Tag: Social Media

Dear India, I have a question ?


While the Gurugram is still healing from the riots in and around it, I was driven back from office to my home, by my cab driver, who happens to be from the religious minority community. I checked with him whether streets are still reeling with the sense of fear, or the world around us has normalised. We sitting in cozy offices and posh homes are sometimes so disconnected that we end up being largely dependent on Social Media and NEWS platforms, while the people like my cab driver and other helps, face the real world. He mentioned minor cases in and around the city that he got to know, but nothing serious. While our conversations traversed into a long silence, I had a question to myself, for which I didn’t have any answers. So INDIA, I have a question and can you answer it to me ?

What if, while driven back home, I am attacked by a mob of frenzied majoritarians, what should I do ? They would attack our car, and at best we can beg them to please let us go. They still might let me go, credits to majoritarian identity I am born in. But they would attack fiercely on my cab driver, on just being a minority identified through his name, his guise or items he may hold. Who knows they might not trust me as well with my religion and may ask for proofs like displaying an ID Cards, by chanting any religious chant or in the worst case, may be showing my cut/uncut genitals. Well, the probability of me getting saved is much higher than my cab driver though. He would be thrashed, beaten unto death and worse. While the timid in me might think of taking advantage of my majoritarian background and runaway. But the morality in me would not allow me to leave my driver and see him getting killed in front of me, just because of his identity? If I run away, I might stay alive, but trust me, I would never be able to live with myself longer and will be dead from inside. And If I fight, might with might to save my fellow human, I would surely be dead with a proud soul but a bereaved family.

I can choose to run away and seek help through the Police, but would they be able to help me and my fellow Indian ? Firstly, I believe a Police or a Military can fiercely fight Kasab like group of terrorists, because the purpose is to save fellow countrymen and even after several gunfires, they are equipped to kill these few terrorists. But no Police/Military in the world is equipped to take on a frenzied mob in a civil war, because of their large numbers, they being their own countrymen themselves, and most times with similar religious identity as well. Also, even if the Police strictly follow the law of the land, they are scared because the mob always has the tacit support of the majoritarian government. Leaving them aside, I cannot even seek help from fellow bystanders, as they like me would be rather timid and choose to stay blind. Moreover, am I also even capable of providing my cab driver and his family justice, posthumously? Neither I have legal acumen, money or political muscle to take the violent mob to gallows, nor I would take up the vigilante route and end up being another form of revenge mob.

Sadly and unfortunately the mob does not even have a face. They are zombies driven by political powers, fueled by the media, have a body but remain faceless. The sloth-like justice system is also not equipped as per me to punish faceless rioters.
And if any of you even dare to suggest, that avoid being around any minority community, then please go and see a psychiatrist.


Nonetheless, I am out of options here, if that ever happens to me, or to you maybe, we would end up just being a count of people died during a hate crime (thanks to recent normalisation of such acts). While some in media are looking for a final violent solution, I ask you… Can you save me, my fellow Indians and my India ?

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An Apology Letter to “Kailash Satyarthi” !


Kailash

Dear Kailash,

With great embarrassment and remorse, I must confess to you. I had never ever heard your name, until you were announced for 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with Malala Yousafzai. Yes, never read your name in these 100-paged newspapers or in fancy magazines, neither via several 24X7 TV News Channels, nor via thousands of online posts and blogs. Although they all are now Ga-Ga over you, nevertheless I congratulate you on your latest recognition.

I have always considered myself, a fairly active news-chaser, reading across the categories through all modes. I know, almost every Tom-Dick-Harry in field of Politics, Sports and Entertainment. I follow all the news-makers and news-chasers on social media too. Yet, I missed knowing anything about you. I pity myself! But is it only me, or the fault also lies with the establishments too?

Kailash, you donated your whole life struggling to fight against Child Labor, primarily in India and across the world. Your efforts have helped rescue thousands of children from bondage, trafficking and exploitative labor. With the help of other NGOs and activists, you have organized hundreds of raids on factories and warehouses where children were being made to work. Although being an Engineer, you chose to work in interiors of India, for Children’s rights. You have received top-notch “Peace” awards for your selfless work from United Nations and countries like USA, Spain, Italy, Germany, Netherland etc., with Nobel Peace Prize being the prime. Yet India, Indians and Indian media chose to ignore your marathon-work before Nobel.

You are yet to be appreciated by any of Indian or State Governments through any awards or help. Still, you chose to silently focus on your day-to-day efforts, and work towards the cause. Its high-time, our Governments start recognizing and supporting causes and efforts of social activists like you.

India media failed to cover your story, not because you are a real news-maker, but because you didn’t chose the make noise about it. Our media is enamored with glamorous people, events and controversies. Across all the platforms, Politics, Sports and Showbiz rule the majority news. In pursuit of headlines and business-profits, news-channels spread “nuisance”, and have turned itself into “Entertainment” channels. We news-chasers need real stories of men like you Kailash, much before the world acknowledges it.

Kailash, despite any media or government attention, do continue with your journey to make the world a place for our children to live in.

With much regret,

A Proud Indian!

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Breed of Online Political Activists !


Indian democracy was in shambles in the 1975 Emergency Era. Tsunamis of Indian, led by Jai Prakash Narayan, were on the streets protesting against the autocratic regime. The movement fought on streets against the darkest phase of independent India, led to the dawn of first breed of political activists post-independence. The long list included Atal, Advani, Modi, Nitish, Jaitely, Laalu, Mulayam, Sushma, Rajnath etc., who in future were the shining stars of Indian political spectrum.

India is yet again, echoing the history. New breeds of political activist are getting life, this time not on streets, but through social media. India was still the place where patience resided till 2009. Social media was distant tool and was best consumed in the form “Orkut”. The mutiny against the corrupt regime, was fought on “Facebook” and “Twitter”, and was led by Aam Aadmi Party and Narendra Modi led BJP. Facebook and Twitter gave a platform to urban India to voice their opinions. Facebook and Twitter allowed resentful Indians to protest anytime, anywhere, against anybody, without disconcerting their comforts or by shouting their throats off.

Emergence of social media hustled the emergence of newer breed of political activists. Not debunking it as a fad, but by considering it as accelerating activism, Indians would express their opinion more actively and prominently in days to come. Who knows, with continuous progression, 20 years ahead of today, you, me, he or she, may make mark in Indian political spectrum.

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Why India should vote for BJP in 2014 Elections!


2014 General elections are not too far, and political parties have started their drum beating acts, vilification and slug-fest. Voters either already have or are in process of aligning themselves to preferred ideologies, leadership teams and parties.
Sooner or later, even I had to announce my loyalties for the forthcoming elections. Though I am not fully convinced, but still, here are the reasons, why India should vote for BJP this time.

Widespread Cynicism
Seems like majority to Indians (especially on Social Media) are at their heights of Cynicism. They are in no mood to trust our Media, Government, Institutions and Politicians (except “The Saheb”).
Pessimism is spread among the urban Indians like a wild fire, and the credit goes to both UPA and BJP. UPA Government through their unwanted actions and desirable inactions, have raised several doubts on the theory “India: The next Superpower”. And BJP, backed by RSS, also to be equally blamed, for their vilification tactics using social media and pracharaks!

And the only way to transpose them from Cynicism to Realism is by bringing “Change”.

No-Confidence Motion against Congress
Congress has lost any sought of trust in the Indians. Flurry of scams, minimal communication with the public, perceptive spineless leadership and opaque decision making have crashed their popularity index. All the decisions, statements, views of their leaders are seen with suspicion and usually termed as political opportunism. They have lost their moral ground to even criticize their opposition on every aspect be it economics or governance and more so, on the secularism. More so, Congress is been in power for 10years now, and fatigue factor is overpowering Indians, and thus considering change. Although all the political parties have deleterious baggage of their past, but “The Recency Effect” goes against Congress too. The only political party which seems to “substitute” them is BJP, considering AAP being too small. AAP also lacks the governance experience and the political muscle to win seats in 2014. As of now, they can be a good opposition party, if not more.

Stability

Indian economy needs a stable and decisive government, even if affects the social fabric of India. India needs quick economic, social and agricultural reforms, which only a stable and decisive government can provide. Federal parties don’t seem able enough to provide stability due to internal political tussle and deficiency of national approach to India’s problems. Thus we are left with no option but to vote for BJP.

New Era of Politics

The new-age India would now vote the basis of performance (economic and social). Congress and many other parties would soon realize that their style of traditional politics is now obsolete. Also now it’s high time for Congress to move beyond Gandhis and the Oldies. Thanks to emergence of AAP and BJP’s marketing strategy (based on their state Government’s performance), Indians would soon disown dynastic, corrupt and criminal leaders from politics.

NaMo Mysticism

To start with, I would still believe, India should vote for BJP minus Mr. Narendra Modi as Indian Prime-Minister. But since, now their paths are aligned, this possibility seems hypothetical.

Meanwhile, Indians overwhelmed by the Modi-Mania are dreaming of a mystical world with Mr. Modi with a magical wand, which would solve all of India’s problems, as he did in Gujarat. Many Indians are into idol-worship of NaMo, and see no wrong in the Mr. Modi. Let not their dreams not be shattered.

Mr. Modi, who mirages hope in impatient Indians, for a better future, has outgrown himself bigger than the party. Infact amusingly, many are fascinated with Mr. Modi but not with the party, BJP. Let not their hopes get crushed, because, if crushed, they will lose faith in India’s growth story.

If Modi remains “The Un-Chosen One”, India will keep harping on “If”s and “But”s. He should be given a chance to dictate India, because, sometimes, a country needs to go through the holocaust to realize its true character and to rekindle the importance of social framework.

 

 

Disclaimer: I would still not wish BJP to get 272 seats. A BJP (max 200 seats) led coalition government would keep a check on the right wing extremism in India.

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