As a student and a growing citizen of this country, I could never control my temptations in knowing more when it comes to the political history of this country. Be it a simple conversation with my parents or a debate in a school, I have never been reluctant to speak out what I feel about this political world to anybody.
The first question to be asked in this arena is “what comes to your mind when I say ‘politics’?” Well with the variation of people the answer changes, but for me what reflects in my mind after hearing this term is the various scribblings on the walls of different mansions asking the common folks to vote for a particular candidate. I have been seeing this since I got my senses some 17 years back and may be one of the oldest practice to ask for votes.
With the passage of time the definition of “politics” has also changed. Scrolling back some 100 years ago we will find that “politicians” were considered to be the actual and honest representative of people they were the only one whom we address as the freedom fighters. Examples of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Rashbihari Bose, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, The Grand Old Man Of India are some of the prominent of them. But as the time passed by, the situation and environment regarding politics changed. There came the abuser, the opportunists, the power mongers in the disguise of “politicians” and ultimately forced people to claim “politics is a dirty game.”
So the next question that would definitely come up is “how is the political situation of India now?” Well to be very frank, the controversy lies here. A single answer to this question can never please all the people of this country. For some the condition is very poor, according to them, they are targeted whenever they go out in speaking against the ruling party (be it central or state), they fear that their “independence” is in danger! While for another group the nation is in safe hands. They regard the accusations as “baseless”. And they claim that it is the strategy of the opposition to demean their popularity.
But glancing over few cases both these claims seem true. After every polls we witness a horrified view of post poll violence. We have seen mothers of the opposition party leaders getting brutally beaten up, their wives getting raped and the deadly fate of the various “karyakartas” of the opposition tent. And the power-mongers try every possible way to subdue these incidents and present to the world the situation in such a way that it seemed to be a conspiracy against them by the opposition.
But is it only here that it ends? I don’t think so. Then comes the policy of “identity politics”. Now to be specific, this was the trend that was trended first by the British and is still been continued by our “honourable politicians”. Whenever election knocks at the door all the political parties dive in this policy of appeasement. Be it appeasing the Muslims or be it appeasing the Hindus, each political party has its own strategy in carrying out this policy. And who else add fuel to this fire? The so called “feminists” (without having the slightest notion of what feminism is all about) , the “environmentalists”, the so called “independent and unbiased journalists” whose passion is to add cherry on the top.
The new trend that has come up now is of course the “farmer protest”. I wonder how farmers could have such leisure times to give up their work and protest for one long year! I wonder who these protestors are that they have no knowledge about the thing they are protesting against! And I wonder how foolish and selfish people are (of course some) to give them motivation and encouragement to continue with their drama .Yet another shameful, horrible and all bloody incident took place is an enough proof to highlight that we are far behind from being a healthy and civilised society!
Thus as a responsible and a die hearted lover of this soil it the sole responsibility of us to draw the ending line of the non-stop dramas going on for ages after ages. It’s high time we should choose between our motherland and these propagandas. It’s time to raise our voices against every wrong around us. Be it the horrible and shameful attack on ISKCON in Bangladesh by the Islamic terrorists or be it the inhumane attack on the Palghar sadhus. If today we remain silent, remember our children will never forgive us because it’s they who have to pay for our silence.
Thus, what I feel is that the first duty of every person who has the ability to speak to masses, must try their best to sow the seed of humanity, brotherhood and love. If we don’t stop politics in taking the tremendous heights, it will definitely take the serious toll on this peaceful society. ‘Religion’: the weapon used by the politician to divide the common folks, teach us compassion, sincerity, honesty and loyalty. No matter what the situation is we cannot stop hoping for the day when the obsession of the common people breaks then politics and the politician will be perfectly subdued!
