Obama, during the USA presidential election campaign, introduced a much-hyper and painfully overused word -- 'CHANGE'. Soon after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai the urban affluent society and celebrities went berserk shrieking ‘enough is enough’. Candle selling business picked up. The media started ‘Lead India’ contests. Many activists and NGOs, after seasonal hibernation, urged young voters to register and vote. And several leaders, known manufacturers of the stinking political products, joined the popular chorus. And during the election season we also the media talk of ‘Indian Obama’ even if the idea is completely extraneous and absurd. The reality is that the unchecked political pornography, for several decades, has infected the sensibilities of an ordinary Indian citizen to such an extent that the country needs a purge to restore the decaying pillars of democracy. Obama type argot, notwithstanding media fascination, will not help. Why?
The reality is that protagonists of ‘shining India’, ‘democratic India’, ‘incredible India’, ‘rising India’, have created a deep divide between the state and its subjects. The integrity and moral fibre of democratic institutions have been damaged. The aam aadmi (not the celebrity or the politician, bureaucrat, a servile media or the rich corporate) has been the principal victim of a repetitive state torpor.
Haven’t we mentioned change enough times -- for the past 60 years? What’s new now? Does it matter if a politician A is replaced by B in this stinking political jamboree? The change is not about younger, heir apparent, taking over the profitable political business. The change is about consolidating the perception of people about the efficacy of a system.
Change is not about announcing grand schemes providing roti, kapda, sadak, makaan and ‘garibi hatao’. In fact, these slogans reflect the bankruptcy and inadequacy of a welfare state that failed to deliver even the basic needs. The Government spends huge amounts of taxpayer’s money on advertising and glorifying its perceived achievements. The Government’s story of national resurgence has always been part fiction. The pictures of beaming politicians reeling out impressive growth figures cannot camouflage a plummeting India, with a flawed democracy, that deprives an honest citizen to live with dignity. What use are grandiose social welfare schemes, Yojnas and rural programmes (mostly with Gandhi-Nehru prefix) when the biggest beneficiaries are the benefactors? India continues to plummet in International rankings be it Governance, be it health, security, or child welfare.
The change is not about reducing every National Issue to a farcical debate between ‘Secularism vs. Communalism’.
Is there a single political party that does not practice communalism overtly or covertly? The BJP, allegedly a communal party, overtly presents the face of Hindu agenda. More dangerously, the so called inclusive secular parties, like Congress, sneakily practice communal agendas through legislations, reservations, selective dysfunctional schemes, appointments to high offices or merely ‘crying wolf’ to target a religious group. The change is about political parties reviewing the constitutional parameters that promote ‘labels’ based on caste, religion and regions. The change is about removing all derogatory ‘labels’ that defines its citizens.
The media have been discussing India’s ‘future PM’. The change is not about the colour of skin, caste, and family rights. It is not about the potential PM being handsome or ugly, having ‘dimpled cheeks’ or polished public speaking skills. It is not about having a Dalit PM or Brahmin PM. It is about National resurgence. It is about the courage to ‘change’ unethical political practices, irrespective of ‘coalition’ compulsions. Decay starts at the top. In this context, an example of Mr Manmohan Singh, presumably a man of integrity, may be relevant. He had the opportunity to ‘change’ be it the vote of confidence, be it Bofors scam, be it inducting/taking support of shady politicians, be it respecting the integrity of institutions like CBI, EC or be it playing votebank politics. He chose to remain a servile party worker and Sonia loyalist rather than a leader of one billion strong country. Had he taken one independent moral decision, irrespective of the consequences, he could have set the process of ‘change’.
The nation is still struggling to create social, political, judicial, executive, security and economic institutions that ensure justice and fullness of life to every individual. The very legitimacy of the state is being seriously undermined. Political parties, even with less than 15% mandate of the people, can earn the right to govern one billion people. Coalition partners change on an hourly basis - all under the pretext of ‘national interest’, ’secularism’ or ‘like-minded parties’. Change is not about making our institutions servile to the establishment, to a party or to a family. The change is not about rewarding individuals with high posts and awards for their loyalty rather than competence. It is about restoring the independence and integrity of institutions.
Jai Ho
Lt Col (retd) VK Sharma
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