Jaago Re!

Post the 26/11 attacks, there was this huge public outcry against politicians. People were vying for all politicians’ throats and finally the CM of Maharashtra had to go. There were protest marches and candle lighting action. Unfortunately, I could not be a part of this action. Work prevented me. Selfish, I know.

 

There is this one girl I know, my friend from Business School. She fired the hell out of me since I did not take any stand against our former CM. He was responsible for the attacks, she said. And as a citizen, I had to raise my voice and oust him from his chair. I don’t see how. Will the next guy be better, I asked. Don’t know, but we can bring the change, she said completely angry at me. I wish I could rise above my petty priorities of providing my family with a good life, like her. And since then, she has never spoken to me. Good for her, I guess. Now there is a new CM, thanks to her efforts. But is this good enough?

 

No. It is not. Our democracy is funny. And we, the people are responsible for it. We want a good, clean government. But will we have it since the political parties keep deciding who is going to contest the elections and represent us. Till we decide who represents us, we are going to get the same old s***y politicians with their personal agendas ruling us. We will keep getting film stars with shady pasts, leaders with criminal records, illiterate goons who dominate due to sheer muscle power and others with no shame or moral values, and some with no secular beliefs.

 

I don’t see any improvement happening in how things are managed in spite of the public rallies and candle marches. These are all meaningless activities if there is no further concrete public action. Public awareness is one thing, public awakening another, and beyond this lies the hurdle of public action.

 

Public action, be it then. And what have I done? For one, I have gone to jaagore.com and registered for adding myself to the voters list. But is this enough? When the elections come, who am I going to vote for? Will it be for a guy like me, who I frustrated and needs a change, or will it be decided by some guys sitting in some place calculating their political moves. Can we really choose the guys who represent us by not choosing anyone from big national parties? DO we have it in us to rise above our own prejudices and work towards a common agenda of our security and well being?

 

It is our call.

Crazy times these!

 

What’s happening? Does anyone have a clue? Not me. I am struggling through a sense of being completely blank-minded over the last two months. First, there was the terrorist attack in Mumbai, now popularly known as 26/11. Then there was the Satyam fiasco, then again the euphoria surrounding Slumdog Millionaire. And in between these huge events, a normal guy (that’s me) is trying to do his work.

 

It’s been quite a whirlwind of activity on my work front since the global crisis began in September at the fall of Lehmann Brothers. It’s been frantic action with nights after nights being spent at work burning the proverbial midnight oil. The gym kits been locked away safely to feel suitably ignored, the movie theatres have been shunned away, eating out have come down to a trickle. Its been work on weekends and the dreary prospect of the annual assessments now looms large. Regardless of the action, it’s been a bad year, and the future looks questionable.

 

There is a general sense of depression, with every day being the same blur that it was yesterday. Survival seems to be the key. Is it? Maybe not. Maybe. Who knows.

 

The Nostradamus in me predicts this gloom to last for about 3 years, but somewhere I just wish that it goes soon. I would like to be Alice in Wonderland yet again!