SOCIETY, a broad concept and often the substance of evening gossip for the upper middle strata of the community. During talk on society we try to define its limits by conveying to our leaders the tales of anguish and apathy that makes the basis of a society – like ours.
The Constitution, if read and kept to the books itself is perchance the best of rules for humanity. So, what are we complaining for? Well more than a complaint now this story of disdain of the masses is one of lamentation, political lapses and no follow-ups of the duties executed by the governing bodies. The problem is related to political and official lapses. Whenever any quick project needs to be undertaken for the boost of the socio-economic growth there is always a committee which would foresee the project being done. Good to hear but never really met the necessities of the people. Now comes the entry of the most unproductive elements of all – state politics or a pivotal centre politics. It is evident from the utter failures of the last fifty seven years that our growth has been hindered due to the intervention of malafide elements and brittle political decisions. In the post independence era the political party at that time used to hold the single largest majority. The works and decisions were more effective at that time because we ought to question a single party for failure or success. At this juncture after elapsing of five decades the majority has dwindled and broken clusters of the society has conjured up to form a government.
Mud as we know sticks together because they are entirely formed of same elements but on the contrary did anyone ever see particles of sand sticking together. A phenomenon so well known but never thought of. When we have a single party its working is based on decisions, when you have two or three parties the execution is based on arguments and when you see power drunken parties on the line then the outcome is based on political compulsions and compromise. Nowadays a minor party has acquired the advantage to threaten of withdrawal of support if its vested interests are not taken care of. It is not that our government does not take care of interests of the people. They do take care but that of the people which makes up the support at the Parliament Hall. The interests and demands of the people at the center are never sufficed. If that is reality then how can we hope to get ours solved anyway. The upper stratum of the society lives on the basis of money and the lower one on hope. Governments come and go but the hope of the poor countrymen is still the same and continues to be so. Betrayal through the decades still did not let the poor part with their hope – the hope to exist with food for body and roof over the head. Our ‘demands are being fulfilled or will be’ this is what we come to see or hear from the caretakers of the resolute society.
How long are we going to keep our view in the opposite direction of trouble? Maybe till we breathe our last. The way our politicians change equations symbolizes it as the ‘greater chameleon’ of the society; the lesser one changes its colour for survival. The procedure by which politics is customized with democracy has nothing left as residue for the commoners. They are fighting not only for food but against the representatives elected by peoples’ mandate. The basic tendency that is evident is the growing unrest among the younger generations. They have started to lose patience as a whole on a broad gamut of troubles. The present generation is prone to taking the law in there own hands. Who is to blame for this? The young generation points to the older one and the converse is also true. Unrest has increased manifold since the post independent era. After relieving ourselves from the British yoke we find that we are exiled within our own sweet democracy. The use of Authority should have been in the hands of able persons. Sadly for us the picture is somewhat unpleasant. Our democracy and regional caste based politics can be summed in the common saying that, ‘Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ Our hope pushes us forward in the search of betterment. Despairs and anguish are healed with the passage of time. Sticking to our hopes and aspirations fills the crevices in our daily life created by the bluff of politicians in political meetings and seminars. But, a time will come when the water will spill over and the wheel will come full circle. This dooms day will create an outburst that will be inescapable. Likewise, say water is needed for survival but too much of it can drown us. We have to harness the power of hope of our countrymen and give a justified and rightful future, if not for them at least for the next generation.
Our leaders should take positive steps to avoid bloodshed, which if occurs will inflict damage more then a superficial wound. Leaders are meant to rule by weighing the pros and cons of the society. They should not take everything from the common man. When the common person has nothing to lose he becomes free again – history has proved that time and again. Tragically speaking, we read history but never follow them. The hearts of the poor countrymen know no falsification of thoughts. The minds of the deprived are transparent like glass. It is high time that we understand the pros and cons of our existence in such a fragile society. When the wheel turns full circle there will be a new established civilian order.
It is deep rooted in the proverbial threat of an Afghan rebel to a Russian general that - ‘broken glasses are sharper, they inflict more than superficial damage.’
Prasenjit Das©1997-2010
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