All,
It has been an eventful month since my previous ranting. In that post, I had tried to put into context the purpose of individual votes adding up to something meaningful, something that can force our corrupt leaders out and bring in fresh minds to drive our country forward. I certainly have not been the first one to say those words, and I certainly will not be the last.
I do not want to say too much on the obvious "awesomeness" that Hazare possesses, but I do want to highlight the unity he has suddenly created in the country. He has single-handedly achieved something that Indians have been craving for six decades in the post-Mahatma era. He has certainly played his part in ensuring that democracy continues to live in India, something that I had tried to state in my previous post as well - democracy is literally the sole way of bringing our country out of the dark period of corruption that we have seen in the past 12-months.
Apart from the Hazare movement, 28 years of World Cup misery were finally put to rest in Mumbai a couple of weeks back. At the same time, it was also the perfect setting for Tendulkar, who finally received the Winners' medal instead of a Man of the Series or a Runners' Up medal. It ended up becoming one of those things that brought the country together - just hope we do not have to wait another 28 years for such an event to take place again!! As C. P. Surendran spoke of Tendulkar way back in 1998, "Batsmen walk out into the middle alone. Not Tendulkar. Every time Tendulkar walks to the crease, a whole nation, tatters and all, marches with him to the battle arena. A pauper people pleading for relief, remission from the lifelong anxiety of being Indian, by joining in spirit their visored saviour."
The past month has shown that given the right stimulus, this country still unites without thinking twice. Imagine if such unity is seen more often, especially if it comes against those danged politicians! If only we did not need a 72-year-old fasting unto death or a 38-year-old walking in to a cricket field relentlessly for 21+ years in order for such unity to happen, life in India would be much, much, much easier... If only...
Sidenote: With every Hazare and Tendulkar, and I will digress a wee bit from the purpose of this post, we also have those who show up in public in order to stoke their egos and increase TV-coverage. Take for instance, everyone from the film industry supporting the Hazare-movement while they discreetly (or not-so-discreetly maybe?) make "black money" from movies and real-estate projects. Or take for instance, the Sonia and Rahul (I will NOT use their entire name, as using it just tarnishes the word "Gandhi") duo showing up in the World Cup as part of the "aam aadmi". Please don't fool us, I bet you were surrounded by under-cover and under-paid cops.
It has been an eventful month since my previous ranting. In that post, I had tried to put into context the purpose of individual votes adding up to something meaningful, something that can force our corrupt leaders out and bring in fresh minds to drive our country forward. I certainly have not been the first one to say those words, and I certainly will not be the last.
I do not want to say too much on the obvious "awesomeness" that Hazare possesses, but I do want to highlight the unity he has suddenly created in the country. He has single-handedly achieved something that Indians have been craving for six decades in the post-Mahatma era. He has certainly played his part in ensuring that democracy continues to live in India, something that I had tried to state in my previous post as well - democracy is literally the sole way of bringing our country out of the dark period of corruption that we have seen in the past 12-months.
Apart from the Hazare movement, 28 years of World Cup misery were finally put to rest in Mumbai a couple of weeks back. At the same time, it was also the perfect setting for Tendulkar, who finally received the Winners' medal instead of a Man of the Series or a Runners' Up medal. It ended up becoming one of those things that brought the country together - just hope we do not have to wait another 28 years for such an event to take place again!! As C. P. Surendran spoke of Tendulkar way back in 1998, "Batsmen walk out into the middle alone. Not Tendulkar. Every time Tendulkar walks to the crease, a whole nation, tatters and all, marches with him to the battle arena. A pauper people pleading for relief, remission from the lifelong anxiety of being Indian, by joining in spirit their visored saviour."
The past month has shown that given the right stimulus, this country still unites without thinking twice. Imagine if such unity is seen more often, especially if it comes against those danged politicians! If only we did not need a 72-year-old fasting unto death or a 38-year-old walking in to a cricket field relentlessly for 21+ years in order for such unity to happen, life in India would be much, much, much easier... If only...
Sidenote: With every Hazare and Tendulkar, and I will digress a wee bit from the purpose of this post, we also have those who show up in public in order to stoke their egos and increase TV-coverage. Take for instance, everyone from the film industry supporting the Hazare-movement while they discreetly (or not-so-discreetly maybe?) make "black money" from movies and real-estate projects. Or take for instance, the Sonia and Rahul (I will NOT use their entire name, as using it just tarnishes the word "Gandhi") duo showing up in the World Cup as part of the "aam aadmi". Please don't fool us, I bet you were surrounded by under-cover and under-paid cops.
Very well put!!...
ReplyDelete(icing on the cake)
"the Sonia and Rahul (I will NOT use their entire name, as using it just tarnishes the word "Gandhi").
The unity part is absolutely true..
ReplyDelete"If only we did not need a 72-year-old fasting unto death or a 38-year-old walking in to a cricket field relentlessly for 21+ years in order for such unity to happen".
As much as we wish that unity come instantaneously, a country with so much diversity definitely needs that stimulus. Gandhi and others brought our country together during Independence. But had the British not ruled us, we might have still been a whole bunch of kingdoms.. Or we might have had a civil war within ourselves before India emerged as a united nation. I guess this remains true for other countries as well.
This is your 1st post that I read. Kudos..
@ Adhip & Sid: Thanks for the comments... hopefully will come up with something as meaningful (if not more) the next time around...
ReplyDelete