Democracy, a Well Organized Hypocrisy

Democracy, a Well Organized Hypocrisy

“It is the government  of the netas, by the netas, for the netas”

By Mukesh Sharma

When India got freedom from the clutches of the Britisher, China was said to be lagging behind by 60 years in comparison to India because of certain developmental works and infrastructure like railways, roads, Institutions etc. carried out by British regime in then India, and today, as the facts reveal, China must be 100 years ahead of India in almost all the fields. Even after 72 years of Independence, unofficially, over 45 per cent populace is below the poverty line, battling for life in the morass of hunger and poverty. Though these hopeless and hapless masses, euphemistically are called as ‘masters’ in democratic dispensation and their elected representatives as ‘servants of masters,’ the ‘masters’ reel under abject poverty, and the ‘servants’ roll in riches. Undoubtedly, democracy sounds to be a well organized hypocrisy, particularly, in India.

Democracy, a Well Organized Hypocrisy

As an answer to tyrannical rules of predestined Kings and Queens who used to have divine right to rule their subjects in savage world, perhaps some victimized or a public spirited mind must have coined the most attractive word ‘DEMOCRACY’ in good faith.

Meaning of Democracy

Scholars maintain that the term ‘democracy’ first appeared in ancient Greek; it originates from ‘demos’ (common people) and ‘kratos’ (strength) where Cleisthenes is referred to as “the father of Athenian democracy.”  Wikipedia says “Democracy means rule by the people.” Further, one of the most revered and a renowned president of America Abhram Lincoln spells it out tersely as “the Government of the people, by the people, for the people”.

However, common people argue that the democracy seems ‘safe and sound’ on the pages of holy ‘Rule Book’ only; out of the book, she (democracy) is only abused, misused and disused. In the name of democracy handful of able bodied and minded people manage to grab the power by their ‘poly-tricks’, and shrewdly call themselves ‘servants of people; they live like kings and the people remain at the mercy of their ‘servants’.

Lucrative business

Over the years, politics has become the most lucrative and the most-sought after business; no material investment except ‘TIME’, and assured unaccountable wealth. No business gives such huge returns. Though this GRAVY TRAIN attracts everyone, only careerist politicians with political link and muscle power manage to ‘board’ it. Of course, a few exceptions are always there.

As per the Election Commission report, there are 1866 registered political parties. Out of these, 56 are recognized as registered national or state parties. The people allege that the most of the political parties are like private limited companies headed by the self-appointed ‘chairman’ and ‘directors’. These political parties are run like family business; the title is always passed on to son or daughter of the family. With muscle and money power, the family members of the family develop a ‘pocket borough’ so-called ‘constituency’. They continue to get elected years after years and become an ‘institution’ in politics. Even if by some quirk of fate, they happen to lose an election, they manage to enter the Parliament through ‘back door’ (Rajya Sabha).

Demi Gods

Since there is no restriction in the formation of political parties, there is plethora of political parties in India that has marred the democracy;  votes are divided. And after election, such small parties gang-up to share the ‘loot’. The poor electorate have no SAY in the well chalked out SYSTEM loaded heavily in favour of netas; no provision of referendum; no rule to recall a non-performer representative. It is a crime to speak against an ‘elected representative’ at least for five years; they are not accountable to anybody; they become demi-gods.

Free-loaders

India is a country of under-class and free loaders. Except a few blessed, the majority of the youth are jobless or not gainfully employed. They just scrape through the life. Such youth are easy prey of these ‘gangs’. They ‘recruit’ them as members. The youth join these ‘gangs’ for an identity tags. Such youth are used to organize rally, bandh, etc. as per the directives of the ‘directors’ of the ‘companies’. And such companies continue to thrive because of their clouts and alleged ‘extortions’ from the unknown sources; crime and corruption go hand-in hand. The free-loaders and public extortionists continue to get richer and richer. It is open secret that almost all the political parties have crores of rupees in their coffers beyond the reach of Income Tax Department, with no material business.

No Free Votes

What is noteworthy, if any candidate is elected on the ticket of any ‘gang’, irrespective of social or national interest, he or she will have to toe the ‘party line, and look after the interest of the party (chairman and directors). Thus he/she becomes a prisoner within the party. He has no FREE VOTES. Even in British Parliament elected representative have FREE VOTES; they can express their views in national or social interests and can vote also even against their own party. So is in US, but not in India. That is why unruly scenes are witnessed in the Parliament. ‘Debates’ look like ‘gang-fight’.

See-saw Game

In the eye of the world, elections are held regularly after every five years. Mainline ‘gangs’ handpick candidates as per their worth and benefit, the party can drive out of their clout, and these candidates are imposed on the electorate. If you can’t avoid rape, enjoy it. On the Election Day, out of despair, the people line up to vote to teach a lesson to sitting MLA/MP who usually betrays the trust of the people, resulting in the election of the opposite candidate. It is like a sea-saw game; if one is down, the other comes up. Ironically, thus elected candidate declares himself as a popular leader of the masses. His ‘victory is celebrated by the ‘party’ workers for the ‘spoil system’, not by the people. Professionals call this anti-incumbency. Thus governments after governments are changed after every five years. Grasping netas get richer and richer and the poor populace continues to hope against hope for betterment but in vain; however democracy goes on and on.

Perception

Here the role of so-called FOURTH ESTATE (media) is also not beyond doubts. It is national misfortune that the most of the newspapers/TV channels are partisan. In collusion with netas, they, allegedly, side with one party or the other. They are no longer servants of light; they are no longer surrogate of public opinion; they remain busy in creating the PERCEPTION either in favour or against a neta/party. It is all business; everything has a price-tag in this materialistic world. If God governs people by belief, netas with the perception.

Degeneration

Degeneration of democracy has come to such a pass that any political party with no mandate can form the government. Netas call it the ‘game’ of numbers. Anyone who has never contested any Lok Sabha election, can become PM.

Hopefully, valued readers would agree that the duty of the elected government is to use collective wisdom of parliamentarians and earn wealth for the nation and use it for the welfare of the electorate (people). Professionals might dismiss it as an inverted snobbery, but people do maintain, it is not democracy but mockery of democracy.

Our constitution starts with the phrase ‘we the people’. But irony is ‘people’ are nowhere except on the day of election and after that they are just a scrap. Man on the street alleges “it is government of the netas, by the netas, for the netas.” Evidently enough, Democracy is a well organized hypocrisy in India.

Playing # Me Too

Humour

Playing #Me Too

Not a new phenomenon, it is being played for ages under different names all over the world

By Mukesh Sharma

In the last couple of days, #Me Too has become the more popular game than cricket where, evidently, 11 players play the game on ‘ground’, and teeming millions watch it with all enthusiasm and exactitude. It is followed not only on ground but also on talking shops (TV Channels), nurturing newspapers and gung ho street corners, nothing sells like sex in the world.

With the nomenclature coined and phrased by an American social activist, Tarana Burke, the game started as early as 2006, and it got publicity and popularity when an American actress Alyssa Milano joined the game.  

Further, with the intervention of The Times and New York, it became the household name in US. Dozens of wishful women came forward with the accusations of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse against the renowned film producer Harvey Weintein, the open secret, though known to all, surprisingly, was taken by the common people with awe and ouch. The itch of jealousy causes a deriding disease, # whynotme syndrome. Anyway, The Times and New York have won the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Public Service 2018, this year.

What is noteworthy, the # Me Too is being played for ages under different names, and the people know it. Like the game of cricket, it is being played in the confines of four boundary walls; it is being played in the serpentine lanes of dump colonies; it is being played in the abandoned parks; it is being played at every imaginable place of comfort and convenience. Apart from innumerable nonentities, there is long list of ‘notorious’ players from all walks of life. They are known for their sixes and centuries in this # Me Too game.

Selectively, it becomes talk of town when the people at very high places are exposed by chance, and are found complicit in the ‘game’. It is the only game where winner and loser are not decided by the pre-set rules of the game or by any umpire. The #Me Too has the right to change the rules even after the game on the basis of her calculated net profit or gains. If it is not as per expectations, # Me Too is free to cry foul. Nobody listens to batsman. The poor fellow is hanged even without hearing. And ever ready media is quick to catch the alleged perpetrator with his pants down, and cook up the story with all the needed spices and sauces. Readers are more interested in scoops than any national issue.

All men love this #Me Too game. They start it right after the development of secondary sexual characteristics qualities. They grow up with continuous practice. Officially, the most of the men end up with just one #Me Too or a few, and the lucky few reach the actual play ground –  the position of power and pelf.

The fortunate players come across many willing #Me Toos. They play them well without any discomforts. The loose ball is sent to boundary wall; the fast ball is played to slip; the bouncer sometimes is ducked. However, the game continues between wooing batsmen and willing #Me Toos.

Over the last few days, the ground rules of the game have been broken by some elite #Me Toos. They want to declare the batsmen out who played the balls and batted years ago, taking advantage of the fact that the PAST can’t be changed or tweaked. However, even their (# Me Toos) whisper and hiss have taken the toll of so-called an Hon’ble Minister very recently. Belief is stronger than reason. Indians go by the perception right or wrong and care damn for the reality. Legal luminaries doubt whether the well thrown balls of #Me Toos would stand the scrutiny of law, against the Principle of Acquiescence after the elapse of so many years of silence, in abeyance with the Limitation Act.

Nobody is interested in Future Indefinite. People are interested in simple Present. The #Me Too game must go on.

       

Rahul Gandhi God-incarnate?

Humour

Rahul Gandhi God-incarnate?

“I seek out those in pain and embrace them. I erase hatred and fear. I love all living beings.”

By Mukesh Sharma

In an interview to a vernacular newspaper, the Congress Supremo Rahul Gandhi is reported to have said: “Congress is the party of the Muslim.”  To take the political leverage of the seemingly catchy statement, ever ready the sharpest knife of BJP Samit Patra rushed to favorite and favorable TV channels and pronounced his speaking judgment that Rahul Gandhi had played the communal card and had tried to polarize the populace which was a threat to secular fabric of India, and it did debunk the pseudo-secularism of Congress party . . . .blah blah.

Smelling the perceptible danger of alienating the majority Hindus, Rahul Gandhi quickly posted a great and grand TWEET:

“I stand with the last person in the line. The exploited, marginalized and the persecuted. Their religion, caste or belief matter little to me. I seek out those in pain and embrace them. I erase hatred and fear. I love all living beings. I am the Congress.”

Virat Swaroop of Rahul Gandhi 

The tone and tenor of the tweet reminds me of Lord Krishna’s divine discourse where in X chapter of the Bhagwad Gita, Sloka 32, while revealing His Virat Swaroop (the colossal manifestation of the Self) to confused and cathartic Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurushetra, He says:

“Of creation, I am the beginning, the end and also the middle, O Arjuna; of the science (I am) the science of the self; of those who debate I am the dialect.”

Looking at the Virat Swaroop of Rahul Gandhi portrayed through the words, Rahul Gandhi detractors are in jittery. They fear Rahul Gandhi might don the garb of a saint in future. He may have the large following of disciples rather than Congress workers.

I too salute Rahul Gandhi with folded hands for his Virat Swaroop! May He be merciful to all the creation and creatures. Moral: nothing is impossible for a neta.

Self-employed youth – the victims of Justice

Self-employed youth – the victims of Justice

By Mukesh Sharma

It is a fact that only elite political class has been enjoying life in Indian democracy, loaded heavily in favour of netas. Irrespective of caste creed or religion, the most of Indians believe that India is country of the netas, by the netas and for the netas.

While the netas live a king’s life, the poor people wriggle through the devouring problems all the life. Resigned to fate, the people remain at the mercy of some divine providence or the netas.

With all prerogatives and privileges, the netas celebrate Independence day and Republic day with the usual euphoria and exactitude every year. And the fooled people watch all the celebrations on TV channels with the sense of helplessness.

The system is such that once a glib-tongue and street-smart person gets in the politics, and manages to become an MLA or MP, he or she becomes law unto himself or herself. The proverbial long hands of law think ten times before reaching out to these netas even if they are found complicit in some crime. The people contend that these demi-gods are above the law.

On the other hand, the hapless common man who has been struggling from dawn to dusk for his survival for the ages, is a favourite whipping boy. Even the lowest rung government official can kick his ass just for kicks. What is more, this confused common man often falls prey to so-called JUSTICE.

The classic example is the ongoing sealing drive by MCD in Delhi under so-called Supreme Court Monitoring Committee. The properties of innocent self-employed people who have even paid the conversion charges and parking charges against their properties in order to carry out commercial activities for their livelihood, are being targeted and sealed arbitrarily without any notice.

True to their element, the netas of all the political parties are trying to use the predicament of the businessmen to their political advantage. Mud-slinging, slanging match and buck-passing have become the part of debate. While the netas are busy in their squabble, sealing is going on day after day. If the government cannot provide the employment, it has no business to deprive the people of self-employment.

      Over the years, the coaching Institute Business across India has become a giant industry with annual turn-over in thousands of crores, providing direct and indirect employment to thousands of teaching and non-teaching  youths.

Among the famous places for the coaching centres, Mukherji Nagar in north- west Delhi has a distinctive reputation. It is the favourite destination for government job-seekers. The students from all the parts of India throng this place with their cherished dream.

But to the utter surprise of student community at large, the renowned Mukherji Nagar and GTB Nagar stand rather ravaged today in the wake of rampant sealing drive. Hoardings, signboards and bill boards have been pulled down. Furniture and fixtures have been removed from the premises to ward off sealing drive. Obviously, it has put a big question mark not only on the future of self-employed teachers but also on the dreams of hundreds of students.

Dejected and disenchanted these hordes of self-employed people contend that much touted ‘start-up’ India is just a political gimmick. “At Davos, our Hon’ble PM Modi lays a red carpet for the foreign companies and business tycoons” says  a teacher ruefully. “And here in India Modi’s men are pulling the rug of  the feet of thousand of self-employed youth”. “BJP is a party of talk talks and talk claims. And those who talk by yard, act by inches, deserve to be kicked  by foot” says a student spitefully.

Evidently enough, the self-employed youth of India, who are already overburdened with the propounded GST, Income Tax, Property Tax, Conversion charges, Parking charges and  ever running high commercial electricity bill besides the alleged monthly extortion by the local authorities, are  VICTIM OF ‘JUSTICE’

Ramshackle Wazirabad Yamuna bridge ̶ a disaster in waiting

Ramshackle Wazirabad 

Yamuna bridge  ̶  a disaster in waiting

       By Mukesh Sharma

NEW DELHI: The Wazirabad Yamuna Bridge in North-East Delhi which is over 70 years old, is the only bridge connecting North-East Delhi, and besides local traffic all the vehicles from Loni, Ghaziabad use this bridge to enter inner parts of Delhi, and today it stands in dilapidated condition. However, thousands of vehicles crawls through this neglected bridge daily, and perhaps the authorities are waiting for some disaster to happen.

Nearly three months ago, the bridge was closed for busses and trucks to ‘repair’ the so called cycle track, nearly 8 ft. wide abutting the bridge. In fact, it was just a footpath and meant for pedestrians. The vested interests changed the nomenclature and renamed it ‘cycle track’. The restoration work is yet to be completed. The shoddy manner the work is being done rises doubts in the mind of the commoner that the contractor and officials concerned have made a fortune. It is open secret that based on public complaints and notings of the top officials, the tender for restoration work is floated; it is awarded to the ‘right’ contractor; work is completed; the calculated and well bargained cut reaches the share holders and the file is wrapped up with  hip hip hurray . . . and three cheers.

      Waterlogged Yamuna Bridge

On last Friday, the heavy rain led to water logging on the bridge. The vehicles were wading through knee deep water. The drain pipe put up by the contractor were chocked with dirt and mortar. Nobody bothered to open it. Moreover, the road over the bridge is full of potholes. The vehicular movement of this rugged bridge is so slow that a long line of bumper to bumper traffic jam can be witnessed from both sides of the bridge  round the clock. Hats off to Delhi Police cops who try to regulate the traffic but in vain. In fact, the authorities concerned should have first mended the road over the bridge for the smooth flow of traffic. But who cares! Enjoying fat salaries with no accountability, the officials who act like demi-gods, take little interest in public work on ground zero  except in file.

Interestingly enough, all the drivers of passing vehicles while moving like a bullock-cart do look at the much-touted Signature Bridge just 100 meters away. The people do dream of the auspicious day when the bridge would be completed and thrown open to public and the people would get rid of this daily tussle of traffic jam. But the next moment, they curse the netas. . . and get going.

The signature bridge was conceived by the respected netas about 14 years ago with a budget of just Rs 700 crores. The work dragged on for years for one or other reasons. The budget continued to be enhanced years after years for the reasons best known to netas only. And now it is said to have crossed  a whooping sum for Rs 1500 crores, and still it is under construction. To raise the hope of people, every year ‘netas’ give a deadline for its completion, but it turns out to be as hollow as their election promises.

Fearing the worst, disgruntle people content that the authorities would wake up after some untoward incident. God forbids, if this Wazirabad bridge collapses, the netas would visit in hordes; inquiry would be instituted; next of kins would be given some solatium; some overactive NGOs would stage candle light protests and some enthusiasts would raise a memorial and lit the candle every year on the day of disaster. But no lesson would be learnt. In all the cases, as usual, it is people who have to pay the price, and remain at receiving end.   

Wondrous Boy, The ‘Champion of the Earth’

(Humour)

Wondrous Boy

The ‘Champion of the Earth’

By Mukesh Sharma

W

ith all the elements of exclamations, his life story reads like the pep talks from the book Self Help by Samuel Smiles; it sounds like the contents of Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russel; it reflects the spirit of Ends and Means by Aldous Huxley; it shows the social philosophy of Capital by Karl Marx; it appears like the deft political moves of Chanakya Niti by Acharya Chanakya; it seems like the actions of the Prince  by Niccolo Machiavelli; his well calculated calm against the jibes of political opponents reminds one of the Gita of Lord Krishna.

His intriguing story reads like a travelogue from tea to top; from self to a son of soil; from nonentity to national figure; from RSS pracharak to Prime Minister; from State leader to Statesman.

After incipient FIASCOS, he is a man of scores of FIRSTS.  He was made an accused FIRST for 2002 Gujrat riots and later exculpated by the Supreme Court. He was anointed as chief Minister of Gujrat FIRST and an elected MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) later in 2001. He became PM designate FIRST and an MP (Member of Parliament) later when he sweeped the general election in 2014. He is the FIRST junior BJP leader who has sidelined his seniors against hierarchy rule.

Wondrous Boy

He is the FIRST the most followed Indian leader on twitter (34.6 millions). He is the FIRST Indian politician who interacted with the netizens on live chat on Google Hangout on August 31, 2012.

He is the FIRST Indian leader who has influenced and persuaded Hon’ble Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman to go for a magnificent Hindu temple in Riyad, usually, an unheard and unwelcome idea in Muslim States.

He is the FIRST PM who has inked deal for S-400 missile system with elated 56 inch chest with Russia despite the raised eyebrows of US, a devil diplomacy.

He is the FIRST Indian leader who inspired UN General Assembly to declare 21 June as International Day for Yoga and made the world feel and realize the importance of the ancient science of India.

He is the FIRST PM who announced on TV channels the demonetization of Rs500 and Rs1000 currency notes, and declared it invalid tenders to wipe off black money, though it is a moot point in the so called intelligentsia.

Despite all the obstructionist approaches of opposition, he is the FIRST PM who has stuck to his “One Nation, and One Tax”, and has brought GST (Goods & service Tax) in force.

He is the FIRST PM who has challenged the ever bullying bigots, and has gone against the age old apocryphal practice of TRIPLE TALAQ, a disgrace to women folk and assertion of male-chauvinism, and has managed to declare it a cognizable crime now, well against so called Islamic canonical laws  ̶  Shariat and Hadees, much to the chagrin of some  self-styled  netas and vested interests.

He is the FIRST BJP leader who has made it possible to form BJP government in 19 states, after squeezing the ‘divine’ right and rectitude of Congress that has ruled and allegedly “ruined” India where over 50% populace is still below the poverty line, even after 72 years of independence. When India got independence in 1947, China was said to be lagging behind by 60 years but today China is, supposedly, 100 years ahead.

He is the FIRST leader who has forced his opponents to kneel down and allegedly,  seek the help of arch-enemy Pakistan and diplomatic foe China to defeat him in upcoming general election, a political maneuver lesser known to gullible populace.

He is the FIRST BJP leader who has given splitting headache to ‘Gandhis’, seemingly disturbed by his astute design and demagogy, and has made the Scion of Gandhi family to copy his modus Vivendi and modus oprandi  ̶   temple hopping, Mansarovar Yatra,  foreign jaunts to meet and greet Indians diaspora and so on.

He is the FIRST leader who is a fashion icon and makes style statements with his half-sleeves kurta and churidaar pyjama, an elegant but simple sartorial sense.

He is the FIRST Indian leader who has given hugs to the most of the powerful leaders of the world, and has, amusingly, been rated by US media as a “big hugger.”

As a workaholic, he is the FIRST PM who has not taken a single day leave and has worked 18 hours a day in his four and half years of tenure as a PM.

He is the FIRST PM whose kins live in wants at their ancestral  house in Gujrat. He has never mixed his public life with his private life, in contrast, to the most of the kins of netas who  make their pile just in 5 years, once they come to power, and still an, adamantly, single man is surprisingly being singled out for alleged corruption in certain deal for no apparent reason.

Since Election Commission has announced the dates of election in 5 states (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana) in upcoming November 2018, opposition leaders like wolves are out to hunt down the ‘lion’  (his supporters euphemistically call him lion). But they (opposition leaders) intuitively know that it will not be a cakewalk. Bereft of the issue, opposition leaders are busy in girding up their loin and riding up sleeves by spreading alleged lies.  And to the utter disbelief, dismay and distress of the opposition, now he has become the ‘Champion of the Earth’ before the opposition gets wind of his latest achievement (The award was announced on September 26, 2018 on the sidelines of 73^rd UN general Assembly in New York).

If the events continue to roll like that his opponents who are in jittery, believe he may soon become the ‘Champion of the Universe’. No doubt, the ‘world’ is perturbed and perplexed by the mindboggling feats of the FIRST of the Wondrous Boy,  the Champion of the Earth.