Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Using the wrong broom
Arvind Kejriwal got it all right.
Felt the need of the people. Had excellent credentials to back his endeavor.
Aligned with Anna Hazare’s movement towards transparency in governance. Felt it
necessary to be inside than outside to make a change, and formed his own
political party. A party name which struck a chord with the Masses, naming it
the Aam Admi Party (Common Man’s Party). Topped with a great party symbol, a
broom. Everything connected the dots perfect, with the proof of his party sweeping
poll numbers at the recently held elections in Delhi.
The numbers shook political
opponents who ridiculed his party’s movement for a change. Parties which have
been there long enough on the Indian scenario and whose strength was unmatched succumbed
to his strength. It was nothing short of a David bringing down Goliath with one
stone, and here was Arvind doing it with a simple broom. His one stroke of the
broom got the BJP fearing to form a state government in Delhi even though they
had the largest number of seats but fell short of the required no. seats that
could give them a sole majority. Congress a party which ruled India most of the
years since India got Independence came to its knees and offered the numbers
required ‘unconditionally’ for Arvind’s party to run the state government.
Arvind who is mulling over the
ideas with his think tanks, is wielding the wrong broom. Everything that needs
to be cleaned cannot be done with one broom. Sometimes you may need to use a
toilet scrubber, but at times you need to use a soft broom, and many a times
you need to have dust settle to the ground. Arvind’s political party has still
not got its feet on the ground, and before that he is waving the broom as a magic
wand. Indians are expecting magic to happen and in the process have become
victims of magic illusions of political parties and politicians. Indians expect
individuals to do the magic and not be a part of the process of change. India
being rich in mythological stories of characters, Indians expect leaders to be
one. In the process Arvind is getting projected as a leader who can be one. His
modesty, honesty and sincerity is not doubted, and neither was many leaders
before him in history who have rose to the occasion with these characteristics.
Despite all such great leaders, India still has not be able to come out of the
darkness to light.
His party’s manifesto to bring light
(electricity) cheaper to Delhi is a ray of hope. In the process
too many hopes have been given. So when Congress gave their unconditional
support for his party to form the government, Arvind added it with demands. Some
of the demands definitely lack vision. Regularizing unauthorized colonies is
amounting to regularizing a corrupt decision of a previous government who
allowed it to spring up in the first place. Instead it should have taken a
stance to prove under whose government these unauthorized colonies sprung up,
and exposed this. Then people who are staying in this unauthorized land, anyway
got it free or by paying to a corrupt system. So instead of them continuing
living free, they pay taxes and that land be never allowed for any future
development, or people staying in them will be not allowed to sell. Then promising free
water; so for people who settled in unauthorized land and got it free will now
get free water! Then halving power bills was a very tall claim, which could be
the undoing for Arvind.
Instead of eating an elephant
piece by piece he is trying to swallow it whole. This would only choke his
noble intentions. Points like no MLA or Minister would use a red beacon on
their cars could have been started with an example of his party members who could
be governing if his party gets to rule. Same goes with accommodation and
security facilities for Ministers. His party could have set an example which
would have given them a better opportunity for future elections and he could
have implemented his demands without any support from another party.
Mahatma Gandhi started a
revolution stripping of his clothes and donning a loin cloth. This did not mean
he wanted all politicians to do the same. Similarly Arvind should go easy with
his broom, as his style of ‘brisk brooming’ will only throw up a dust and may
end up not cleaning.
Sunday, December 08, 2013
Happy Christmas
This is Christmas Season and
there is every reason, for everything else but Christmas. Even Christmas day is
a confusion. With major part of the world celebrating Christmas on 25th
Dec and some parts celebrating it on 6th Jan. The point is why are
we celebrating Christmas and not sharing it?
Why is Christmas regaled to a
date and not an everyday affair? We celebrate the birth of Christ, and after
that does He cease to live in our lives? We indulge in symbolism of depicting Christ with cribs put
up in our homes and parishes, but cannot see the Christ in the slums around us.
The crib has lifeless statues of the Holy Family and shepherds, but we cannot
see life that is deprived of basics around us. When will we share Christmas?
Brightly lit stars are hung to depict
the star that signaled the birth of Christ, but we cannot be stars to bring in
a small light of joy into someone’s life. Most religions one can associate it with
a God they worship. If it is Diwali one can immediately relate to Goddess
Laxmi. If it is Ganesh Chaturthi one can associate it with Lord Ganesh. If it Eid
one can relate to the Prophet Mohammed and his teachings…………but if it is Christmas, it relates to ‘Santa
Claus or Frosty the Snowman’, not just for the world but for many Christians too.
So even Christ is out of Christmas, to the extent kids write notes to Santa
Claus on what they want for Christmas, but never a thought of making a birthday
card for Christ, and seeing what we can gift Him through someone who is deprived.
Family activity of preparing
sweets before Christmas is slowly diminishing, with cakes and candies being purchased.
Either ways the sweets which are distributed is an obligation that gets done
with, instead being sweet to people. Family meal over a table at home is a now table
booked at a swanky restaurant for some. Either ways very rare one thinks of a
meal getting packed for someone who maybe hungry on Christmas. Good planning
goes towards clothes needed to be bought for Christmas, but the message of
Christmas is forgotten that Christ was born in a manger with poor swaddling clothes.
Not that we should not dress for the occasion of Christmas, but can we get
someone dressed along with us, who may not be in a position to do so? Instead
generosity gets limited to giving away old clothes to the poor?
Christians are known for their
educational institutions in India, but how many end up ‘really’ educated? How
many think of educating someone? Sponsoring a child or acts of charity is good
but incomplete if the Christ in us cannot physically reach out and touch. With
all the educational institutions Christians end up as ‘employment seekers’ and not
‘employment creators’. With all the message of Christ that gets preached during
Christmas, many don’t even remember it, once the service is over. What is
remembered is where one has to party on Christmas day. When has ever a cake
been cut at such parties and ‘Happy Birthday’ sung for Christ?
Christ lived and died on the
cross for us, but are we even living for anyone? There is no time now even
for family any more. Families now a days are connected over Facebook and social
media, but not connected with Christ. When we are not living for anyone, how on
earth are we going to die for anyone? Even after death we cannot think of ‘organ
donation’ which can save lives, and give sight to the blind. That’s how selfish we have become. Examples of
Christ are no longer visible in Christian lives, but the least we can do is
when we celebrate Christmas, can we share it?
Even Christmas wishes are
conveyed as ‘Merry Christmas’ and no longer conveying happiness commemorating
the birth of Christ, but exploring ways to merriment. Instead of just wishing
someone Happy Christmas, can we explore what happiness we can bring into
someone’s life this Christmas?
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