Awakening
by Mahesh Bhagnari

A few days back (January 2006) we were all witness to the spectacle enacted at Hyderabad where we saw members of a 100 year old political party in a frenzy to make one young man their 'leader'. There were calls to give this young man some 'important' position in the party or giving him some ministry in the government with a view that doing so will send a positive signal to the youth of India and this might attract them to the party, not that this young man would do any thing good for the country. To say that I personally was shocked by the behavior of not only the members demanding such position but also of the senior 'leaders' would be an understatement. The more shocking thing was the prominent attention given to this spectacle by both the print and visual media as well as lack of any shock expressed by any of the intellectuals.

Surprising how the educated, intelligent s and intellectuals have resigned to the fate that this great country will one day be lead by this young man who the 100 year old party claims has a birthright to be the Prime Minister of India.

My criticism of the political parties is not limited to the ruling party alone. Look at the principal party in opposition today; we have their MP's being caught on TV accepting bribes; We have a major State in central India where a person who is a known offender being sworn in as a minister; another ex- CM of the same State in involved in Taj corridor case. The rot in the quality of the politicians has spread across the entire political landscape of this country. Our political values have got so debased that while it needs no courage to do the wrong thing, it takes a lot of courage to do the right thing.

The people in India seem to have lost the feeling of being shocked. We continue to endure injustice and unfairness with resignation. The worst danger lies in the public acceptance of such degradation of national character.

While the government should exist for the benefit of the people and society at large, we have a government that exists for its own benefit, lacking any character, sense of duty or any dedication.

A few good men in the political scene today are not enough to bring about any significant change; just look at our present Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. After the Cabinet reshuffle on January 29, 2006, almost everybody given the Ministry thanked the High Command of the ruling party without even mentioning the Prime Minister in the passing reference. It seems that although the Prime Minister is in the Office, he is not in power.

We have paid a heavy price for leaving the governance of our country entirely to the professional politician for whom it has become a means of livelihood and personal enrichment. The numerous problems faced by this country have not only been created by these inefficient and corrupt politicians in the first place but also these people are totally incapable of solving any of them. If any solution is found and implemented then it requires people with integrity, knowledge, ability and foresight which the present set of politicians collectively lack.

Asking a political party to change the type of politicians it produces is asking too much.

The general people in India are under the wrong impression that this state of affairs doesn't affect them much in their personal lives. It is not known to many that a few decades earlier the per capita income of India, South Korea, Other South Asian, East European and South American countries was roughly the same. But at present while the per capita income of India is Rs. 12,500, that of Czech Republic, Bahamas, Malta, Cyprus is four times as that of India and it is twice for Chile, Croatia, Libya and Malaysia and South Korea having the per capita income to be Rs. 96,000. That means a clerk working in India earning Rs. 10,000 in India would get Rs. 20,000 in Chile, Croatia, Libya and Malaysia, Rs 40,000 in Czech Republic, Bahamas, Malta and Cyprus and Rs. 80,000 in South Korea for similar work.

India is poor compared to these countries in spite of having abundant natural and human resources only due to the wrong policies of the government as shown by the rapid development of these countries.

The greatest problem facing the country is that it's finest men - men of character, caliber, intellect, knowledge, vision, dedication – are not in politics and further stand little chance of getting elected given the murky atmosphere of our political life.

It is high time that having regard to the majority of people in power in India, intelligent people make some badly needed changes by being involved in the governance. It is our duty as citizens to take an active part in the formulation of policies and making laws; we would be failing the nation if we do not do this duty.

There comes a time in nations history when one's work, family and everything else has to be sacrificed for the motherland; the time is at stake.

The total system is flawed and there has to be a new system of Government which encourages intelligent and honest people to be in the position of responsibility of governance and at the same time preventing the criminals from attaining the same.

The purpose is to transform India; The ENDs are clear but MEANs aren't...together we can find the MEANs.

If we won't do it then who will and if not now then when?

Victor Hogo once said “The strongest person is the one who has the strongest will”.

What can we do for India?