It has been a turbulent fortnight for India, what with the reservation-related chaos in Rajasthan and the sectarian violence in Punjab. Matters weren’t that good when China decided to act like the good neighbour and start harping about its claim to the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. West Bengal is just about quiet after nearly two months of turmoil, and the rest of the country is still reeling from the shock of Mademoiselle Mayawati’s victory in Uttar Pradesh.
And in all this, one fact is coming to fore, and that is that India’s democracy is facing its toughest test. On one hand, protestors in Rajasthan and Punjab chose to disregard the authority of the State and take matters into their own hand. Their wanton disrespect for the basic civilities perhaps ensured that matters got so out of hand that a civilized discussion was simply out of the question.
And on the other hand, Ms. Mayawati’s victory illustrated that while dynasties may rock the presses, appeasement may satiate some appetites, and communalism may enflame some hearts, in the hearts of the Indian people, there still is some amount of self-pride, a desire to show the political class that it is they, the people, who decide the fate of the politicians and not vice versa. In her victory, one saw the complete obliteration of the presumption that hitherto inimical communes cannot come to terms with each other and strike out at those whom they see to harm their common interests.
Rajasthan and Punjab were a shocking example of the abdication by the State of its duties and responsibilities, of its reluctance to act out against those who dare to violate the laws of the land. That this is no new feature of India’s democratic system is no justification; every example of such perfidy must be deplored, be it committed by any political outfit.
India is being listed as one of the least likely places where one may come to expect peace. They may be slightly wrong here. Things are bad, sure, but they aren’t as bad as they are made out to be. And yet, if not contained, the state of affairs could spiral into something unmanageable, something that we, the people, can little afford.
3 comments:
Yes and also this speaks badly of our police - the law enforcers. They themselves were clearly overwhelmed or were ordered to let the mob rampage (in case of Punjab) or were ordered to fall back after they took the drastic step of firing at the mob (in Raj's case) This is a pretty common sight for a Mumbaikar too. Whenever there is a bandh ordered by the Shiv Sena, the police just sit and watch while the Sainiks manhandle every person on the street who is not observing the bandh.
Politics has always been the game of garnering votes be it at the cost of dividing its own people on the basis of caste and any other criteria.This acts as a fuel to the already enraging fire and then they sit with hands folded putting up a helpless face.In democratic India politicians have taken the role of the Britishers who atleast gave somethin back but these politicians are all the more sucking the souls through indirect means!
Surely..turbulent times these..
Though the AP thing with China may nto be really serious..al least for now..
As regards Punjab and Rajasthan, the lesser said the better.
But then, haven't we got accustomed to managing chaos?
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