This post is from one of those thousands of young Indians who don’t care about politics. I’m one of those Gen Y crowd, who never cared about politics. Yes, I accept that I’m not a responsible Indian citizen by not casting my vote, pardon me for my betrayal to my country but I don’t take complete blame over me. Funny thing is, I don’t have a voter card, and probably I would never care about it until I feel like my vote really matters. Before you judge me for not casting vote, here is my take for the same.
My story starts on 2nd June 1987 in a small-town in India, and with time I learned about democracy and thanks to the history books, I started loving my country. Thanks to school morning prayer, that I learned national anthem and become more patriotic. I read about all the great Indian leaders like Gandhi, Nehru who shaped the India we know of now. When ever I saw Indian flag hoisting on 26th January or on 15th August, the patriotic side of me become more stronger.
I do believe in my country constitution and I love my country just like you, but I don’t believe in the people who are ruling it. How can I trust a person who is deciding the fate of my and my family, who have 10 or more criminal cases on him, how could I trust someone whose own future is on stake. I don’t want to believe every word of me, but here is an interesting study done on ministers of 5 states, and you will be surprised to know that how many criminal cases are pending on MLA’s and ministers of the states.
It’s not the criminal-cases on a normal individual, we are talking about the people who have the authority and is responsible for deciding the future of Aam aadmi like you and me.
I was not born with an intention of not casting my vote ever, but with the time I learned that it’s hard to trust any of the parties because they all are form by the powerful people you can’t trust. After reading about thousands of scams and methods used by these politicians, I lost my complete interest on politics of my country. By default, I stopped ignoring all news related to Indian politics (call it politics blindness), and focused on stuff which truly mattered to me. This doesn’t means I never fulfilled my duty of being a true indian, because I paid all my taxes in time, I helped everyone I could and more over I followed all the rules set by our government.
I was one of those 1.20 billion Indian, who was so happy about commonwealth games and wanted to see our country progress. To my surprise, a global event like this was full of controversies, corruption and instead of bringing glory to my country, it brought shame. If you are ignorant about the Commonwealth 2010 scam, you should check out this official Wikipedia page for the same. It was not a shame for the country only, it was a shame for every Indian like you and me. The impression we left as a country to global community is an emberassment. This was just one of many scam cases that was picked up by the international media, and made every Indian ashamed. You might not feel the difference because you live in India, but think about your friends or family who live outside india, and how such news made them felt in front of native people of that country.
Meet Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Great Delhi Ansan Episode:
Anna Hazare is one of those Indians who is going to make his name in the history book, and if you don’t know him, this page is a right place to know him better. Anna Hazare is an Indian Social-activist who shocked the country with his stubbornness and with his hunger-strike to remove corruption from India. I find myself lucky to see this great moment in India, and at first I felt it’s not going to work, but sooner it turned out to be one of the biggest revolution in the history of independent india. People like me and you supported him, and we all believed that this is going to change the future of our country. As I mentioned above, I was one of those Indians, who never trusted the politics and politicians of India, but such an honest and open moment made me believe, that there is still hope left.
This never made me believe in Indian political system, but this made me interested in news related to Indian politics. I saw how politicians tried their best to stop Anna Hazare strik. How can we forget people being dragged by police outside the house of ministers. Does that made me feel proud? Does that made any other Indian proud? An Indian being dragged by another Indian who is suppose to maintain the law order and peace in the country? That was a prove that we started losing the touch of humanity and most of government officials become the slave of the system. Soon, things turned into Government Vs. Mango people.
Born of Arvind Kejriwal:
When Anna was on hunger-strike, a person who was so close to him came out as a spokes-person, and now we all know him as Arvind Kejriwal. He just came out of nowhere, and become the face of the whole moment, and we saw a human touch in him. The whole agenda of the strike was to get approval for Jan lokpal bill to remove the corruption from the country, and we all believed in him. He was one of those active social-activist who made us believe in Jan lokpal andolan, and he spoke everything that was in mind of every mango-people.
Later on, in November 2012 he formed the Aam Aadmi party, without having any political ambition, and he was a sensation on social-media over night. I started seeing most of my friends were talking about Aam Aadmi party and Arvind Kejriwal, and that’s where I started building a deep-interest in Indian politics. Around September 2013, I started hearing Arvind Kejriwal on Radio and I felt like this guy want to remove corruption and give a new-shape to our country. December 4th Delhi Legislative assembly election was historical, as minority and completely new political party, made parties like BJP and Congress look like a fool. What was a revolution that we never thought we would ever see in India politics, and than the fight of forming government in delhi started. It was one of those unexpected moment of delhi-politics that was uncertain. In an unexpected move, Aam Aadmi party (AAP) formed the government in new-delhi with the support of congress. Personally I loved this step, as I don’t wanted to see delhi undergoing under another election poll, and people like you and me paying huge taxes to cover the cost.
Before we talk about Delhi Govt. formed by Arvind Kejriwal:
The rise of Arvind kejriwal was one of those historical moment that make me feel like “Yes, we live in democracy”, and any mango-people have power to bring a change. I started watching all his interviews and some of his interviews made me believe in him, and some of his interviews made me sceptical about his methods. Somewhere his words and his actions were not aligned, but I still believed him in because he showed better strength than any other politician I knew of. He was open, he was public and most important he showed the strength to bring the change. If you have missed his interviews, here are some of the most epic Arvind Kejriwal interviews that you must see:
The era of controversy:
One of the good and bad thing that happened with AAP and Arvind kejriwal is, he was an outcome of social-media revolution. It was social-media sites like Facebook and Twitter that made people aware about AAP, and he became the CM of the New-delhi. Undoubtedly Social-media sites are not the best place to get the authentic news, but a great place to start a moment. I always loved the fact when Arvind used to tell that every politician is an Aam aadmi and they should get the same treatment. He created a moment in history by going to Ram leela maidan on 28th december 2013 by metro to take oath as Delhi’s seventh chief minister.
Within 48 hours of coming in power, he announced the 20 KL of free water and that made the headline for the whole day. Many of us missed the part:
After an hour-long meeting of Delhi Jal Board chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Board CEO Vijay Kumar, however, told the media that consumption beyond 20 kilolitre a month would attract tariff for the whole usage.
The Chief Minister’s office later disclosed that there will be a 10 per cent increase in tariff for those consuming more than 20 kilo litres who will be required to pay the full bill amount.<Via>
Later on he also announced the power cut rates by 50% in lower slabs <Via>
Later on, all I heard is the controversy related to Arvind Kejriwal getting bungalow, security and chaos at Janta darbar. Before I wrote an open letter to Arvind Kejriwal, let me share my honest view point on some of the things which matters here:
Security:
Arvind Kejriwal might be a mango-people like you and me who is responsible for taking biggest decision for 17,838,842 people of Delhi, but he is indeed an important person. We can’t deny the fact that security for such-person is more than important, and deciding not to take the security for his protection sounds like a child denying to wear sweater in cold weather. Don’t mind me Harsh word, but I’m being utter honest. We all want to see politicians to be treated like mango-people, but is int it impractical in a country where assassin happens at every level. Denying the security is not in interest of him or in the public, and we can’t deny how personal people take politics in India. Here is an expert opinion by one of the senior journalist on the same matter.
Living like an Aam-aadmi in Mango-flat:
This is another thing which doesn’t align with the maturity of his thinking, as it might not make a difference for him to live in the same place where he is living, but it does impact the neighbourhood. It might be ok for him to travel in an auto or living in mango-people society, but he has to realize that he is no more a mango people. When you have to take care of more than 17,838,842 people of Delhi, it’s not the place where he lives or it’s not the car he travels from, it’s his actions and decisions that matters the most.
These things doesn’t matter, and what ever media says; kindly understand that it’s important for you to have security and live in a place, where your presence doesn’t disturb the livelihood of people living around.
My open letter to Arvind Kejriwal:
Hello Mr. Kejriwal,
I’m one of those resident of New delhi, who believed in you, and believed that you would bring a change. You made me believe that you will control the corruption and you will take action against all the corruption which happened in the past. It was such a mesmerising moment to see you on TV before the election, where you had all the prove against most of the major corruption and you made me believe that as soon as you form the government, you will bring the change. That was like a wow moment for a young Indian like me. You are one of the reason, that I started believing in Indian politics and started taking it seriously.
At first I found your party sign “Broom” as silly, but later I realise that it’s not the “broom” or “Hand” or “lotus” that matters, it’s the intention that matters. Undoubtedly the news which I have heard till now from various news sources can’t be completely trusted. I understand that you had no intention of getting into politics, but I admire your tough decision of becoming a part of the system to clean it. But the news around the print-media and online are making me lose my trust in you. I keep checking out your official site to hear some words from you , I often check out your Youtube channel for some live words from you. Anyways, those thing doesn’t matter so much because you have important things to handle.
But, as a mango people I want to point your attention to few things which let you earn my faith, and instead of putting it in my words, let me help you time-travel.
I’m still waiting for you to take some speedy action against some of the matter like corruption, which was your main agenda for election. Your 5 year journey is not going to be a joy-ride, and I also heard that AAP is now going national, and I would love if you keep everything more transparent like you did for AAP before delhi election. Also, before you go national, kindly fulfill all the promises and take action against all the corrupt-politicians as your promised. Since you are the ruling government, I’m sure being at such a respectable position, you will keep up with each and every word you promised. Even though you keep changing your intention with every season, but I still believe in you and give you a pass by calling it as a need of time, but now it’s time that you keep all other agenda aside, and keep the faith you earned by being with Anna hazare, and taking immidiate all the corruption which happened in the past. I loved each and every emotional trigger speech which you said at Assembly, and you talked about all the hope and things which we dream as a Mango-people. What I don’t admire here is; saying all the effort of last 65 years as rubbish and useless.
Because of news overload, I might lose my faith and trust for you in near future, and only way you can retain that by fulfilling each and every word you promised. If anytime you missed recalling them, here are few of your videos which will keep reminding you of your promises.
You are a hope for all the lost faith in politics, and it’s time that we have given you what you wanted, and now it’s you turn to give us something back. Before you earn the trust of 1,236,344,635+ <Source> people of the country by going national, do prove that you deserve to be there by brining the change in delhi you want to see. Some of my words in this post might not be sweet to ears, but those are my fears and doubt due to things which I’m use to see in Indian politics. Don’t worry about the questions like you or your party being inexperienced, because a change could have happened this way only. But, do insure that you pick the right set of people to be a part of it, and pick the brightest mind to ensure that our country will shine and rise in future.
Wishing you all the luck and wishes.
This is my personal thought after being political ignorant to journey of becoming aware of Indian politics. I would love to hear your opinion and thoughts about AAP and Arvind Kejriwal. What according to you will bring the change in India in speedy manner?