Making a noise

Critically speaking, Indian politics has tarnished to the point that a cop who gives up his life in an encounter has to give proof for his martyrdom. That political mileage from any and every issue is sought – whether that be Raj Thakre cashing on the Jet Airways sacked out employees or Mamta Banerjee guarding Singur from all possible winds of industrial change. The left and the right are completely on the verge of their extremes. I am amazed to read – The Shape of the Beast- conversations with Arundhati Roy- at how a lop-sided view can be taken on any and every subject. How predictably people are positioned. How invariably the anti-Modi campaign is a mark of the intellectual strata. Reminded of his victory, it is by default marked as the black day of democracy. I wish they could cut a slack. If only they could look at other developments in the state. I am amazed at our myopic vision as at our amnesia. For the past few days the nuclear deal has completely taken a back seat, with the Government still liable to answer some hanging questions.

My concerns for Indian politics, arise at the excessive emotional quotient we attach to the ‘sensitive’ issue of religion. No party in its right mind leaves this highly powered cheque. The Central Government has ridiculed the issue of quota to an extent that the faculty at iit would have reserved seats. Recently, I read in a news article that the report from the ministry omits the seemingly irrelevant point that the directors of all the IITs were against the reservation in faculty seats. A genuine round of applause !

I, as an individual and a citizen of this country, would have surely given up my sentiments attached to my religion, if I were sure that the state would protect my belief – that i would not be threatened based on what I am. We need to give these words a thought. Because this stands true as much for the majority as much it does for the minority.

But I am not sure of it. I am not sure if the state is doing enough to impart justice. So however weak I may be, I shall stand for myself. Hence the anarchy sets in. These very sentiments are cashed by the political parties. Politics makes fools out of us. And we are idiots enough to marry the happy dream of democracy and enter the wedlock of mutual hatred and distrust. To top it all we flaunt the happy teeth. If instead of distrust, the people, the media, the politicians sow trust and harmony , the society would not be divided as it is. Demographics have to be considered. The balance of power in times of democracy, is not weighed by artillery, but by numbers. A politician is shrewd enough to understand that. As people we have the right, the power and the duty to open our blinded eyes – to understand the games that are played – to read between the lines that are read by the news readers and to give trust a chance.

However outrageous she might be, Arundhati Roy makes a point when she says that ” .. we have to rescue democracy by being troublesome, by asking questions, by making a noise. That’s what you have to do to retain your freedom. ..”

I just hope that the voices are not drowned in the noise.

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