It was a very pleasant day in my city yesterday. No sun,
just a layer of clouds, a gentle breeze and a slight drizzle outdoors. All in
all, I was having a pretty good day when my Dad asked me to watch the Newshour
Debate with him. As everyone must be well aware, this show is hosted by the
great and all powerful, people-empowering journalist, Arnav Goswani. That’s
when my very peaceful day started going vertically downhill.
No, no, come on, it’s not always his fault. This time it was
the panelists who made me jump out of my comfy sofa and scream at the very
least three very horrible obscenities at the television screen before realizing
that my mother was in the middle of her dinner. She looked at me sternly, but
then she understood what was going on in my head and turned to face the
television again.
This was nothing short of a miracle, that she hadn't said
anything to my swearing at the dinner table. But she was worried and so were my
Dad and I. What was happening on the debate was very unnerving. We listened in
silent disgust as spokespersons from all the major political parties in India
spoke eloquently in favour of the Caste system in India – in the 21st
century, mind you. They all backed up each other in saying that this revolting
system was very old and ingrained into the minds of the people.
On the charge that was leveled against them of promoting
caste based division to garner votes, they all refused vehemently but also
urged that caste was there to stay, however evolved India would get and
whatever ruling the Supreme court made. One of the panelists, I believe said:
“Jaati kabhi Jaati nahi” which means, “Caste never goes
away”.
Today, every party claims to be secular. The ones who
demolish mosques, the ones who burn churches, the ones who instigate the
rivalries between groups, the ones who promote inter-caste violence and those
who indulge in caste politics. Every Politician
today is supposedly secular but the Public
is not. That is what the leaders of the people have to say. Apparently, it is
not they who are playing caste politics, it is the people, who are stupid and
divide themselves among castes.
I’m not saying that they are completely to blame, nor am I
saying that they are solely to be blamed. After all, we are all smart enough to
gauge what is right and wrong. We have the ability to think and evaluate what
is best for ourselves and our country.
Why then do we allow such opportunistic politicians take
advantage of our gross stupidity in broad daylight?
Why then do we not caste our vote for something better?
Why not vote for results in development rather than our own
group or caste or religion or sect?
Why bring down the future of the country for selfish
motives?
Why not understand for once, this ‘Game of Thrones’?
These are the questions that haunt me as I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling… fearing for my country and my people.
I had written a post along the similar lines on the matter of caste being in the forefront of people's imagination. You can read it here.
I had written a post along the similar lines on the matter of caste being in the forefront of people's imagination. You can read it here.
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