Obama Brought The Change In US:
Will We Bring The One In India?
By Aleem Faizee
26 January, 2009
Countercurrents.org
Its 6:00 on a chilly winter January 26 morning in Mumbai. Mothers are finding it hard to wake up their children who to prepare for the Republic Day customary parade and cultural programs next morning in their respective schools went to bed later than their usual schedule. Nevertheless a reminder of the charm associated with the annual National Festival was enough for them to abandon their beds. Same is the case with the government staff. A little ahead of their daily schedule of reaching the office at 10:00 AM, they are rushing to attend the Republic Day function.
By 07:00 in the morning the atmosphere is giving a pleasant and amiable look. With unprecedented bliss shining all over their faces the students dressed in neat and clean attire and holding the tricolor in their hands are seen in every street leading to an educational campus. The look across the roads leading to government offices is no more a different. Right from the city-head to the peons everyone had especially done themselves up for the National Festival. Joined by social workers and people from the political parties they are gearing up for the 60th Republic Day celebrations. Everyone seems to be demonstrating unmatchable affections for the motherland. In every way the morning is giving a totally different and heartening look.
In total contrast to this people having their own establishments, laborers, housewives and other citizens are surprisingly ignorant of the heartfelt ambience surrounding them. For them the morning is no different. Many of them are not even in the city. January 26 coinciding on a Monday has given them an opportunity to plan for a prolonged out of the city trip. Many of the laborers are at work as usual. For the women the national holiday is a chance for an extra nap. The trains that are transporting millions Bhajan-chanting passengers every day is giving a deserted look and one fails to hear a single antra of a patriotic song from them.
A surprising contrast indeed! People belonging to one nation, showing totally different attitude towards an important day, the day celebrated as the Republic Day. The historic day coinciding with the day its constitution came into force. The day the country truly became a sovereign state. The day the country after years of struggle became a legitimate child.
Speak to the people and you get an alarmingly surprising response. Many shrugs off the very idea of celebrating the National Festival. The day is used by the politicians to score points, Rajesh Dholakiya, a CA opined. The celebrations on Republic Day and Independence Day are becoming symbolic, says Reshma Choudhary - a housewife. They lack the patriotic touch, she adds in a sarcastic tone. For Hameedudin Qazi - a hammal who is pulling the handcart for last thirty-five years, it is the poverty that does not give him a day's off even on Republic Day. I would be more than happy to join you for the celebrations, he says, Lekin pait nahi manta. (Who will take care of my day's loss?)
People from different sections are giving different excuses. However looking at what actually is going on in the country every one of them finds a justification. Sixty years before while floating the constitution of the country in the Parliament, Dr. Ambedkar must not have even thought a time will come when it will be battered by his own countrymen. The constitution that is regarded as one of the best in the world will be criticized by the lawmakers.
For sure the Indian Constitution is regarded as one of the best in the world. It provides a certain safety and sovereignty to every section of the society in India. And the day that coincides with the day that saw it being enforced in the country deserves respect and attention. But the question that is crying for an answer is why despite our constitution being so powerful we fail to see the desired results in sixty long years. Does the problem lay with those who are responsible for aptly implementing the constitution? The answer to this question when floated to the common Indians unfortunately results in affirmative.
Look at the way some people in the country are spitting venom against the poorer and weaker sections of the society. And the law enforcement agencies and those in power instead of taking actions against them are mute spectators. When it comes to enforcing rule of the land, a sort of clear double standard can be seen everywhere in the country. What can be more ironic than the fact that even the nationalism has become a poll plank? In the name of patriotism a section in the country are spreading hatred and we instead of opposing are giving them a free run. To achieve a political goal they are using patriotism as a tool and are resorting to all kinds of slander to the Indian constitution, and the custodians of the constitution who are expected to take note are behaving as if no damage is done to the country.
Successive governments that came in power in these sixty years unleashed a long list of promises. They however could not see the light of the day. Present UPA government pledged to take several initiatives and promised to address the pending issues. But most of the schemes declared with much fanfare are gathering the dust in government offices. Corruption with every passing day is reaching new high and moral values are touching new low. Security has become a major cause of concern. The result is people are virtually losing hope in the system. They are even questioning to celebrating the National Festivals. What sort of nationhood we are talking of when there are many people like Qazi Hamiduddin in the country who fearing hunger and starvation cannot even take a day's off even on Republic Day, they ask.
Not very long ago the racial discriminations were ruling all over the United States. Unfortunately in India there are people who try to simulate the kind of discrimination against people belonging to weaker sections in India. We have people in India who resort to politics of hatred and arrogance in the country to score a point over their political rivals. US, unfortunately for them, has witnessed a historic change with Obama bringing the moment for the weaker section of the country. And with US the world is also undergoing a change. There lies a clear message for those who preach for hatred in India. There is a lesson for us too. To convert it into a major force by 2020, as many of us have envisioned, India needs a change. Will we be able to bring the one in India?
(Writer is the Executive Editor of the Internet Magazine http://www.ummid.com. He can be reached at [email protected])
