We are where we were…
Yesterday on Facebook I proposed civil disobedience in protest of the Punjab Government’s failure to provide power supply to the state. It was only meant to be a facetious rant but the responses made me realize a few things. I was ridiculed and derided, told that the moment the police came down on me with the batons I’d forget everything about it. It might just be true but it made me realize the enormous courage it would have taken for the scores of freedom fighters (especially Gandhi’s followers) who happily absorbed the brutalities. If you really think about it, Gandhi’s method takes more courage than we credit it for. Gandhi bashing has become a fad lately, nothing more than boisterous machismo !
What sank in was the hollowness of our freedom. Yes, we can express ourselves freely but there are prices to pay. Suppose we take to the streets, march to the CM’s /Governor’s residence and hold protests the biggest fear factor would be the police. Is there any difference between what our freedom fighters went through and what a contemporary protester would go through ? India, that famed champion of non violence would commit the same brutalities on it’s people which were once committed by the British.
Before the protests, the problem. I’ve become so agitated because of the incessant power cuts – 7,8,9 hours. I’m aggrieved because I’m used to getting power throughout the day. But what of the millions who continue to live in darkness, for whom it’s just a way of life. The well offs will buy generators and inverters and forget about these problems, just like in the Raj.
Even after six decades after Independence, we still haven’t managed to guarantee power supply and worse off safe water supply to our people. The builders of our nation, most notably Pandit Nehru worked tirelessly around the clock and his foresight and vision steered India through those nascent years. However, consequent leaders and governments have lacked that vision and thus didn’t build upon the early achievements. For instance, India still continues to use those dams built during Nehru’s time. The times changed and we failed to evolve with the changing needs.
Other interesting posts :
- A letter to the CM Mr CM, I’m not entirely sure you’re aware of the affairs of the state as I am – occasional power...
- Victims forever ? Two days ago, farmers associated with the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) descended on Punjab’s capital Chandigarh to register their protest...
- Double standards ? For the last few days, I have been engrossed in reading ‘Temptations of the West’ by Pankaj Mishra. Mishra is...
- Jinnah for PM ? India is at a precarious position in it’s history. It has gained relevance in the world. From being an irrelevant...
- A man and his people… In my last post I mentioned Gandhi and non violence. Gandhi once mentioned that true non violence can be practiced...
“We are where we were…”