—Shahnaz Islam
Most of you would agree that what the existing political system has given us nothing but miseries.
Even after several decades, the law and order, administration and the governance has remained almost the same and nothing has been able ease eased the lives of the common people. During an incumbency of any political regime or the officials of the mighty reigning, a common man is deprived of his minimum necessity and dignity. The vote that one casts seeking the betterment of one’s life and the nation, goes into the gallows of a certain class of powerful people and the common man is left with nothing.
Even though India is considered the largest democracy of the world, however, the people mainly fall short of enjoying their rights and privileges.
All the glitters and vows from the political parties during election campaigns are only election fever and illusions.
Even we are a single nation, India, however, is divided in the name of religion, language, caste, creed, gender, rich and poor- thereby creating several nations within the nation. These divisions are distinctly visible within the political spectrum as well.
The poor are becoming poorer and the rich are getting richer. The state of indigenous people and religious minorities has become like a declared policy of keeping them in henhouse all the time. They are forced to live in a filthy, stinky and helpless condition with minimum or very little means for a standard human living. They are trapped in their impecunious lives by a permanent ghostly entity. Neither they can squirt the bitter fate out nor can they sallow it. The rich citizens are arrogant, stubborn and careless looters. They are only filling their treasuries and increasing the gaps more in each passing day and year with the untiring help of political powers in the states and the Centre.
Mind it! This is not only their fault but we have a major share too. We choose people to loot. We sell ourselves cheaply during the election and later they simply trade on us to gain more profits. To be born in an impecunious condition may be destined by the Creator – the Lord Almighty, but to die as an improvised and subhuman state, is your choice. If you are sane and physically able, it has been your duty to try, to choose and strive for better, for yourself and your loved ones.
Why live in shackles?
Why be the slave of a tyrant’s absolute power?
When the Creator has created us as humans – the supreme of all creatures in the universe – the Ashraful Mukhloqat, as in the glorious Qur’an; then be a “human”. Think and work. Feel and care. Be kind and lovable for yourself and others. Make efforts and take the right call at the right time. Make the best choice for yourself, your children and the fellow human folk in your country and the region.
War, hate, annoyance, differences or blindly believing in the flaring up high decibel sounds around, won’t cure our chronic illness and won’t help us solve our consistent problems. Only blaming or expecting everything good from any elected government is not the right attitude when you chose to elect the bad elements when you had a choice. Hoping for a change is good but doing nothing for the change is foolish. The change must begin from within, the world will gradually change.
Modi bhakt – BJP enthusiasm or devotion of Congress, love for feminism or sloganeering for chauvinism; whether you’re a Dalit or a Brahmin, be you are a Muslim or a Hindu, a Bengali or an Assamese; the riots over religion, bigotry based on boy-girl or a third gender and prejudice with language or the dressing style; are not at all what to choose or vote for in the elections, be it an assembly election or a parliamentary one. What is the urgent need is a nation that is full of wisdom, with transparent democracy, true freedom for all, equal justice, adequate human respect, exemplary tolerance and intra-community brotherhood in Indian society. The colour of blood is red in all human bodies. Every human breathes, speaks, eats, drinks, walks, sleeps and does the thing, in the same way, using similar resources. Then why this political shackle that enslaved us for powerful tyrants? Please wake up and don’t shred mankind. Do aim at empowering yourself as a good human being and choose the best human as your leader.
“Rome was not built in a day”, the famous saying evokes struggle to make your Nation a beautiful, civilized and serene abode to live in for all living beings. India is bleeding. Her womb is torn and wounded by the hate- mongers. Better we care now before we lose everything for a longer period. Dereliction of duty as a citizen, as a common man, as a human will result in a more penurious, unhealthy society, miseries and hopelessness in the lives of people of this Nation. If thirsty, one doesn’t sip a vile of poison; instead, one gulps a glass of pure water.
It’s time to come out of slumber. Myths and miseries shrouded around us. Farmers are crying, the labourers are suffering, poor are fading but the politically empowered rich are merely looting. Recall the ‘preamble’ of your great Constitution and hold it tight to your chest and explore it in your mind and heart. Do free yourself from the slavery of unseen fear- psychosis that is deliberately implanted by the vested interest politicians. Choose the right person and vote for the right party for peace, development and bread of your children. Stand for the Nation – India needs a leader, not a jumlabaz joker, who wins elections and forgets all proclaimed motions.
(The author is a Gauhati High Court advocate, freelance writer and a poet. The views expressed are the author’s own and not necessarily reflects the policies of the magazine.)
