Political Cauldron
Indian political scene is in
disarray. It was bound to happen. Even after 66 annual democratic rituals,
frankly speaking the meaning of freedom is as elusive like it was during the
British period. Power is power, it corrupt almost by instinct. Its law is
impersonal. Under it sway the colonial exploiter is as unsparing as the brown
post-independence man. If with a pinch of salt, you can afford to rejoice at
the idea that at least our own people are reaping the fruits at the cost of
collective good, then it is appropriate to take part in 15th August
festivities. But the real freedom and real democracy lie beyond such blind
hallucination. We have to come out of the ever-forgiving festivities going on
for almost even decades and settle down to real business.
So where do we stand post Lalu-type
political plunder? Issues like political corruption were never accepted by the
society at large as the ones capable of turning the political tides against the
wrong-doers. So it is a folly to expect the political class to go into
elf-remedial mode and cleanse the system by itself. It is simple: we the common
voters never questioned them so they thought if the ones who carry our destiny
on their thumb impression are comfortable with it then where is the need for
changing the ways and mean of political business.
So buddies we reached the UPA era.
If coalition compulsions required the government to reach the pinnacle of compromises
at all levels, against the background of teeming millions living like animals
in their struggle and nonchalant educated middle class lost in the dream of reaching
still higher rungs of an apolitical ladder, then what is wrong with that. But
then river of corruption broke all check dams. It was only when the ever-rising
costs of living stabbed deep into the so-called self-uprighteous, educated
middle class that corruption became a major issue. It is simple mathematics.
Laks of crores of rupees stashed in foreign account is not created in void. It is
born of the pathetic conditions of the farmers who still continue to work harder,
put more inputs in fields and left with lesser and lesser money at the end of
the season. Millions of daily wage earners add to the weight in dubious accounts
through their ever-piling miseries through more work and less and less savings.
Millions of salaried middle class also contributes to it through mindless spending
on costlier and costlier consumer items and taxes. Simple: We work, suffer,
struggle unquestioningly and they gather the loot through direct and indirect
means.
Thankfully the balloon of
corruption burst finally. Everything has it limits man. Its blast shook the
collective consciousness at many levels. Anna movement and Ramdev movement are
nothing but collective sighs of dissent against the mindless plunder and
compromises by the UPA government. If nothing more at least corruption is a
political issue now. Anna and party have decided to enter politics now. How will
they manage to fight elections in an arena where the victory so far has been
defined by money, violence and all the rest gory deeds, is a big question. At
least they represent those Indians who are educated, earn their bread and
butter through hard work in corporate corridors. Their chances of success depend
upon the rate of participation and growth in this section. If managed properly
it can become a good counter force in Indian politics. As far as Ramdev is
concerned, he appears driven more by a stubborn self-lorn charisma that always
keeps him on tenterhooks even though he amasses thousands of crores through his
corporate Yoga. The target of his fury is too narrow to leave a holistic effect
on the overall fabric. He can hog limelight through fiery statements like petty
politicians, but we all still remember the weeping woman-cloth-clad baba.
BJP is still not as strong as it should
be against the background of anti-UPA breeze. It appears undecided about what
kind of top-tier leadership to keep, unlike Congress which is at least true to
its archaic aristocracy specific to a family. The latter is accepted and spelt
out clearly thus leaving little space for infighting, leaving it with all the
time, energy and resources to fight against all the slingshots aimed at it. Its
simple: One dissenter or enemy inside house is far far more dangerous than
hundred of outside foes baying for blood. BJP can learn a few lessons from the
grand old party in this regard.
So what are our political prospects in the near future? It is very hard to tell. Just wait and watch. Its really dicey!
