Shivon Dhawan- Voting to Change the System

“Over 180 killed in Mumbai serial blasts”

In the wake of the recent blasts and terror strikes, it would only be human to develop, a feeling of deeper disgust, for the apparent “leaders” of the countries. The representatives, it seems, have suddenly been woken from their deep slumbers, as what has come to the attention of the nation is, the weak willed and inefficient “leaders”. The political classes’ inefficiency and aloofness, to both its responsibilities and duties has cost a lot of citizens like , you and me , maybe a friend , a cousin , a mother , a child or just someone , loved and cared for, someone cruelly taken away .

The outrage felt all over the country is not only against the terrorists but also the rot within the system. While the terror bloc maybe seen as the evil attacker, what cannot be ignored is the absolute failure of the political democratic system, not the government alone. Our country being the worlds largest democracy not only sees hurdles in the form of hostile neighbours, but now has to deal with a rotting bureaucratic and political machinery.

Perhaps the most alarming question on everybody’s mind is, “what can we do?”. With the common consensus coming to the sad fact, that no political party has been performing, no politician has any connect with the common public and that no matter how much we scream or protest , the situation is just not going to change on its own. However, the more disturbing developments are the radical ideas being suggested, such as, not paying taxes at all or the possibility of giving up the parliamentary system and coming under military rule. This is a worrisome turn of events.

Here lie the problems of the “others”. We have let our politicians alienate themselves from us. The politically sound, educated urban masses suddenly realise that the democracy they are supposed to be a part of, is not theirs at all. Be it the fact that simple needs of a human being, such as, the need for security are being ignored, leaves this class of Indians confused, angry and distort. Thus, is born the “other”, politicians. Someone who does not represent them, but governs them. .

However doesn’t a society deserve its own politicians? While we hold rallies urging each other not to pay taxes, do we realise that we are heading towards a much bigger problem? Do we realise that the system of democracy that we perceive as failing is the only weapon we have?

So what does a commoner do against the “others”? To think that we are weak or helpless is wrong. What we can do is simple .We bring the awaited change. We change them. We become a part of the process, to clean it, rather than to ignore and suffer. We need to eliminate the feeling of the other, and make the “others” a part of “us”. How? One simple word, vote. One of the most precious weapons, and a much ignored duty, is to vote. As a citizen of a democracy, it is the only way we can bring change. Changing not the machinery, but the rusted parts.

To say that we are lucky to be in a democracy is an understatement, we need to realise and appreciate the rights and freedoms given to us as Indians. Instead of doing that, we too conveniently forget our duty to vote, and then complain about the pathetic political machinery in our country. Thus, to concede defeat, to outer enemies or our own system failures is not an option, but defeating them through the democratic rights of a citizen is.

In the end, as Dorothy Thompson said,
“It is not the fact of liberty but the way in which liberty is exercised that ultimately determines whether liberty itself survives”

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The Author is I yr Journalism Honours student and Head of the Lady Sriram College Webteam of DevelopmentChannel.org