Anywhere you go, travelling in train, in a tea shop, outside
a shopping mall or in college hostels, you’ll always find heated discussions on
politics, which quickly moves on to a discussion on politicians. This is the
only example of discussions that are both one-sided and heated. I haven’t ever
heard discussions on whether or not a particular debatable bill should be
passed or not, but I have certainly heard discussions on which politician did
what, who is more corrupt, who got arrested, and got away. And it really gets
interesting with new faces on the controversial front every day, and new jaw
dropping scams every other.
When the proposals of important bills are put forward, there
isn’t much debate and opposition. And just bring forth an issue like Ram Setu
or installation of nuclear power plants, which should be allowed without hype,
the political and social machinery comes alive. I had expected much more debate
and discussions on the FDI bill, but there wasn’t much. Especially in the
youth. Students’ discussions are like “who is better, SRK or Sallu?” ever heard
“should the cap on number of LPG cylinders be raised?” Last involvement of
youth in political matters before the Delhi gang rape case was when reservation
bill was passed, and that was long ago.
We shout hard if there’s any violation of any of our
fundamental rights. We even run to help someone else with ‘right’ problems.
That’s good, but what happens when it comes to our fundamental duties? We know
and exercise our rights, but do we remember our duties? Do we complain of
someone deviating from his duties, let alone ourselves be responsible? We don’t
commit to simple, small but important
duties like voting. And we expect full rights. Do you expect an invitation to
your friend’s party after you have thrashed and abused him? As a friend you
‘had’ the right, no more now.
There are serious misinterpretations of our constitution and
civil governance amongst our generation. The whole system is rotten, we say. We
forget that our constitution was written by the greatest minds and think tanks
that could have written it. And it was written predicting every possibly future
condition. Provisions in the constitution are such that our democracy is
infallible. It is the longest constitution of the world, because it is also the
best (a globally and widely accepted fact) and it almost caters to the
fundamental rights of each and every individual of our infinitely diverse
country.
You might say and I will agree that many of the culprits live
an easy jail life, because of the provisions in the constitution. But is the
news regarding arrest of innocent people common? No. the provisions were made
to guarantee true justice and not just a fast one. Obviously, the courts are
sometimes even slower than that, but the case of Ajmal Kasab is an example that
true justice was served, following every constitutional rules in a small time.
In his case, life sentence was announced within three years of the conviction,
including the time devoted solely to extracting important details form him
regarding terrorist activities, which accounted for a huge chunk of that time.
And regarding harsh corporal punishments, three years isn’t a very long time.
Of course, despite its greatness, out constitution needs
amendments, and very helpful provisions were made even for that, but the
amendments would only work if politicians table a bill, and pass it by
majority. This is where, everyone agrees, the problem stands. Not in framing
the constitution, but in execution. Taking a few steps back, and taking a look
on the big picture, it’s clearly visible where the actual problem lies. If the
MP’s and the MLA are bad considering they are not bringing forth the required
bills, or voting in its favor, then who elected them in the first place? How
are they there? And why are ‘they’
there and not us?
It’s in our mentality to just sit back and blame the politics
for everything happening. And click ‘like’ on the pictures of some honest
politician such as Arvind Kejriwal or put a black dot in the profile picture to
protest something. As if blaming and black ‘dotting’ will bring any change.
Instead, real change is needed. And that doesn’t require a revolution, or a
fast, or a digital anarchy. In times like this, where almost no political party
is willing to bring a change, stand up, and bring it yourself. Easier said, but
seeing a stand, many and many of the people needing just an initiative will
stand up with you, and a few against.
As the Mahatma said, be the change you want to see.
(Some even stood against Gandhi, and his stand on truth, the
biggest weapon against corruption today which he foresaw. Can you find those
protestors today?)
