General Elections : India (2014)

Next year, 2014, our country, is headed to one of its most important periods of its democratic timeline since its independence in 1947-the general elections to choose its leader to head the country of more than 1.2 billion dreams for the next 5 years. As always, unless something dramatic happens, India is most likely to choose one from its two major political parties, the Congress or the Bharitiya Janata party (BJP). The Congress which is the current government is stained with enormous corruption and for increasing social problems& chaos in the country, while the BJP which is formed on the religious foundations of Hindtuva principle is no greater in morality. The one thing that stands out about the coming elections is that it is presumed by the “entire country and media” as a battle between two people, rather than two political parties, the two prime ministerial candidates, namely Rahul Gandhi-un-officially claimed candidate of congress and Narendrea Modi the current Gujarat chief minister from BJP.  

                      
                             A unique aspect about the BJP candidate is that there are always equal doses of praise and criticism for him in the society and media. He is hated by many for his alleged involvement in 2002 Gujarat riots but is also praised equally for his efforts of development that he claims to have achieved. To quote exactly in terms of development perspective, even though Modi’s state holds #2 in the country in terms of power generation and it is indeed the industrial hub of India. However, states like and including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab etc. have all reported to be doing better in terms of GDP, human development index, and child nourishment, conditions for women and education sector and so on-in the recent years. In fact a lot of praise can be given to states like Bihar or Odisha which have shown improvements given all odds of circumstances against them. It can be said that the entire nation itself is trying to develop and every state needs each other to do so. However, I see no problem for BJP in choosing him as their candidate since it’s their own choice but the only thing that worries me most are his projections as a strong believer of religion in politics and- inclination for religious views. This is something to be fearful and watchful about. Just as times are changing and world is on the path of moving forward into advances of life and sciences, our country seems to head backwards by mixing religion with politics. I see a lot of propaganda from the young generation of our nation in social media and outside supporting Narendra Modi for his strong pro hindtuva agenda- and often feeling proud about their religion. Since India is a secular country with right to practice ones religion of choice, feeling proud is acceptable but to put it as the main agenda for the elections ahead of other important socio-economic problems is unacceptable. In democracy, mixing religion with politics is a signal of exponential decline of the state.
                  
                       Most importantly, It is upsetting to observe from all the political speeches given by both prime ministerial candidates of Congress and BJP at their respective rallies held thus far in view of forth coming elections- no one has till date proposed their understanding, insights or ideas about combating the major problems faced by our country today, such as – safety for women & children, corruption, the agricultural farmer’s suicides, the AFSPA or social other problems from north east, the naxal issue from the east coast belt of India, the problems of tribal populations, the issues of ever growing poverty, the forever rising prices of fuel or other common commodities like food inflation, the agenda on nuclear power, FDI, states bifurcation demands, unemployment, the rupee decline, foreign relations, health related problems – to name a few and the list is ever increasing.  There are numerous socio-economic problems that we face today as a country that need immediate answers with concrete long term solutions to which the politicians need to focus. The existing problems cannot be color coated by saffron/green or with any religion since hunger knows no religions. 

                      India is a country that has its roots from religious tolerance, equality, secularism and peaceful co-existence of people from different religions/communities which makes our country very special on the globe and we should put efforts to sustain our greatness and achieve development. 

It all Started With Ram. . .

The recent protests against worst crimes on women is a sign showing that the society is getting together to fight and repeal these evil crimes-which have been occurring since ages. This is a result of India’s younger generation’s courage to fight the system and their will power to bring justice into the society. The increase in awareness via growth in communication amongst the citizen via Internet is also helping everybody to get together and fight. This should give a strong warning to those crooked minds who think they can get away or even think of committing crimes against women.  Indeed there should be strict laws to protect women, but we all know that laws alone cannot solve the problem. The minds of these pathetic perverts should change.  It is the responsibility of parents, teachers and elders to teach children of today to respect women so that these crimes can come to a complete end in another ten years.

In the midst of these protests, it was disheartening and shameful to see politicians and spiritual leaders those preaching religion projecting women, yet again, to be the wrong doers.  They also put the blame on the influence of western culture instead of blaming the actual wrong doers- the perverted people. This made me think as to what could possibly have lead the so called sage-wise men, occupying highest positions in the society, to think so narrowly-going against those women who have suffered the brutality. I was sure that it takes a much more brutal and narrow mind to think on those low lines. These acts and comments were at the heights of stupidity. It put a thought to me that there should be a foundational flaw which shapes the mentality of these sadists who sexually attack women or project women to be on the wrong side after they were attacked.

It struck to me that these crimes against women happening now are a result of cascade of events. They are in a way the result of the Indian culture that teaches men to be the dominant gender and their actions, no matter what, as justified/appropriate if they feel they are right. Men seek their lessons from the stories they learn and lay strong impression in them from the mythology.

It all started with Ram. . .

There was a king who was considered to be ideal. He obeyed his elders and did everything right. One day, his wife got abducted by the wrong guy of the story when he left her in forest and went to hunt for an animal. He later kills the wrong guy but abandons his wife after his laundry guy puts a hint of a doubt over her integrity while she was hostage of the kidnapper. This came even after she passed the test of fire- as asked by her loving husband- the ideal man. This is one of the first incidents about Indian mythology that children in India learn but it is obviously sugar coated with the moral of the story being that the ideal man sacrificed his love life for the society, not for its well-being but being a king his stature will take a blow if his wife is suspected in the society he rules. This is one of the first atrocities against women that were carved into the culture of India.

Then there is a famous story in which a woman was married to five men who put her on gambling and lose her to the opposition who later molest her. Of course she was heroically saved by her super star brother lord but even after this discriminating act, the five men are praised in Indian culture as the best and their eldest brother is considered the symbol of Dharma and his action of gambling on  his wife is portrayed as a duty to protect this Dharma. Then there are numerous other incidents to follow in the culture like, to name a few, the practice of Sati, where the widow is burnt on the pyre of her husband, alive. The practice of Kanyasulkam, where young girls were sold to old widowed men for money. These two practices are now outdated and are almost nonexistent. The practice of Deva dasi, the prostitutes of Temples is another horrifying example another example of atrocities against women via religion and culture.  The practice of accepting dowry is still prevalent all over the country.

I feel that what we are seeing today in the society is a result of practices that have been followed in the country since ages.  These are few of the countless incidents written and celebrated as dominance of one sex over the other all through Indian culture and our children- from all communities and creeds are exposed to it. The India traditional culture has always been on the side of displaying the dominance of male over the female. It is no doubt that the two great epics of India are the most wonderful stories ever written or told in India but the way they are taught should be changed. There are those hidden subtle imbalances inherently casted into the system. This is true with most of the religions and cultures across the world. These need to be cleared out before any change could substantially take place. If an incident is a wrong doing, they should be taught as one and everyone should be advised not to do so.

Education is the only weapon to end all evil in the system.