Does India need social revolution to eradicate social parasites?

Multiple international and domestic media reported and for a moment, we also assumed that the horrible Delhi attack could prove a turning point for India's women as well as the Indian society. But things stand more or less same. Myriad (mis)incidents have occured since then. A society, where the fear of wrongdoing is absent, can never get rid of social evils. Why do the social parasites such as Raj Thackeray, Owaisi, Asharam Bapu and many more prosper? Few doing trade of hatred, few prospering in the name of God, few doing business of ethics and so on. They all know - despite all the wrongdoing in daylight - they will not be convicted and will walk free untouched and unruffled. When we introspect - who is responsible for all these - is it the lame government (no matter who is heading it) or us who elected them?

What is the solution of all these? Do we need a social revolution which will transform the society and thus eradicate the social evils in the entire nation. When Anna Hazare led campaign against corruption - we thought that was the one. We had similar feeling after the nationwide agitation against the Delhi gang-rape but these have become as periodic and repetitive as these heinous crimes. Moreover, this is the only way civilized citizens can exhibit their frustration and agony because we dont belong to the same class as these social parasites do.

I, candidly, don’t know who is the culprit, whom to blame and what is the solution but what I firmly know is that whenever I say I am Indian – these heinous acts, which occur everyday, haunt me – countless rapes, relentless politicians doing scandals, hatred speeches just to preserve vote-bank and many more. Do we wish to live in such India or did we ever dream of such India. A UN index in 2011 amalgamated details on female education and employment, women in politics, sexual and maternal health and more. It ranked India 134th out of 187 countries, worse than Saudi Arabia, Iraq or China. In corruption, India is ranked much ahead of most of the nations. Intellectuals may argue and suggest to look at our neighbouring countries, we are much ahead compared to most of them. So my counterargument is do we really look up to live in such ambience where people are deprived of freedom of speech, social media and many similar privileges which we enjoy  OR we boast of a nation which will have biggest economy, total literacy and a crime-free society. Do campaigns, agitation, outrage, microblogging and expressing opinions make any difference? – I don’t have an answer. Certainly, the transformation cannot be done overnight and the journey, indeed, is long. As for now, I can only hope for the best..!!!

Campaigning ends and so does the month long drama

Somewhere in the suburbs of a city in India, thousands of people gawk and start waving at the sun-bleached sky to the buzz of an approaching helicopter. Emerges the "Neta"(politician) from the chopper, walks towards the centre-stage set for the rally, escorted by the security-guards and the partymen, climbs the dais. After few heeded words from the comrades, takes the charge of the podium and delivers the speech, primarily, reciped by the ingredients such false promises, void sops, targetting the other party blended with some communal provocating words. The speech intermittenly paused by the resonarting sound of the claps of the audience. Job done...!! Our "Neta" relinquishes the dais and rushes towards the chopper in waiting to attend another rally in some other city.
No, this is not a script of any movie...but a hackneyed scene in any constituency during the election compaigning which had been going on in the country. Today was the last day of campaigning for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. During this episode, we witnessed the politicians crossing all thresholds of code of conduct. This often left the impression that the supposedly watchdog, Election Commission of India was a mere spectator barring couple of (mis)incidents where required actions were taken. This time as usual, we saw many new pre-poll alliances with leaders from different parties holding joint rallies, thus fostering the alliance and also showcasing the strength and integrity of the same. We watched in this edition of campaigning, the politicians making fallacious promises, slanderous remarks and making every ditch effort to allure the electorate, even on the communal and caste grounds. They made all the promises except those not harnessing their future such ensuring that no person with criminal background enters the house of Parliament, making the number of women candidates at par with those of men, setting minimum qualifications as a prerequisite for the candidature,etc.etc. We have also witnessed the conscience of the politicians plummeting and touching abyssmal levels.There were few cases wherein it was the evident that one candidate was involved in the murder of the rival but no action taken. Many politicians didnt hesitate to entice the people by abusing the other communities and couple of them went to the limit of doubting the integrity of the nation and demanding separate land. I feel hapless as these politicians will again be seen, after the elections, making a mockery of the democracy on the floors of house breaking all the binding disciplines. Somewhere, it all points finger towards us who vote for them and elect them as our representative.... the representatives who come to see us only after 5 years (assuming there is stable government completing th etenure of 5 years). Yes, we are also responsible. Even after 60 years of independence, I feel that we as a nation have not grown into a mature democracy. We must realise that it is not only important to vote but more significantly, we must vote for the right candidate.

Jai Hind..!!!
Thanks,Vivek

Chennai

Even after 25 years, (shoe) missile misses the target by few inches

07th April was an eventful day indeed - a whole gamut of events unfolded. The day embarked with a new aura - Indian cricket team broke the jinx enduring 41 years. Back home, the political dais getting hotter as the elections are impending... myriad "honourable" party-leaders holding rallies, press-conferences playing the same blame-game and making false promises of sops to the electorate. Whilst in the evening, the event that caught everyone's attention was a journalist hurling shoe at our Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram appending another episode to the contemporary "shoe-throwing" activties. The journalist was identified as Mr. Jarnail Singh - a sikh. The wrath was exhibited after he had got into a minor argument with Chidambaram on the circumstances that led to former minister Jagdish Tytler being exonerated by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the 1984 riots. More than 3,000 Sikhs were killed by rioting mobs of Congress Party sympathizers after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.The issue still remains sentimental to the entire Sikh community. Speaking later to a news channel, Jarnail said he felt apologetic and he feels sorry and ashamed of his deed. He accepted that the issue being sentimental propelled him to protest and in the heat of the moment, he did what later became the headlines of all the news-hungry channels. He, later, condemned any attempt to politicize this issue. I denounce his act since his protest was justified but the way of response was criticizable. Response is vital in a liberal democratic society. It is the element that strengthens our belief and our commitment to our Constitution. Any response which takes the path of violence or paves the way to violence must be condemned. Having said that, I also exalt Mr. Jarnail as he realised his boorish act and refused to accept the endorsement by many political parties. On the contrary, disgusting was the fact that no Congress leader came forward and apologised for the Congress' involvement in 1984 riots. Mr. Chidambaram's response to the whole incident was commendable.

This event has given the needed flame to the Sikh community outburst with thousands of Sikhs coming down to roads condemningthe Congress/CBI and seeking the much coveted justice.This has exacerbated the situation for both - Tytler and Congress and may prove to be a severe jolt with the elections just few days away. No wonder, Tytler under the aegis of the CBI report is claiming to be innocent. Sikhs have alleged that CBI's report is equivocal and an abuse to the agony which the entire community has undergone since past 25 years. They also blame CBI of working under the influence of Congress (often referred as Congress Bureau Of Investigation). CBI's neutrality has often been questioned. Presently, Congress has kept mum, thus, showing its oblivious stand.We, all, know that we dont live in a nation where political leaders will willingly withdraw his nomination on mere grounds of ethics and self-conscience..!!!Well, "inches" in the title doesnt signify distance from Mr. Chidambaram's face but from Congress party's logo.
Thanks,VivekChennai