Thursday, December 18, 2008

Corruption & Agencies

No agency in our political set up can be very effective. We have bad politicians, worse coalitions and worst electoral politics. All these factors invite undesired political interference in governance. Until unless politics is entirely separated from governance nothing concrete can be achieved.

In our format of elections where even candidates with 10-15% of votes polled can be in office and where people of people's republic have no direct role in electing their prime minister, chief minister and representatives this separation seems a remote possibility. Since no leader is directly responsible to the nation.

When contesting an election there is no minimum educational and experience requirement and where all sorts of criminals are allowed to participate in election, it is natural for elite and educated urban electorate to stay away from voting. Quality of candidates contributes further to this attitude.

I strongly feel if government really wants to do something for the nation, electoral reforms must be implemented without any loss of time, law & order should be separated from terrorism, agencies be made autonomous with accountability clearly defined not only in bureaucracy but in leadership also. And then nothing can stop India from winning all wars against all the ills including terrorism, casteism, regionalism, poverty and illiteracy.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

We Are Still Indians


After agesI had once again a feeling of being an Indian. Feeling of being connected. A feeling which had been an integral part of my existence that I never felt existed. it was known only when it was gone some years back. And since then it was as bad as carrying your own corpse on your own shoulders. After many many years I again felt that I was not dead. I still had life left in me.


It was amazing. A headless Rally of thousands of people without any predefined agenda or program but ultimately one outcome. No Police bandobast yet fully disciplined. Sea of humanity but no fear of stampede. Lots of young girls and boys but no trace of vulgarity. People from every caste and community but no display of any region or religion. Only one thing was radiant and that was Indanness. The spirit of real & true India. The might of Indian People.


Message was loud & clear for politicians and I hope this spirit remains intact and does not wait for any more disaster to resurface. Long Live Gateway Of India