The last week has been politically crucial at the national
level. The UPA-2 has once again found itself hanging on a cliff. To do or to
undo is the question. To stick its neck out for chopping or to withdraw in a
protective shell is the impending decision. The government finally took the
call to go ahead with reforms and the decision was hailed by the industry. But
the political parties have taken the decision to halt the reforms. One must
remember that the parties are usually closer to the people than the government
is. The cadres of the parties live among the people while the governing persons
are seen as the ruling class, and bureaucrats as hurdles. This is the common perception.
So when the parties oppose reforms using language that people understand as
against the terminology of long term benefits used by the government, the
people instantly connect with the former.
As I write this column, the political situation at the centre
is fluctuating and unpredictable. But it is not new, as we have seen these
dramas unfold any number of times in the immediate as well as distant past. We
should have learnt by now the likely short term and long term outcome of this type
of political dramas which sometimes turn into mere farce. However, having the
benefit of history, we the people should be wiser. Everything that glitters is
not gold. Political masks are in vogue. Not
just during elections when campaigners wear masks of their leaders. Some
leaders themselves are masks. We realize this too late many times. Therefore,
there is need for vigilance by the people. And more so by the people who make
the difference!
I believe that one
person can make the difference, and many people can make a big difference.
There are life members and floating members in any political party. Every
political party has also its committed vote bank. These voters do not change
their political options easily. Change in government comes because of the free
voters who are not committed to any party but make their decisions based on
past performance and current issues. They add the value of their votes to the
committed base of a given party and thus determine results in a big way. This
is the tribe that must increase and multiply if our country is to progress in a
democratic way. This is the segment that must exercise vigilance as top
priority. These are the people who must articulate their views and be open to
debate and exchange of ideas. These are the citizens who must discern the mask
from the true face of a leader or any political aspirant. These are the voters
who must activate others to determine results. You and I can be one of these,
provided we have an open mind and no political attachments.
The more the political situation gets volatile and hot, the
more is the need to remain cool. Watch. Keep watching. As Jefferson said it,
the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. And remain cool lest the rising
political temperature and emotions diminish your rational quotient. There is still
time for elections. The present scenario is definitely not the final act of the
drama. Even the Elections 2014 or earlier will not be the final chapter.
History is always in the making. We have to play our part to the end and then
hand over the baton. But we have to keep the flame burning. That is our
destiny. It can also be our joy even when there is no instant success.
Vigilance alone is not sufficient. We have to be active.
Activity does not necessarily mean getting into immediate action. It can also
mean resistance. A call for Bandh, whether Bharat or state specific, should be
the last resort in extreme cases. A hunger strike every now and then over any
issue should not evoke quick response. But these types of activities get the
mob going. When the mob takes over, thinking goes into a comma. The tyranny of
the oppressor is replaced by the tyranny of the mob. The informed and active
citizen has no place in this state of affairs. Destruction does no good to
anyone. It takes years to build what it takes minutes to destroy.
Action alone can lead us nowhere if we don’t have a vision.
Action must be vision-driven. And now the most relevant question. What will be
the outcome of the present national political imbroglio? Will it lead to a better alternative? Which
is the alternative? I feel there is no clear, practical alternative right now.
We need to analyze the situation, weigh carefully the alternatives, remove the
masks that are increasing by the day, and decide along with our fellow citizens
which next practical step to take in keeping with our vision. A step that will one
day lead us to the fulfillment of our vision. Shall return to this topic
another day.
One cool step, one day at a time!
Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 23.09.2012
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