WE WANT A CHANGE

A month before, a few hundreds of people woke up for the last time in their life. They left for their daily duties not even aware that they would succumb to one of the worst terror strikes in the world thus far. Today, the Government of India sits pretty, still thinking as to whether they need to strike Pakistan or not. Politicians fight over the bills on NIA and UAPA to be passed for over a period of a week. Where are we headed to? No one is in a position to answer in affirmitve.

We just need to go back 7 years to analyse what had happened after the terror strikes at the Twin Tower; the US Military forces had left shores ignoring the warning from the other nations on the after effects of the strikes on Afghanistan in search for Osama. That seemed to be the right way to tackle terror and protect their country's people. Today, We The Indians worry more about how relations with Pakistan needs to be. The spineless action that is employed by the Government clearly shows they are not cared about the rapid results, rather just want to time the actions right so that they can get away with the minimal efforts of their campaigning for the forthcoming Central elections. "Do not harm Neighbours"- because these politicians want to garner the Muslim minority votes. Well, today no community in India is a majority. So, why a soft corner for them alone? (Sigh)

Today, I'm hurt to the fullest just thinking about how could I ever contribute to help India grow in the right direction. There are lots of rights that I could use to my favour, yet I stay away from it. I dont go to the polling booth to cast my vote sighting reasons that it is one day that I can enjoy with my family at a getaway spot in the city or the outskirts. I'll be a fool to not waste this golden opportunity. But now, I'm going to vote for sure and be part of the change. But, who will be the candidate I vote for? The same person who stood in the last elections, because HE/SHE is the only able one. Yet again, after all this hardwork of standing in the line to cast the vote, the similar Government takes the Hot-seat and ruin the country further. Five years hence, I'm cursing the Government and vote with the anti-incumbency wave. Old Wine in a new bottle: We as people have no say. We are back having the government that ruled us a term before. And this goes on without respite. (Sigh)

We, as the people of the country, have shown feelings of protest against what had happened in Mumbai last month. Candles were lit at the Marine Drive and Gateway in Mumbai, malls in New Delhi, Marina beach in Chennai and at numerous other gatherings to show respect to the lives lost. But today, the spirit has died down and we are more bothered about how to overcome the recession. We have lost the whole plot on how to topple these old and rusted politicians with young and fresh bloods who would bring us prosperity. It took an Obama to make the Americans feel that the country is in safe hands. But, ours today is in the hands of the corrupt politicians and government officials who dont think before selling off the country in the hands of the terrorists. And we now need someone of Obama's calibre to propagate 'Yes We Can'. As a citizen of the  Largest Democracy in the World, I am awaiting the answers. (Sigh)

A visionary once quoted "Hum Honge Kamyab ek Din" (We would be victorious one day), but India has not seen the light of THAT day. So, WE need to take this torch ahead and see what is in store. And We for sure can then see a change. (Am I heard? Or is it into the deaf ears?)

New-age Governance

The holistic success of a country's good governance depends on the due appreciation of the dynamic dichotomy and unitive sensitivity of the dual entities, i.e., civil society and political state. The viable evolution of the modus operandi between these two is a must for a social order and progressive polity. If the state operates as a sole voice and a totalitarian authority dressed in a democratic grab, the Cabinet will become a cabal, the Prime Minister a fuehrer with a fascist trends and Parliament a rubber stamp forging the will of the people.

 

The current Indian scenario suggests state and society moving recklessly towards head-on conflict. The need for functional constitutionalism, providing a paradigm of state society rapport, is never more felt. When alienated segments of the society are desperately hurt by majoritarian oppression or state repression, terrorist manifestations and mass discontent may erupt, aggravated by state terrorism under the guise of law and order.

 

The Preamble to our constitution begins with great words "We the people of India" and culminates in the creative expression "resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic". The people are the civil society and the Republic is the political state, the Preamble being the luminous functional expression of the modus operandi between these two concepts which must be in operational amity if chaos is not to mar human rights and cultural life. State is a political authority with legal mandates while the civil society is the people within the country, larger than and different from the state, though the former is created by the latter through an imperfect electoral process in a democratic republic. The media and NGOs are great mediators. The rule of law is created by the state; the rule of life is uneven flow of civil behaviour and makes up social order or disorder. The Indian state is currently a paragraph-anarchy operating through bureaucracy with its trinity of executive, parliamentary and judicial branches, while civil society can be and is at times uncivil and may behave as functional anarchy. No true Secular, Socialist, Democratic Republics operational unless civil society, as an orderly organism, gives broad backing to the state. Society is the ultimate voice and State has no higher final power save internecine war.

 

We, in India, as a people, made a tryst with destiny to set up a democratic republic with concern for the welfare of every member. So it, is paramount that the Republic and the states which form the Union are sensitive to the values of harmony, fraternity, and stability of the nation as a collective entity. If society is self divided, if there is clash between sections of the society, the state suffers in its representative might and right, and democracy diminishes or perishes. So, it is the utmost importance to preserve the homogeneity of the larger community lest the administration should fail in its fundamental obligations of good governance. Disruption of social coherence leads to political disunity and dismemberment when the break-up within the social fabric exceeds limits of the basic structure which brought the diverse strata or sectors constitutionally together. Society versus state, if it occurs, is a grave constitutional crisis. One should not permit the hijacking of society by global corporates who by tempting the glitterati, sell the soul of society to exploitative or communal forces. Here, political parties and social organs come into constructive play or destructive negativity.

 

The idea of civil society and its paramountcy has exploded onto the political scene sufficiently powerfully as to command the attention and activism of politicians and even of voluntary groups with goals at variance with the professions of the state and the rule of law. The covert revolt of micro-private tyrannies succeeds when, as in Third World countries particularly, the state fails to deliver justice in its social and cultural dimension. When the state ceases to matter, as a welfare power, corruption and purchase of state authority for entry into and buying up of markets becomes an open sesame for global economic forces. They build their own state within the state using money power and grand propaganda. Civil society is cracking up on communal, religious and regional lines. Sans civil society, the Union and the States become simulacrums. Insatiable appetites of the genteel nouveau riche corrupt lifestyles. Resistance groups, anti-pollution cells, paragraph violent organisations and private tyrannies multiply. On top of this social incoherence is transnational terrorism growing macro as the nation becomes micro and weaker through internal maladies. This unfortunate opportunity is fully exploited by the world’s superpower, the US.

 

If Indian democracy is to redeem its tryst with destiny, a creative protocol and code of ethics must become the vogue in public life. Consensus must be the rule of life, contentment of the lowliest the testament and the participative process the habit of governance. Democracy is incompatible with arbitrary fiat and dialogue is the means by which ends must be reached. The modus operandi of state and society must be an active sense of togetherness without which the best decision may be rejected. Within the state itself, a similar process is necessary lest clashes from within break out into open conflict. The rule of law and of life in a democratic society must evolve a viable harmony functionally involving all affected parties.

Dilemma of living in a City, yet a Village

Woken by the effect of the belting sun, I realise that the Air-conditioner is switched off and neither is the fan on. Disgruntled I get up cursing the Gods, "Why?? Why on earth should I be amongst the dissatisfied youth, who never manages to complete his sleep?"

From the other room I hear a squeal followed by a clamour. I witness my grandparents exchanging their little valuable thoughts that they have about their surroundings.

Get down the stairs to see that life had already started for many in the same world that I'm part of. Sister busy packing her bag for college, Dad already left for work, and Mom out to temple. I feel as if a cuckoo in midst of a family of sparrows. I still ponder over what went wrong in my DNA composition. Yet, somewhere some stones have to be moved to start building a monument. Every step that I took seemed to weigh heavily.

Yawn. And there it goes. I need to start my day and switch on the lights as I make my way into the restroom. It's a reminder. The power is'nt there, and I suppose that's the sole purpose of me waking up. I stumble my way in and refresh myself.

Now rejuvenated, I grope the newspaper on one hand and cold milk as beverage to start the day. For a change I plan to read all the news in detail. Well, I've got all the time on earth to do that. "Its the same old news," and I flip to the next page.

The second page of TOI is always the best to read from both knowledge and literature point of view. To my horror the headlines read "Statewide Power shutdowns." This is the second time in the day that the divine Gods are remembered for, well, cursed. I am facing the brunt of the self procalimed road to development by the pundits at the helm of affairs presiding at the Secretariat. With thoughts dancing ballets and bhangra, I try to assimilate as much as I can about the issue.

I'm the most favourite of the victims for Uncle Murphy. Yes, my eye catches on the line which says "....... though the authorities have been lenient to allow the shutdown in areas inside the City Corporation limits to be one hour and the outskirts of the city being 3 hours......" The fact is we live about 8 km outside the city limits. The Holy Spirit makes his presence felt again. I look at the clock as it struck half past eight. An hour without the power is definitely excruciating, to top it all it's early in the month of June in a tropical region, where the seasons are defined as the Hot, Hotter and Hottest.

Another hour lapses, and I'm still glued at the very place engrossed at what I'm reading. Now the tranquility in the air is suddenly disturbed by the clank of the gates. The First Lady of the house arrives after her holy visit.

Surprised by my early presence at the drawing room, she made a gullible enquiry about 'Why has the Sun risen from West?' I evade any further devolopment of this statement into an arguement with a coy smile.

There is still 3600 seconds to tick by before i do something fruitful. I climb up the stairs, and the conversation of squeals and clamours is now turning into a squabble for the amount that needs to be given as a gift for a function at a nearby relation.

Finally, I move into my abode and decide to clean up the mess i had made. And by the time I complete this task (yes, it indeed was a task as you can imagine how a bachelor's room would look), the pain and agony experienced over the past 3 hours gets over. The power is back.

Its quite into the day and I do need to bring sanctity to myself, by cleansing off the sweat that has formed a layer as thick as my own skink over those period of 3 hours. But the essence of the bath was lost soon after, as this city a.k.a village is famous for its high humidity. Pah, a sigh of both relief and agony grips me.

Our sweet First Lady had completed her cooking, and that was smelling delicious. I hogged over as I had hardly eaten anything since morning. I usually eat by a morcel, but this day was one of those unusuals to come by. My mom remarked that only a characteristic burp was missing which generally indicates that a food is good. Well, I reserve that for another day. For the first time in the day His Holiness was remembered for something good.

I plan to venture out to see the world around me. On my way out I notice the squeals and clamours are still on. The bus stop is a good 2-3 min walk from my place. Either side of the road that leads to the bus stop has rows and rows of hutments. Scenically, this pathway gives u a plethora of emotions: happy, sad, bliss, depression, ecstasy, heart-breaks.

Screening my way through the cacophony caused from these emotions, I finally make it through to the bus stop. Well, I guess the wait is going to be long enough. The fact is that during non-peak hours at this place intra-city transports run at a frequency of once every 20 minutes. But, peak hours never seem to exist. The only pastime by the bus stop is looking at the natures pets. Sacred animal, the cow, grazes its way through the grass that is sprinkled across the upcoming development areas. If you are lucky you may also stand to witness them ending their digestion process on the roads.

After a while your prayers are answered and bus enroute to the city halts to take in the sophisticated villagers. I make myself comfortable at a window seat. The person next to me turns out a one chewing a paan and in the process exercising all possible muscles in the face. The scent of this paan combined with the stink from his clothes drove the vacuum out of the bus and filled with a vibrant fragrance. To top it all, the bus journey started as a rickety one. It manoeuvred through the roads which are under construction since the days of Moghul Empire setting foot in India, and giving the passengers multiple disorders.

I finally reach my destination and breathe in the fresh air of the city, of which I was a resident once. But the dilemma still continues to be behind me.