As India went through one of the most revolutionary elections in recent history, as a common man, I pondered over the proceedings before I went to caste my vote. Today, India has a new government. But those thoughts remain valid. I share them...
It is the pre-elections period in India; the most exciting and most sought after times, due to excessive blockage of roads, as rallies and campaigning by eminent political parties hit Indian streets. These are the days when we have to look at our watches and think before stepping out of the house, if we will able to reach our destination or fulfil our purpose and return in time. In many cases we just choose not to waste our time aimlessly yanking horns at the vehicle in front of us.
The not-so-short span of pre-elections is when your eyes will catch glimpses of politicians wherever you see. The campaigning covers all modes of communications; from the print media to the All India Radio. While going to your office, you must have seen huge banners of politicians, with the symbol of their party, seeming to beg for your one valuable vote. Even YouTube advertisements which were originally flooded with some kind of product now show how Congress passed the schemes which Narendra Modi only talked about in his speeches. The most irritating ad breaks during your favourite television shows now exhibit BJP’s contribution to Gujarat.
The main purpose behind me scribbling down on this piece of paper is to throw light on the most common process of selecting leaders if India and its aftermath.
This year people from all over India seemed to have voted actively after much awareness being spread regarding importance of voting and voting the most eligible and suitable. The social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., were indeed filled with photos of people flaunting their inked index fingers. This was a good sign that this time elections were not taken as just-another-waste-of-time. Participation from the people of the country is of great significance as they are ones who have the chance to choose their own leader and vote accordingly.
This tradition is being followed since the Indian constitution was formed. Every five years there comes a time when politicians wake up from their sleep and start hovering all over the country, criticising every other who comes in their way, making false promises to the innocent of the country who just want keep food on their plates, roof above their heads and clothes on their skeleton like bodies. They just steal the votes from the helpless and needy and then turn their backs towards the problems of the country and take all the advantages the government has to offer.
Here I am not criticising any politician or any political party. And it’s not that they haven’t done a single thing. Narendra Modi has done everything to make both ends meet in Gujarat. AAP had succeeded in eliminating corruption to some extent in Delhi. Mamta Banerjee has made her Bengal a liveable place. But what we really want is change, a change that sweeps the entire nation. A change that will pass the pending bills, a change that will implement the already passed bills, will eradicate corruption not only from the national capital but also from all the nooks and corners of the country. A change that will show rise in development all over the nation and not only in its small part called Gujarat. The change where, the criminal is punished and not set free. The change where, not a single soul sleeps with an empty stomach. The day when such things occur, that day will serve as the true purpose of elections. Whether India will experience such change, is a topic of debate in itself.
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