Poor Bhairon Singh Shekhawat…he ?collapsed? in Parliament. It truly is sad to see these venerable, old men having to perform like 40-year olds. How can they be expected to do so, their energy levels have to be ebbing away at such ripe ages. I cannot, for the life of me, comprehend why these gentlemen and women do not retire gracefully from public life having made their wholesome contributions.
Where does this desperation to remain in the gaddi come from? It clearly does not come from the Hindu cultural tradition where retirement and sanyas was at 60! Since the ruling party and its allies are working hard at reviving age-old Hindu traditions and norms, they should start with ?out of public life at 60?. The public would hail the decision. With television as rampant as it is, these old people can be seen for what they are and the truth of the visual bares any attempt at ?forgetting? age. We can all see the slow pace, the withered skin, the shaky hands, the wavering mindset, the baggage of the past.
If this country has to change, grow and energise itself, the old have to give way and let go. Look at the ruling establishment at the Centre and the opposition party in Delhi. It is the same. What choice does a 30-year old person have! What can possibly be the dreams and aspirations of ?grandfathers and grandmothers? at the brink of their lives, and how on earth can they fulfill a dream for the new generation? If every politician who has crossed the age of 60 anoints an heir of 40, India will most surely change and be able to compete with the world on an equal footing. Think of the opportunities, the revitalisation, the new thinking, new methodologies of functioning that will take over. It is bound to be positive and dramatic.
While citizens of the world joined hands across countries in protest of a possible war in Iraq, Indians slept! We seemed to be the only country out of sync. Small wonder that the world does not even acknowledge our existence. We are a write-off. In an international perspective we are inconsequential…strange, because in the ?50s and right up to the ?80s we were a country that had a voice and a place. Today, we are nowhere except as a somewhat mute ally of the US. Some would use the word stooge. When will we be back on the world stage?
The only events that are reported are the ?trishul conclave? masterminded by Praveen Togadia; the killing of dalits; the killings in Gujarat; demands to defy orders of the Supreme Court ? all that is negative. What is India Positive? Private initiative that continues despite all the hurdles and corruption. The untapped energy of the people of this country is the only hope, an energy that has been frustrated and dwarfed by a rapacious babudom ruled by redundant laws, archaic regulations that strangle initiative and contorted backward thinking. We are so pathetically ?backward? that even on silly things like the Prime Minister driving through the town, roads are closed half an hour ahead bringing much grief to us, the citizens.
The lack of respect that the authorities have for its people is quite appalling. Their arrogance towards the citizenry is worse than feudalism at its worst. And the terrible part is that they do not see it. Surely the PM, DPM, FM and suchlike, all intelligent men who were normal citizens till recently, can ensure all this rather nonsensical stuff ceases to happen. Or, do they too enjoy these superficial trimmings of being ?important people? whatever that means. VIP and VVIP are expressions used only in India. The world doesn?t understand the description! Why are our leaders overwhelmed by such deep insecurity? Surely being elected by their constituents should be enough, should vest them with a sense of confidence. Why do they need the red light on top of their cars to prove themselves?
Dhirubhai Ambani had no red light atop his car but was a household name across India! He built an international company, the people recognised and applauded him and he did not need to ?flash? himself about. Our leaders too are household names. Why then the ?flash??