Saturday, August 24, 2013

The 100 Trillion elections and Political Illiteracy of the Mango Man!


Most young Indians get repelled by the deafening noise, lack of substance, callousness, double standards and above all corruption of the current day politics. They have an indifferent attitude towards all things political. Most of us are politically illiterate. We don’t know why BJP is right wing, why CPI is leftist and why Congress is centrist. It’s all so corrupt – we simply don’t care to know any of it.

Many don't realise that such Political illiteracy amongst the young educated Indians is a big threat to India's future. Amongst India’s middle classes & white collars, any discussion on politics is not encouraged.  Nor does it find interested young participants. It’s as if we have called a pseudo non cooperation movement against all things political.

By doing so we are rejecting the very tools our forefathers left for us to uplift our nation. The power vested in the publicly elected political institutions was supposed to ensure glory for our great nation. Our forefathers fought hard for our independence and debated hard for the kind of system we want. They could not have imagined a situation so early-on, where their future generation would simply be not interested in the political system they bled for.

Sadly, this reference to context of how the power is to be implemented by the citizens for the citizens is completely lost & forgotten by the young India. How many of us know that the electorate mandate to be given in coming Lok Sabha elections is worth a cool Rs 100 Trillion. (in FY 14 alone the Union public spending was at Rs 16.5 lac crores OR Rs 16.5 Trillions).  That’s approximately Rs 5 lacs for a family of 5– and that’s your tax money we are talking about. Double that and you will get the expenditure made by your state and municipality.

But today’s youth wants none of it –and instead finds solace in some NGO activism that soothes their mind. Very much like our weak prime minister whose personal ethical hygiene is useless to reform the cabinet of thugs that he leads. We fail to see that the very future of our country lies in our own hands.

We can begin by investing at least one hour a week in debating politics – which can set the ball rolling.  Let’s pledge to eliminate the political illiteracy that resides amongst many of us. Let us begin by respecting our politicians – at least the good ones; for they are gallantly carrying out the nation building responsibilities that most of us are shirking. We will have to know them, their policies, views, debates, background & reasons. We need to get involved, spend time, get influenced and influence others. We must form political opinions, jump from the proverbial fence and take sides… actions if needed. That process by itself will revolutionalise everything else.

Let your vote in this election be a studied vote, a well deliberated vote, an awakened vote and ultimately a quality vote that our Rs 100 trillion elections deserve.

3 comments:

  1. Good thought provoking message..keep it up man

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  2. You are right about the political illiteracy situation. This is because from childhood because our minds are conditioned for a decent career. Every parent aims for a doctor or engineer career for his son. Nowadays this has shifted to be a IIT/IIM, dancing or singing star. However the problem is not political illiteracy, it is ignorance. People like you and me are much interested in pursuing our careers as for us the measurement scale is your designation, CTC, number of reportees, profile etc.. We are very much engrossed in our own perspective of a happy life. When we have some time to think and ponder we think about the political machinery.. Believe me if you had a very busy life at your work place, you would never try to think about the political situation and forget about writing a blog about the same. We are focused on our careers, tour packages, new car models, real estate investments and the youth is equally busy spending their time in facebook, night clubs, failed affairs and so on. Our forefathers gave their blood and life to free this country and now the youths do not even realize this, we feel expressing ourselves thru blogs, facebook can resolve the situation. I am not pointing at you. I am just discussing the general attitude. What is required is a action... a thought alone cannot change the nation. It has to be supported by a action. The ordinary people have to be involved like they are involved in day to day grocery purchase... And that is a huge task which will take atleast 15 years if you start today.. The key is starting it today at a low scale and then scale it up...Action is the key

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  3. Every person wants to have a great physique but is lazy to go to the gym and follow the strict regime of daily exercise and healthy diet. Everybody wants to... but does not. Same is the case with people and their contributions towards politics in our country

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