Today in India, what we need is a nation that is full of wisdom, with transparent democracy, true freedom for all, equal justice, adequate human respect, exemplary tolerance and intra-community brotherhood in Indian society.
Shahnaz Islam, TwoCircles.net
Most of you would agree that what the existing political system in India has given us is nothing but misery. Decade after decade, in all sectors – be it in law and order, administration and the governance, nothing has eased the lives of common people. During an incumbency of any political regime or the officials of the mighty reigning, a common man is just deprived of his minimum necessity and human dignity. The vote he or she casts for the betterment of his or her and the nation is sent to the gallows by a certain class of powerful people. We, the vast majority of people, fall short to taste the sweetness of our own rights and privileges in this country – the so-called largest democracy in the world. All the glitters and vows from the political parties during election campaigns are only election fever and illusions for us.
This nation is divided into many nations within it. Religion, language, caste, region, gender, rich and poor are distinctly visible lines of division within our political spectrum. Today in India, the poor are becoming poorer and the rich are becoming richer. The state of indigenous people and religious minorities is poor, as it has become a norm and a ‘declared policy’ to keep them in hen houses all the time. They are forced to live in filthy, stinky and helpless conditions with minimum or very little means for a standard human living. They are trapped in their impecunious lives by a permanent ghostly entity. Neither they can squirt the bitter fate out nor can they swallow it. The richer, among their fellow citizens, are arrogant, stubborn and careless looters. They are only filling their own treasuries and increasing the gaps more with each passing day and year with the untiring help of political powers in the states and the Centre.
We have to understand that this is not only their fault but we have a major share of blame too. We choose people to loot us. We sell ourselves cheaply during elections and later they simply trade on us to gain more profits. To be born in an impecunious condition may be destined by the Creator – the Lord Almighty, but to die as an improvised and subhuman state, is your choice. If you are sane and physically able, it has been your duty to try, to choose and strive for better, for yourself and your loved ones.
Why live in shackles?
When the Creator has created us as humans – the supreme of all creatures in the universe – the Ashraful Mukhloqat, as in the glorious Qur’an; then be a “human”. Think and work. Feel and care. Be kind and lovable for yourself and others. Make efforts and take the right call at the right time. Make the best choice for yourself, your children and the fellow human folk in your country and the region.
War, hate, annoyance, differences or blindly believing in the flaring up high decibel sounds around, won’t cure our chronic illness and won’t help us solve our consistent problems. Only blaming or expecting everything good from any elected government is not the right attitude when you choose to elect the bad elements when you have a choice. Hoping for the change is good but doing nothing for the change is foolish. The change must begin from within, the world will gradually change.
Enthusiasm for the or devotion to Congress, love for feminism or sloganeering for chauvinism; whether you’re a Dalit or a Brahmin, or a Muslim or a Hindu, a Bengali or an Assamese; the riots over religion, bigotry on the basis of love relationships or a third gender and prejudice with language or the dressing style – are not at all what to choose or vote for in the elections, be it an assembly election or a parliamentary one.
Today in India, what we need is a nation that is full of wisdom, with transparent democracy, true freedom for all, equal justice, adequate human respect, exemplary tolerance and intra-community brotherhood in Indian society. The colour of blood is red in all human bodies. Every human breathes, speaks, eats, drinks, walks, sleeps and does things, in the same way, using similar resources. Then why this political shackle that enslaved us for powerful tyrants? We need to wake up and make efforts not to shred mankind. Our aim should be to empower yourself as a good human being and choosing the best human as your leader.
“Rome was not built in a day,” the famous saying evokes struggle is an essential element of your nation-building and to make it a beautiful, civilized and serene abode to live in for all living beings. India is bleeding. Her womb is torn and wounded by the hate-mongers. If we don’t care now, we will lose everything that we cherish. Dereliction of duty as a citizen, as a common man, and as humans will result in a more penurious, unhealthy society, and cause miseries and hopelessness in the lives of people of this nation. If thirsty, one doesn’t sip a vile of poison, instead, one gulps a glass of pure water.
It’s time for the larger Indian society to come out of slumber. Myths and miseries are shrouded around us. Farmers are crying, labourers are suffering, poor are fading but the politically empowered rich are merely looting. We should recall the ‘preamble’ of our great Constitution and hold it tight to our chest and explore it in our mind and heart. We need to free ourselves from the slavery of unseen fear-psychosis that is deliberately implanted by politicians, who have a vested interest. We need to choose the right person and vote for the right party for the peace and development of our children. We need to stand for the nation. India needs a leader, not a jumlabaz joker, who wins elections and forgets all proclaimed motions.
Shanaz Islam is a Gauhati High Court advocate, freelance writer and poet.