On Democracy, Elections and Voting in India

Democracy, undoubtedly is one of the greatest ideas of all time. As Abraham Lincoln once told, "Democracy is of the people, by the people and for the people". It gives people the freedom of choice of how to govern themselves, and more than that, how to live. Nations are nothing but its people.

When there was no authority on earth, there was absolute freedom, but there was also absolute anarchy in the sense that only the mighty ruled (not that it is very obsolete now, but is under tremendous control); the very existence of a being was at the mercy of the mighty.

Thus we gave ourselves nation states, where there would be a government to rule. Irrespective of the form of the government, the basic objective ought to be the welfare of the people, and especially, the weak and the vulnerable. This shows the progress of civilization and the maturity of the human species (more than any other). Democracy truly reflects all these characteristics.

However, democracy depends on its citizens to be successful.

The greatest gift that our (Indian) statesmen gave us after our independence was 'Democracy'. Since then our democracy has matured and has become world's largest democracy.

Elections, or the universal adult franhise is an important part of Democracy. It gives power to the people; it is the most important means through which the Democracy runs; it is the life blood of Democracy.

But, the on-going general elections in India has thrown at us several questions.
Why is the voter turn out getting lower and lower (in spite of the campaign promoting voting)?
Why literate people are voting in less numbers than their illiterate cousins?
Are people losing faith in Democracy?
Or, the people are only fade up with the politicians?
Are we complacent regarding the success of our Democracy?

A common argument for people not voting is that "we don't have option- all the candidates in the fray are equally useless". But, is our society any different from the political scenario? Politics (or for that matter, any profession) is only a reflection of our society. If we are concerned about our nation and our people, we must vote; we must choose the lesser evil (if one thinks so).

However, voting is not the end of it. We have to be aware of what is happening; we must ask questions; and ABOVE ALL, GOOD PEOPLE MUST JOIN POLITICS. It may not solve the problem immediately, but it will help in the long run. Youth has a big role to play; youth must embrace politics. A young nation like us can only avoid politics at its own peril.

When you hurt your finger, you don't cut it off; you apply balm.

My Mother

Some years back, when I was in college, when I was alone, I wrote this poem on my Mother...it goes like this: 

MY MOTHER ---------- 

Friends galore around I talk and I laugh; 

I do have the freedom 

To do what I like... I sing, I dance and make merry; 

There is, however, lacking something- It's you my dear! 

Oh you dear, How often I miss you! 

You are not there- When I sit with my book 

To give me a glass of milk; 

When I can not grow 

To push me from behind; 

When I am in distress 

To console me in your lap; 

When I am in darkness 

To lead me to light; 

When I am lost in the wilderness 

To show me the path; 

When I am nothing 

To make me something. 

Often do I get angry with you 

Often do I neglect you 

Often do I ignore you 

You have loved me the same, non-the-less 

I am nothing without you, 

Maa, I am nothing without your love.

The dignity of being a man!

It was 25th January, 2009. I was coming back from my home (Orissa) after a brief break to Ahmedabad by a train in the second class compartment. I was not in a great mood...the break was too short for my liking. To make matters worse someone would come every other hour with his/her begging bowl. I always have this disliking for begging (I don't have any disliking for those who beg though). I was engrossed in an argument within myself.....
.....Why would someone beg?
.....Is this alright?
.....Is it ok to give alimony?

After a long monologue, I decided, it is is ok if I give alimony (which I do most of the time). I thought in most cases, one would beg because of one's inability to earn and the lack of earning opportunity. To the question that what would one be doing with the money so earned (some people fear that the money is misutilized), I gave the beneift of doubt to the beggar; I assumed the money is not misutilized as I have no idea; and in any case, one is free to do whatever one wishes to do with his/her earning!

I was reminded of the recent movie 'Slumdog Millionnaire' and the underworld hand in it.....the big business behind begging.

But I somehow justified evrything and thought that I was not that wrong when I give away a rupee in alimony. However, I was not at all happy to convince myself this way!

Just then, THIS HAPPENED! This gentleman (in the photograph above) came along. He was an old man of around 50-55.....blind by both the eyes.....stains all over his face (possibly because of Small pox), in tattered clothes. But the most remarkable thing about this gentleman was that in spite of all odds, he was standing tall. He was not begging! He was selling useful little things one would require during a train journey (like paper soap, pan masala, etc). He was working all round the clock for his bread and butter.

I thought how easy was it for this man to beg! There could be no better excuse! (At least in India!)

But this man was dignity personified. He was (is) a real Hero.One could sense and smell the dignity of labour....the dignity of being a man! I was feeling proud to be a man. All my apprehensions were gone....I was instantly filled with hope and joy.

A Nuptial Dilemma !

One of my good friends told me recently that she is going to help a friend of hers to marry a boy of her choice, which their parents don't approve. The pair has been trying to convince their respective parents since a lince a long time, albeit unsuccessfully; hence they have decided to marry without their parents' will in the court of law.

My friend is worried that some of her good friends advise her not to support such a marriage.

I would like to air my view on this subject.

One knows one's parents and family the best. If he/she thinks that there is little chance that the family will approve of such a relation/marriage, he/she should not fall in love at the first place; i.e, 'Don't fall in love if you know you can not marry'!

However, fortunately or unfortunately, love (in most cases) happens spontaneously and subconsciously. One discovers oneself fully within its grasp when one realizes it.
What to do in such a situation?

Now there are three options open:

* You convince your parents/family and get married for good
* You can not convince, and still go with your beloved one, none-the-less
* You can not convince, so go with your parents and ditch your beloved

One would like to have the first option...if it is open though! However, the problem/argument lies with the next two options.Personally I would chose the second option, for:

* To marry the person you love is a commitment (if it is not defined/decided/understood otherwise earlier by thepartners)
* In most cases, even if you marry against your parents' wishes, the parents later on realize that the marriage after all is not that bad... and ultimately recognize it and accept it. So, it is a matter of time before everything settles down.

I would chose the third option only if it comes to a question of 'life and death', i.e., if there is a 'realistic' chance of someone becoming so depressed / disappointed by the situation that he/she might commit suicide or there is a chance of someone resorting to fatal violence. After all, 'Life' is above evrything else!

It is true that love marriages can fail, but so can arranged marriages! (Divorces are not the only indicator of failed marriages)

I don't suggest that 'marriage' has to be personal decision. In our society and culture, marriages are socially significant occasions and everybody is involved. But there should not be a veto power! The last decision need not remain with the parents or someone in particular. It can be a collective decision, with prime importance to the person getting married.

If he/she makes a wrong decision, he/she is going to suffer...and he/she can not blame it on others. The rigidty on part of the parents/family comes not from the concern/care but from the superficial notions of prestige and ego. In any case, a good parent has to have faith in their child! Support and faith on the part of the parents result in better relations in future and strengthen family bond.

It is pertinent that when the constitution has faith in an individual that he has the ability to chose the Head of the state, he certainly has the ability to chose a life partner for himself or herself!

GOD

Some days back my mother called me up and asked me not to visit any temple or place of worship! On enquiring, she told me that she had consulted one astrologer and he had suggested the same. Not that I am worried about this, but it makes me ponder whether this matters at all!

Since the time I have gained conscience, I have been trying to understand GOD. I don't believe in the conventional idea of 'GOD' (idols, temples, rituals, religions, etc), but I don't have disbelief in his presence either. I completely believe that HE is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. But I have not found answers to three of my questions regarding GOD:

* If the universe is HIS creation, what is the purpose of it?
* Why is there so much of inequality in the world?
* Does HE have any control over us?

Whether I get the answers to these questions or not, I firmly believe in one thing though: 'ACTION'

A Train journey in India

A train journey is a rich experience, especially if one is travelling in India. A train passing through the length or bredth of the country contains a mini-India within it. One finds everything inside a train that makes India such a unique country in the world- 'unity in diversity'.

You will find people of all religions, castes, colours, languages, etc in the same compartment...sitting together, shoulder to shoulder...enjoying a chat ranging from politics to movies to sports and what not! This is really heartening to see, especially because we often find ourselves divided on caste, religion and language and have seen bloody fights at different points of time.

What I like the most is the kind of learning about how people live in different parts of India and how different is one culture from another within India. I can not be in all the different parts of the country to experience that; the train provides the opportunity to discover the same unfold in front of my eyes.

You will find abject poverty and overflowing prosperity living side by side. You will see absolute liberals and outright fundamentalists engaged in a solid discussion...mostly ending up in fierce arguments; a real learning experience for a silent observer!

A train journey is more of a learning experience and enjoyable too if you are travelling second class or third class...rather than the first class. The people travelling in first class seem to be more or less similar, wherever they belong; they have the similar life styles and mannerisms, etc.

People engage in good, long and absorbing discussions followed by an elongated period of silence. It seems as if a train journey has a life of its own : times of bustling activities and times of deadly inaction! If you have a little time on your hand, and want to discover India, a train journey is the ultimate option. No wonder then that Gandhiji started his political career in India with a train journey across India!

'Caste' is no great idea!

All great ideas have to stand the test of time. An idea may be great for the period it was conceived, but later on the times change ..... and circumstances change..... and with this changes the relevance of the idea. One such idea is the idea of 'caste'.

May be when the Indian society was divided on caste lines, it was a great idea as it brought about labour division and led to greater efficiency. But the problem started when the society was divided into classes on caste lines; the class hierarchy followed exactly the same caste hierarchy, i.e. the same upper castes became the higher classes too. This was because the works ascribed to the upper classes automatically yielded greater remunerations than the works ascribed to the lower castes.

Another great folly was that generations to follow would automatically fall in the same caste and hence do the same job and would get the same remuneration!

However, the greatest of the problems is the component of 'untouchability' woven intricately in the caste system. It is a blot on humanity! How can one justify the idea of an individual not touching another???!!!

Thus, I believe, 'caste' as an idea has failed the test of time.