Editorial
We are now well into the national election season with the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, with the newspapers full of reports of alliances and break-ups between various political parties and groupings. Reading about these developments and actions of politicians with absolute disregard for ethics and principles, one wonders as to whose interests our politicians really have at heart — that of the voters whom they are supposed to represent, or their own. It is but natural that one feels revolted by the type of money-based or caste-based politics practised in India, and seeks to maintain a distance from politics. This disgust for politics ultimately gets reflected in our abstention from voting in the elections. Is this however the right approach for educated professionals to take ?
In India, one faces so many problems in day-to-day life — corruption, official apathy, violence, etc. — that one takes the easy way out, by trying to ensure that one does not have to face the issue directly. We tend to believe that so long as the issue does not directly impact us, we should ignore it, not get involved, but just carry on with our day-to-day lives. This tendency of most of us to isolate ourselves from the problems faced by our society and our refusal to tackle them head-on, has resulted in further aggravation of the problems. Most people now realise, after the recent terrorist attacks, that pretending that a problem does not exist does not make the problem go away or diminish — it only increases, till it ultimately threatens to engulf all of us.
If we wish to maintain or improve our lifestyles and those of future generations, if we cherish our freedom, we cannot function in isolation from the society that we live in. We have to contribute to ensuring that the principles that we cherish are protected. We cannot just be passive bystanders. As educated professionals, we owe it to ourselves and to our society to act as a catalyst for change. One of the essential action points for this is ensuring that we vote in elections.
Given the disgust of most educated people with politics, there have been many suggestions made to improve the quality of politics and the system of elections. One such suggestion has been the grant of a right to voters to cast a negative vote — i.e., a vote for none of the candidates. This, it is felt, would indicate to candidates that the voters are not satisfied with any of the candidates standing for election. While this would be a means of sending out a message to politicians, it would not be sufficient by itself.
Today, in any case, it is amply clear to politicians that the educated electorate is frustrated with the type of politics one witnesses of late in this country. Yet, one does not see any inclination from our existing bunch of politicians to mend their ways, because they feel there is no alternative to them. What is really needed is an alternative that voters can look forward to, an alternative based on principles and ethics, and an attitude of service to the country and to its people. Fortunately, this election seems to bring a ray of hope, as one sees professionals willing to take the plunge into the cesspool of politics.
Under such circumstances, it is essential that we exercise our rights as voters to show our support to candidates who are eager and willing to usher in change, who are not willing to sacrifice their principles for money, and who can help in stemming the rot that has set in into our political system. At the municipal level, in Mumbai in the recent past, we have seen some deserving candidates being elected with the aid of citizen’s groups interested in improving the governance of their areas. We need to take this forward, so that the entire country is run by politicians interested in improving the lot of the people, and who are accountable to the people.
It is also perhaps time that the manner in which ministers are appointed should undergo a change, so that meritorious persons can be appointed regardless of their political affiliations. This would however require major changes to our political system, which would be possible only when we have a majority of our politicians interested in a change for the better.
Normally, one witnesses mass voting by uneducated voters, organised by politicians. One hopes that this time one will witness mass voting by educated professionals and the business class, who wish to ensure a better future for their country and for themselves. Each one of us needs to take the small step of voting in this election towards this end. Only then do we have the right to demand a better future for ourselves and future generations.
Gautam Nayak
