Election wave is currently flooding the political scenario of India. Politics is a power game and it is not surprising that no voter/ citizen are ever satisfied with the outcome of democratic election. Yet there is no other alternative than democratic process and the best alternative is to make democracy work better for fulfillment of people’s expectation. We know that in a participatory approach of modern world, the option of autocracy and dictatorship find no place as seen in conflict states in Africa and the Arab Spring.. In India, democracy is over 60 years old and the exercise of people’s franchise is often hailed as one of the most successful democratic processes in the world. Beneath the success stories are different reality stories of how the sanctity of the franchise granted by the constitution has been grossly misused by the might of muscle power and financial resource. The franchise granted by the constitution remains only in letter while the spirit reflects nothing short of autocracy and dictatorship when one power controls and rules the rest through its might. It is also rather boring to have one single mighty rule without stimulation from other pulls in the regions.
Loss of franchise means loss of political freedom to choose and the eventual loss of economic freedom to earn livelihood and to receive opportunity as others in this mighty country. The song of praises for successfully elected leaders through the approved democratic process is testified as the stated strength of this vast nation. Then why are the people especially in the northeast India frustrated, deluded and unhappy to the extend that it forced sections/groups into insurgency for decades? Why are these elements inspired by developmental issues or nationalist notions existing today as mere extortionists? What is the need to have a crafty policy that enhances the looting skills of discontented armed group? Instead of tackling the problem at the root by building institutions, capacity and attacking corruption in the political system and bureaucratic set up, the ruling elite at the centre and states are silently promoting nefarious activities through backdoor negotiations to demean governance and relegate the region into more backward condition while the rest of the nation grows and prospers to become super power status. Why is the region not fielding independent regional party or supporting their own independent candidates to prove how their own local strength can make the difference?
The northeast region of mongoloid stock, ethnically, culturally and historically different people have no other value in the eyes of the rest than the simple logic of its location in corner most north east border of India nestling close to the most economically powerful nation in the world, China, the Asian Giant. The policy of Look East Policy through the region is a strategic consideration than the real concern for the people as citizens of India having needs to express. The strength of the region lies in its geo- political strategic position and the wisdom lies in understanding this strength to bargain for the betterment of the region. This approach is well evidenced in the pampered treatment towards Arunachal Pradesh by the centre. The point to drive home is to find an alternative that can bargain for the region instead of sticking to the present that believes in exchange of appeasement between the ruling elites. The season is ripe to think sensibly and reasonably without falling into the trap of cushy attractive offers that designs to alleviate and promote only the elites and appeasement towards the trouble makers leaving out the interest of the local people. It is time for people to realize its power and that power lies in each person’s ability to exercise the right choice not for self goal but for long term benefits of the community, state and the region. Every individual must learn to ask objectively who is the best choice for the district or state instead of subjectively asking who is the best for a particular community or group, before casting the vote.
The theory of alternative option emanates from failure of the existing practice and is a popular approach in all walks of life. The alternative option leads to changes, development and continuity. But finding the alternative is not an easy thing because the alternative has to be better than the previous failed one. The option is agreed to only when its viability is tested as better, if not the best. The universe is searching for option in every spectrum of life; broken homes, dilapidated administration, degraded environment, deplete resources and so on. The universal dilemma is the viable becoming unviable in due course of time. In other words, even if the option is viable, it becomes unviable and stays on Sine Die till another option is found again. Until then, the Status Quo is to be maintained. To maintain status quo however means stagnation and we certainly would not like to be stagnated. We have to move ahead fast and find an alternative.
One upon a time, in a poorly governed state, the entire state machinery and various factions of political party unanimously denounced its state leadership for bleeding the state near to death out of extreme corruption and nepotism. The demand for change of leadership for nearly a year by all political parties did not receive response from the high command at the centre. Some believed that the corrupt leader took his booty and filled the coffer of the center to urge for status quo while some rationalized that the centre deferred the decision Sine Die in the absence of an alternative leadership. The acceptable answer is that the Sine Die decision making process led to a Status Quo because there was no alternative leader. It was felt that appointing another leader would lead to the same unviable position and hence helping maintain the Status Quo would also mean enriching the central coffer. The Chief Minister was allowed to fill the central coffer because there was no one to replace him.
In the same fashion, many felt that the ruling government in India derailed governance internally and externally, promotes corruption and nepotism and the Prime Minister is a mere puppet. The criticism fades away in the absence of an alternative viable group to win the people. The Status Quo is a compulsion and will continue Sine Die until another viable group challenges the Status Quo. Northeast region needs to think of an option, a strategy to formulate the alternative so that the region is not left too far behind in the development process within India which is closely contesting China known for its fastest economic growth as it already surpassed USA in 2010.
If things go wrong again in the next round, do not blame the government, blame yourself first for failing to exercise your franchise to make the right choice. Best of Luck and my Good Wishes.
Loss of franchise means loss of political freedom to choose and the eventual loss of economic freedom to earn livelihood and to receive opportunity as others in this mighty country. The song of praises for successfully elected leaders through the approved democratic process is testified as the stated strength of this vast nation. Then why are the people especially in the northeast India frustrated, deluded and unhappy to the extend that it forced sections/groups into insurgency for decades? Why are these elements inspired by developmental issues or nationalist notions existing today as mere extortionists? What is the need to have a crafty policy that enhances the looting skills of discontented armed group? Instead of tackling the problem at the root by building institutions, capacity and attacking corruption in the political system and bureaucratic set up, the ruling elite at the centre and states are silently promoting nefarious activities through backdoor negotiations to demean governance and relegate the region into more backward condition while the rest of the nation grows and prospers to become super power status. Why is the region not fielding independent regional party or supporting their own independent candidates to prove how their own local strength can make the difference?
The northeast region of mongoloid stock, ethnically, culturally and historically different people have no other value in the eyes of the rest than the simple logic of its location in corner most north east border of India nestling close to the most economically powerful nation in the world, China, the Asian Giant. The policy of Look East Policy through the region is a strategic consideration than the real concern for the people as citizens of India having needs to express. The strength of the region lies in its geo- political strategic position and the wisdom lies in understanding this strength to bargain for the betterment of the region. This approach is well evidenced in the pampered treatment towards Arunachal Pradesh by the centre. The point to drive home is to find an alternative that can bargain for the region instead of sticking to the present that believes in exchange of appeasement between the ruling elites. The season is ripe to think sensibly and reasonably without falling into the trap of cushy attractive offers that designs to alleviate and promote only the elites and appeasement towards the trouble makers leaving out the interest of the local people. It is time for people to realize its power and that power lies in each person’s ability to exercise the right choice not for self goal but for long term benefits of the community, state and the region. Every individual must learn to ask objectively who is the best choice for the district or state instead of subjectively asking who is the best for a particular community or group, before casting the vote.
The theory of alternative option emanates from failure of the existing practice and is a popular approach in all walks of life. The alternative option leads to changes, development and continuity. But finding the alternative is not an easy thing because the alternative has to be better than the previous failed one. The option is agreed to only when its viability is tested as better, if not the best. The universe is searching for option in every spectrum of life; broken homes, dilapidated administration, degraded environment, deplete resources and so on. The universal dilemma is the viable becoming unviable in due course of time. In other words, even if the option is viable, it becomes unviable and stays on Sine Die till another option is found again. Until then, the Status Quo is to be maintained. To maintain status quo however means stagnation and we certainly would not like to be stagnated. We have to move ahead fast and find an alternative.
One upon a time, in a poorly governed state, the entire state machinery and various factions of political party unanimously denounced its state leadership for bleeding the state near to death out of extreme corruption and nepotism. The demand for change of leadership for nearly a year by all political parties did not receive response from the high command at the centre. Some believed that the corrupt leader took his booty and filled the coffer of the center to urge for status quo while some rationalized that the centre deferred the decision Sine Die in the absence of an alternative leadership. The acceptable answer is that the Sine Die decision making process led to a Status Quo because there was no alternative leader. It was felt that appointing another leader would lead to the same unviable position and hence helping maintain the Status Quo would also mean enriching the central coffer. The Chief Minister was allowed to fill the central coffer because there was no one to replace him.
In the same fashion, many felt that the ruling government in India derailed governance internally and externally, promotes corruption and nepotism and the Prime Minister is a mere puppet. The criticism fades away in the absence of an alternative viable group to win the people. The Status Quo is a compulsion and will continue Sine Die until another viable group challenges the Status Quo. Northeast region needs to think of an option, a strategy to formulate the alternative so that the region is not left too far behind in the development process within India which is closely contesting China known for its fastest economic growth as it already surpassed USA in 2010.
If things go wrong again in the next round, do not blame the government, blame yourself first for failing to exercise your franchise to make the right choice. Best of Luck and my Good Wishes.
