2 Rounds down; 3 to go.

[Rajeev Kumar]

Dear friends,
I am wondering why I should not be upset...disappointed.....
nay........, disgusted?
When the first stats of the Polling in the Bangalore constituencies
seemed 50%, we were - for a moment - relived. Because, while non of us
expected miracles, we expected that we would get - at least - 50%
polling : up for an average of 44% during the last year's assemble
elections, and that too on a larger voter base.
But, on Friday,, when the official figures was published and said
44.73%, 45.25% and 46.78% for the Bangalore South, Central & North
constituencies, I was shocked. So much so that when my friends & the
media called me up, I was speechless.
I was really disappointed. But now, I am disgusted.
At the explicit display of apathy and irresponsibility of our
'educated', 'illiterate', 'awake', 'smart', etc., citizens who are
always right there when theres an opportunity to voice their angst,
complains, dissatisfaction and disappointment. Now why should we get a
better state of affairs in our nation now?

For the last 3 -4 months, we have been in this together. Working as
much as time possible to get people - as mentioned above, the most
'enlightened', 'educated', 'illiterate', 'awake', 'smart', etc.,
citizens to be a bit more responsible and take some interest in our
democratic process.
Did we ask too much?
Perhaps we did......... from the kind of response we were at times
getting, sometimes, out right rude & stupid.
Okay. Now let me stop complaining, and talk about 2 issues here :
a.) This process have shown us that while some of us worked real hard,
India may not be getting the most appropriate representative, we need
to take some respite that we did get support from a section of the
society, and the media.
So lets not stop here.
Its just 2 rounds down.... there is 3 more to go.
And then theres the formation of the new Government. And perhaps, if
we all stick together, we could, perhaps, try to avail an opportunity
to work with them and help create better policies, better
implementation systems, and become an efficient, vigilant watch dog
for our democracy.
From my experience, its mostly the 'educated', 'illiterate', 'awake',
'smart', etc., citizens who are the most difficult when it comes to
thinking and being sensible – especially when its comes to working
together for a common good selflessly. ! I have been continuously
advice its better to sit at home and think about my own self rather
than working with communities and societies and for common good.
So the challenge is really immense.
During the last few months, several of my friends, especially, the
political ones, asked me why I was so much interested in this and why
I put in so much trouble, if I do not have some 'selfish' interests.
Am I aiming for a "seat"?
Ahha..... Can't you see? I AM selfish. I am thinking only about
myself, my family and my business. We cannot thrive and live
prosperously if the society doesn't improve. My, my families & my
business' prosperity and profitability happens only if my country
prosperous & grows. ( Jokes apart, this is what I told a Union
Minister when he told me that he cannot believe that I am doing all
this without any vested interests. Some people are really tough to
convince!).
Last week, I was speaking to a group of citizens, and I said that
"while the Americans & Europeans are indeed materialistic and selfish,
we Indians break all the barriers in selfishness. While the Americans
& Europeans think only about themselves, they do think about their
immediate relatives. They call it being practical.
"However, on the other hand, we Indians do not even think about
ourselves, let alone our friends & families. You can just see the way
we drive our cars on the roads in India to accept this fact –
especially what we do at the signals and how we block the roads just
for that 0.1 second benefit (and end up wasting over an hour in the
ensuring jam). Why do we do this. Because we the - 'educated',
'literate', 'awake', 'smart', etc., citizens are too lazy to think.
"And thats why we are in this mess."
With all that information on the Internet, I have not seen any much
development on the ground, other than bloggs of angst and complaints.
We are really good in this - complaining and talking. But we are just
not mature enough to take responsibility for our duties. What the
British were not successful in creating – destroying our sense of
respect, confidence, maturity & communal harmony – in 200 years, our
leaders have done it in just 20 - 40 years – I think thats development
for us!
OK.
One basic fact here.
Mere voting does not earn you the right to compliant and whine. Voting
is only the beginning of our duties (yes! Voting is not your 'Right'
but your 'DUTY', and its your 'RESPONSIBOILITY' to execute this 'Duty'
judiciously.), our set of Duties & Responsibilities become complete
only when we take a constructed and responsible role in our democracy.
How many of are willing to do this?
We complain that we do not have the time. That we don't have the right
choice. And if there is a choice, that our choice would not win even
if we all vote for them!
But, are we all aware that this lack of time is due to the
inefficiencies in our society & system due to the lack of good,
efficient and appropriate governance?
Because of all the corruption, inefficiencies, greed (including our
fellow- citizens), bad planning, poor quality of development, and bad
fiscal management. We cannot change this by merely changing our
representatives (not 'LEADERS' mind you). But the fact is that we must
all get involved.
And our lack of responsibility, self-respect and willingness to vote
for independent candidates chase away good, sincere people from coming
into the fray.
How do we begin? When? Where? These are the questions I asked you
sometime back.
I think some of us should get together and teach our leaders &
politicians some history.
When I hear my 'educated', 'literate', 'awake', 'smart', etc., friends
talk about incidents that happened during the partition, I feel
ashamed. Not just because such incidents happened in my country, but
because my friends don't have the maturity and sense to look at the
bigger picture.
The incidents were perpetuated not by one community, but by a handful
of people belonging to 2 religions (not one – mind you) and the real
motive was not anything to do with God or Region or Religious
beliefs..... they just wanted to grab property belonging to the other
community, and they can do this only of these people leave the area...
just like what happened in Gujarat a few years ago.
But alas, these friends of mine are too pre-occupied by their other
interests to think for themselves or to accept the thruth. I have
seen more people parrot 'leaderspeak' rather than talk anything new.
Our nation has always been a cauldron of 100s of Religious beliefs. A
good look at history with tell you this – not our leaders' speeches.
While I was growing up, I had the fortune to be raised by some sincere
people – who taught me that 'India is my country, and all Indians are
my brothers & sisters' – that this is true not just literally, but in
reality too, and I must always abide this rule (OK... perhaps thats
the reason for my single hood!).
My ancestors gave their lives defending their nation, and when they
were killed on the battlefield, it was a group of loyal & determined
people – of all castes & religions – that secured my family, and if I
am alive today, I give full credit to them for me being alive here
today.
You may not read all this in your history books. But thats because the
politicians prefer that you don't.
Just take a walk around India. You will hear stories that tell you of
religious harmony. And I am proud of this heritage. (Sorry about this,
but ...)
I am lucky in that way.. to be born in a family of communal
harmonizers. I have always grown up taught that people of all
communities and faiths are my brothers and sisters. Its very tough for
a person like me to accept the reality today that we are not all
brothers and sisters, but greedy monsters in reality – out to finish
each other off.
I still wish to retain the belief (and hope) that we Indians as a
Majority are really non-communal... real believers of the Almighty God
and patriots. And only a very small minority is our to finish each
other off to attain their selfish needs. [So, please help me God!]
Sorry that I wrote all this, but I am getting more & more disgusted
when I see some of our 'tall' leaders talk on the TV. Today, more than
anything, our biggest challenge is communalism. Because as long as we
are intolerant & immature, we would not be able to take on our other
challenges. That of poverty elevation, growing unemployment (and the
growing unemployability of our graduates!), Energy, water & food
crisis, etc. Because our politicians know that only greed, jealousy &
hatred can unite people today.
b.) The 'Y' India Network was formed by a group of us to create a
platform of citizens (individuals & groups) especially the citizens –
to engage ourselves in our Democracy – actively, maturely, responsibly
and on a sustained basis.
This is meant to be a National Forum, and we are fortunate to have
some good members in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai & Kerala – in addition
to Bangalore.
So our first project was an initiative for the General Elections.
But when its all over, lets all get together and plan out our future
activities. We can start eCounselling through this eGroup. We shall
formally form Regional chapters & plan out our agenda in more
constructive way. This time we can get away by saying that there was
not enough time, and each one of us were also busy with our own
personal campaigns.
However, we still have 3 more rounds to go, and lets all work together
that we achieve some good development this time.
Warm Regards,
Rajeev Kumar
Co-Founder, 'Y' India Network.