As we grieve with the parents of Amanat and fellow countrymen, a few thoughts come to my mind that I would like to share with you. This most unfortunate incident has been the proverbial last straw and released an avalanche of pent up feelings.
We have a saying in Bhojpuri which roughly translates to this - "I was feeling like crying and (fortuitously) something poked my eyes (and gave me an excuse to cry.)" The unfortunate and brutal tragedy that "Amanat" suffered is this poke that has precipitated the tears that a growing number of population has been finding hard to hold back for some time now. This is the section of the population that is more concerned about the real issues affecting them. These are the economic issues, the law and order issues, issues concerning opportunities for growth, issues of creating a more egalitarian society, issues of accountability for highly paid bureaucracy and politicians, issues of corruption eating into the vitals of the system. They are unlike their mothers, fathers and elder brothers - those victims of the earlier feudal system who were happy with condescending politicians and babus who occasionally threw crumbs to them and pandered to their base instincts for competitive identity management. This new breed of people is not willing to put up with an apathetic and manipulative system and they are crying out for change. A change that will mean a clean break with the way we have been running this country for six decades now. To me this restless desire for change looks like the harbinger of a new era and a ray of hope.
What truly beats me is that the present system is not able to see this deep craving for change at all. The politicians remain apathetic, the police oppressive and manipulative, and the bureaucracy unconcerned. Probably the politicians feel that while they have divided the populace along umpteen lines of religion, caste and creed, they remain highly united in their skilled manipulations and that the dust will settle down as always. And the police and bureaucracy partake of their complacence. Hopefully this dust will not settle down, not this time.
And this is why Modi and Kejariwal are emerging as new icons of hope. While Kejariwal stands for bringing about systemic changes that can put a stop to the current rot, Modi symbolizes robust performance and a no-nonsense approach. And this is what this new generation of Indians desires above everything else.
Let us hope a new dawn is about to break and that this sad loss and this angry uprising will not go waste.
We have a saying in Bhojpuri which roughly translates to this - "I was feeling like crying and (fortuitously) something poked my eyes (and gave me an excuse to cry.)" The unfortunate and brutal tragedy that "Amanat" suffered is this poke that has precipitated the tears that a growing number of population has been finding hard to hold back for some time now. This is the section of the population that is more concerned about the real issues affecting them. These are the economic issues, the law and order issues, issues concerning opportunities for growth, issues of creating a more egalitarian society, issues of accountability for highly paid bureaucracy and politicians, issues of corruption eating into the vitals of the system. They are unlike their mothers, fathers and elder brothers - those victims of the earlier feudal system who were happy with condescending politicians and babus who occasionally threw crumbs to them and pandered to their base instincts for competitive identity management. This new breed of people is not willing to put up with an apathetic and manipulative system and they are crying out for change. A change that will mean a clean break with the way we have been running this country for six decades now. To me this restless desire for change looks like the harbinger of a new era and a ray of hope.
What truly beats me is that the present system is not able to see this deep craving for change at all. The politicians remain apathetic, the police oppressive and manipulative, and the bureaucracy unconcerned. Probably the politicians feel that while they have divided the populace along umpteen lines of religion, caste and creed, they remain highly united in their skilled manipulations and that the dust will settle down as always. And the police and bureaucracy partake of their complacence. Hopefully this dust will not settle down, not this time.
And this is why Modi and Kejariwal are emerging as new icons of hope. While Kejariwal stands for bringing about systemic changes that can put a stop to the current rot, Modi symbolizes robust performance and a no-nonsense approach. And this is what this new generation of Indians desires above everything else.
Let us hope a new dawn is about to break and that this sad loss and this angry uprising will not go waste.
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