From the perspective of a Aam Admi

I am a person who has always loved my freedom and independence. So it is only a given that I value the fact that I was born in an independent India, more importantly a democratic one. I am sure we all do. The truth though is that we hardly ever acknowledge our rights as a citizen of a democratic country when it implies a responsibility on our side, but always quote it when we want to assert our own views on others. Our idea of democracy is being able to do what we want, when we want, where we want, even if it troubles others. Since independence the state of democracy in this country has been such a way that most of us the so called Aam Admi have taken an indifferent approach to democracy and governance as a whole. We have accepted that this is the way to be and that nothing or no one can change that. So when we want any of our work done we pay a bribe without a second thought. It is now as good as paying taxes. Most of the times we feel that it is a waste of our time to go and vote since whoever  comes to power, the roads, the power situation, the water problem, the inflation, the unemployment etc will remain the same. In fact if you find that roads are being laid etc, you will feel ecstatic and would also think that that you have been given a big favour when in reality you have only been given your due. Most of us sit on the fence when it comes to state if politics in this country, so that we can jump this side and that side and then climb back up on the fence again. It takes a lot of prodding to make us jump from that fence. We have every damn scheme and law in place, but the situation doesn’t improve or change.

Recently though, the Indian democracy has been going through a very interesting phase. And for the first time probably since independence, we the Aam Admi sat up on that fence we had climbed on to. What’s all this fuss about one person, you wondered- He’s just another politician. And they all are the same, but you could not hold back. You sat up and took notice as he slowly but surely ensured that you the Aam Admi of this country started talking politics again. You started believing that politics is not a ‘dirty’ word. You started feeling that may be he is right, may be the only way to clean the system is from inside. It has been a proven fact that unless you get dirty, you cannot get some real cleaning done, vacuum cleaners notwithstanding. You contemplated joining them or at least supporting them. The established parties, who had written them off, started wondering if they had made a grave mistake. But yet again, it has been proved that perhaps we are not yet ready for the sweeping change that needs to be brought into the system. We the Aam Admi and the media who had turned a blind eye to everything that has happened till now, started watching their every move, dissecting their every word, every action. We started feeling that experience is what is required for ‘proper governance’. Damn, you are again beaten by that same theory that applies to a job. You don’t get one unless you have experience and vice versa. So you climbed back up on to that fence and said ‘Let’s see….What next ?’

So there I have been sitting on the fence, and watching what’s been unfolding for the past couple of weeks and trying to make sense of it. I watched with a sense of Deja vu that the AK govt in Delhi decided to throw in the towel whatever the reason. I was agape as I saw scenes from assemblies and parliaments being played out on my TV….Pepper sprays, things being thrown and broken, strip teases and God knows what else. Make no mistake about it, Yes these are the very people whom you probably voted for to represent you. I watched and wondered .  ‘ Is this how a state is born’………. I am also watching the great deeds done by our government day in and day out….No, not around me, but on the TV screen! I guess this indeed was necessary, else we wouldn’t have known about it, right? I also watched the next episode of the Great Indian Cricket Tamasha. I wondered why it is that the Supreme Court committee found something amiss with a ‘Cricket Enthusiast’, especially when his FIL happened to be the BIG BOSS. I was uninterested in the IPL auctions, till I read that the Kingfisher employees have written to Yuvi not to accept the ‘job offer’ made to him by RCB. Perhaps that’s not fair, after all he did not have too much of a choice in being bought by X or Y. I do sincerely hope though that he pumps in a significant amount of that money into his cancer charity, provided of course that he gets paid in the first place ! I watched in horror yet again when the media reported rape cases, one after the other. I also watched slightly dazed that the people convicted for killing an ex-PM were to be set free. Well with all these, at least I am convinced that we are indeed living in a democracy, for where else can such things happen. Now the choice is up to us. Whether to continue our perch on that fence and indifferently watch the show unfold, and then crib about the system or can we afford to let go of our safe haven and get down and choose to be a part of what’s happening. Faith they say can move mountains and therefore it’s time for us the Aam Admi to believe in and hold on to that faith and make things happen. Yes we need a change, we should believe in change and whoever can bring in that change. By all means, the approaching Lok Sabha elections could well be the milestone that we have all been moving toward. We need to make sure that our voice is heard. Perhaps a healthy, constructive opposition and a strong willed leader as PM can together bring about the changes that we have been waiting for. At least now we have realized that we can no longer afford to be indifferent, for that alone, if not for anything else I am thankful to AK. I am still hopeful of a corruption free India, for I believe that to achieve this, putting mere laws in place is not enough, all we need is a collective will to make it happen. And WE have to work towards making it happen. Aptly I end this with a Jai Hind !