voter is an endangered species today. The voter turn-out for Mumbai was a shameful 45%. And the appalling part of it all was that the government had to virtually bring the entire city to a standstill to make us exercise our right. The meager numbers are a disappointment. This was the same city a year back, that demanded answers in one voice. It roared in unity and made heads roll in the upper echelons of the government. It took the matter by the scruff of it's neck and made things happen. So, What happened? When did this face change? What made it change? Do we not realize the power of a vote, the power of being a democracy? Are we so egoistic that, if the impending predicaments are not effecting us and the people we care about, then nothing else matters? There are so many 'banana republics' out there even today being ruled over by tyrannical totalitarian governments, we could have easily been one of them. The oppressed people in those countries know the power of a vote, the power of a democracy. This kind of thought process has stemmed from sheer lack of belief in the system. Like how every single citizen is not egoistic, in the same way every politician is not corrupt. The stereotypes glued to politics have to be eradicated if we have the slightest desire to move in the direction of progress. So, next time when you meet someone who aimlessly points a finger at the government for any reason, interrupt & ask that person if he/she has voted or not. If not, then let them know they lose the right to reprimand.

We are, what the politicians are.

"Woh khaate hai, kyon ki ham khilaate hai!"

Cheers!

Inspire.

I was in a despondent mood today. My mind was plagued with a lot of uncertainty, trepidation & a lack of direction. The recent turn of events have made me doubt my own abilities, question my credentials and forced me to search for that 'purpose' which has often eluded me. The clouded mind of mine was seeking for inspiration, a booster, something that would instill belief and fortify me a tad.

Incidentally, I happened to stumble upon a poem by Harishvanshray Bachchan which was exactly what I was looking for. The answer to all the queries that I ever had and would have.It should be set in stone,etched in each and everyone's memory and should be passed on generously to the forthcoming generations.

Here it is:

Lehron se Darkar nauka par nahin hoti,

koshish karne walon ki haar nahin hoti

Nanhi cheenti jab daana lekar chalti hai,

chadhti deewaron par, sau bar phisalti hai.

Man ka vishwas ragon mein saahas bharta hai,

chadhkar girna, girkar chadhna na akharta hai.

Akhir uski mehnat bekar nahin hoti,

koshish karne walon ki haar nahin hoti.

Dubkiyan sindhu mein gotakhor lagata hai,

ja ja kar khali haath lautkar aata hai

Milte nahi sahaj hi moti gehre paani mein,

badhta dugna utsah isi hairani mein.

Muthi uski khali har bar nahin hoti,

koshish karne walon ki haar nahi hoti.

Asaflta ek chunauti hai, ise sweekar karo,

kya kami reh gayi, dekho aur sudhar karo.

Jab tak na safal ho, neend chain ko tyago tum,

Sangharsh ka maidan chhodkar mat bhago tum.

Kuch kiye bina hi jai jaikar nahin hoti,

koshish karne walon ki haar nahin hoti.

– Harivansh Rai Bacchan

Hail Bapu.

On Gandhi Jayanti, resting on my haunches & penning down the random thoughts fluttering between my ears. I sometimes wonder in utter amazement, the power a frail, bespectacled, gangly looking man wielded during the tumultuous times of this country. The ability to invoke intense emotions , to metamorphose rigid mindsets, to neutralize hatred by preaching love & non-violence at times of great distress & discord were some of the few magical powers the ‘Great’ man possessed . He showed the masses that glimmer of hope that they forever yearned for, he gave them a vision. Come what may, he never wilted, never flinched, was never fazed, he never ceased. But I am troubled today, for a quite a substantial reason that too. The tokenism that is manifested by people (which would include myself) would make him turn, jump and do acrobatics in his grave. Gandhiji would never have in his remotest dreams wanted there to be a day-off on his birthday so that every other dim-wit could relinquish themselves of their duties head off to the nearest hotspot for a long weekend. He believed in igniting minds, stoking the desire to change and altruism. The tokenism of cuddling up and watching a documentary on him on his birthday (which too some find rather dull) has to be uprooted. On this day, we have to vow to make a sincere effort to make a significant difference to somebody else’s life. That could mean anybody from your professor, grandfather, the street urchin to your maid, milkman or even your pet. Even something as simple as keeping a sublime smile as you open the door for your milkman or helping a lady with her luggage or having an engrossing conversation with your grandfather about his past trial and tribulations or just showering attention on your pet could make a telling difference. Every person can make that difference in his/her personalized way.

If we have even had the slightest of respect for that man or valued our democratic, secular status which we blithely enjoy due to him, we would not think twice before becoming agents of change.

Cheers!