Rang De Basanti? - May be!
Over the past few days, I have been getting a feeling that my life is falling into a very boring and monotonous rut. This is in spite of the fact that I’ve been spending a lot of time watching movies, going out for dinners, spending time with friends and other such activities. Then why do I feel the way I do? Well, before I could find anything else, what struck me and what made me write this piece is the fact that I’ve hardly been in touch with current affairs. I am totally oblivious to what the current political scenario is in India. Hardly do I read the newspaper and even if I do, it’s just a glance over the headlines. I’ve hardly followed a story or developed interest to read an entire article. I am least interested. Why so?
This, I think, is mainly due to the fact that the extent to which most of the government’s activities affect me is minimal and I work with a multinational company which further minimizes this. A hike in the petrol prices by a rupee doesn’t affect me as much as it does to my dad back home. The auto rickshaw drivers in Hyderabad went on a strike a couple of days back since the govt. is introducing new rickshaw meters. All the tampered meters will be rendered useless and the extra penny or two that they used to earn on every ride is lost. I am pretty sure that the potato and onion I buy near my house are a rupee or two costlier than what I could get a couple of kilometers away. But I still don’t make the effort. It simply amazes me how I’ve become so indifferent to all this.
I was a great advocate of the idea that every Indian citizen should exercise his/her right to vote but I myself haven’t exercised that right till date. I feel there should be something I should do about this. I need to realize the ground reality that even today, more than 50% of Indians live in the rural areas and they totally depend on the government for their prosperity.
We blame the state for poverty, illiteracy and corruption. But today, do any of us who started from a middle-class society and are now far better placed even remember the cause? We’ve all left it behind and don’t want to look back at it.
I don’t know how to conclude this since an attempt to make it sound inspiring and asking the reader to contribute to the society is completely futile unless he/she feels the urge himself/herself.
I believe, I owe the nation and the society and no matter how bad politics is, it is our responsibility as the new generation to clean it up.
This, I think, is mainly due to the fact that the extent to which most of the government’s activities affect me is minimal and I work with a multinational company which further minimizes this. A hike in the petrol prices by a rupee doesn’t affect me as much as it does to my dad back home. The auto rickshaw drivers in Hyderabad went on a strike a couple of days back since the govt. is introducing new rickshaw meters. All the tampered meters will be rendered useless and the extra penny or two that they used to earn on every ride is lost. I am pretty sure that the potato and onion I buy near my house are a rupee or two costlier than what I could get a couple of kilometers away. But I still don’t make the effort. It simply amazes me how I’ve become so indifferent to all this.
I was a great advocate of the idea that every Indian citizen should exercise his/her right to vote but I myself haven’t exercised that right till date. I feel there should be something I should do about this. I need to realize the ground reality that even today, more than 50% of Indians live in the rural areas and they totally depend on the government for their prosperity.
We blame the state for poverty, illiteracy and corruption. But today, do any of us who started from a middle-class society and are now far better placed even remember the cause? We’ve all left it behind and don’t want to look back at it.
I don’t know how to conclude this since an attempt to make it sound inspiring and asking the reader to contribute to the society is completely futile unless he/she feels the urge himself/herself.
I believe, I owe the nation and the society and no matter how bad politics is, it is our responsibility as the new generation to clean it up.
posted by nisarg at 8:57 PM
1 comments
