DELHI ELECTIONS, 2015: Desi Magna Carta
It is true that I started out my blog with an
observe-and-comment strategy with political affairs. The reason behind that
move wasn’t as much of social commitment as it was the urge to keep on writing.
When I chose the defining strategy of my blog, The Indian Commentator as
‘observe and comment’, I had in my mind a firm idea that I will never lack
topics to write about. Later in my career as a blogger, I realized that things
weren’t as I expected them to be.
I never found the stream of ideas empty regarding the
publication of The Indian Commentator. However, I did find it difficult to use
my observe-and-comment strategy frequently. This strategy forced me, occasionally
to reveal the political ideology I am inclined to. In truth, I am not inclined
toward any political idea or ideology. I do not have participation in any political
party, until this moment. In future too, I wish myself to be kept away from the
curved tracks of party politics.
My blog, The Indian Commentator, moved into short fiction and
then poetry. An expansion of themes followed and I ventured into many other
areas like psychology and film criticism. My recent attempt is to bring the
phenomenon commonly referred to as the UFO phenomenon in front of my readers. A
certain category of my readers might not have familiarized themselves with UFOs
and related news that have been circling the internet and other media for many
years. So I intended them to be aware and careful about these happenings. This was
the main reason for the change in the matters of discussion.
Finally, today, I have decided that I would take a journey
backward, in a gesture of looking back and learning the lessons from past. Today,
on 10 February 2015, India’s national capital exhibited what could be called a
synchronistic political event. This made me comment to one of my colleagues at
the day job I have, that the people of Delhi have in their minds, still, this
man and his ideals. I am speaking about today’s breaking story in India’s
political scene, Arvind Kejriwal’s victory over BJP and Congress, two leading
parties in India.
Although I started blogging with the strategy of
observe-and-comment as my prime resource, I slowly and deliberately kept myself
away from commenting upon political issues. Through my blog, I never revealed
my affiliation with any specific political party. I haven’t also attempted to
talk in favor or denial of any of their leaders.
Writing continuously about political issues seemed to me a
denial of a serious nature to my readers. When I attempt to observe and comment
on any event with a political bend, I realized that I also tend to reduce the
event I talk about into an event with a mere political value. Although those of
you who are genuinely interested in the subject of politics might disagree with
me, I would like to agree to disagree.
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| Image Courtesy: Google |
The increasingly reductionist version of Indian politics has
caught me short of experiencing my real essence. Who I really am seemed to be
beyond any political idea. I am that I am. I needed a higher perspective to
observe and comment upon any issue that might come across my mind’s eye. This
may or may not have a political nature and their values and lessons may vary. Even
political events have a spiritual edge to them. This was the main reason I
chose to add a new tag in my blog. I called this new tag ‘Mind’, which I
decided, must include articles and observations on human psyche and
extrapsychic phenomenon, including spiritual consciousness. If you’d notice,
this article would be featured under the tag, ‘Mind’ due to its strong
suggestions towards the psychological references a writer makes when writing
about an event of political nature.
Today, on 10th of February, I felt I must look at the
political scene that has so convincingly unfolded in front of our eyes. Delhi’s
people have decided that Arvind Kejriwal, this former civil servant who was the
7th Chief Minister of Delhi from 28 December 2013 to 14 February 2014, must
once again be their Chief Minister. In the term he served before, that is, from
28 December 2013 to 14 February 2014, his first term as CM, Kejriwal decided to
slice the chords of power off on the wake of his self-proclaimed inefficiency
to uproot corruption.
Many political pundits have commented that this was a Himalayan
mistake as Kejriwal had betrayed the people who voted for him and caused the
state a heavy financial loss by forcing another election upon it.
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| Image Courtesy: Google |
The reason Kejriwal raised to justify his resignation from power
in his first term was that he could not pass the Jan Lokpal Bill, with the
current strength of his party. Through Jan Lokpal Bill, as many say, corruption
in the country could be eliminated and justice can be assured to its people.
Kejriwals’ name was first heard in association with Anna
Hazare’s Jan Lokpal movement. Later, the two accepted their separated political
stands and this lead to the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party in
2012. That was the ‘end of the world’ for the Congress Party that ruled Delhi.
In 2014, political pundits were after finding out if Kejriwal’s
resignation could help AAP to attract more public-support. Personally, I never
believed in this theory. I had thought that most probably, AAP and the Congress
Party would lose, and the mighty Modi-mania would take the throne of Delhi,
proving one final time the credibility of BJP to be the one dominating
political power. On the contrary, something else was in store for Delhi. The people,
the aam aadmi had their own verdict, their own decisions, and ideas about who
must rule them.
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| Image Courtesy: Zee news |
Perhaps, the recent religious onslaughts might have resulted in
this giant victory for AAP. The people of Delhi might have found in Kejriwal
what the people of Britain had found in Robert FitzWalter for being the
defender of rights they believed they possessed by virtue of their human birth.
Although Christians are a minority in India, Delhi elections
2015 has had the community’s certain impact due to the atrocities committed on
Christians throughout Delhi in recent months. Hindu extremists groups who would
not be named in police records burned down many churches and many were
ravished. A naked exhibition of cruelty and intolerance did not raise many eyebrows,
as the ruling party was busy converting individuals from other religious groups
into their stream of faith. In this shameless battle of faiths, trust was
vanquished into a deep and dark forest of hatred.
After the visit of the president of the United States, during
the Republic Day celebrations, a growing discontent on matters of religious intolerance
was made into the forefront of mainstream media discussions. Thanks to Mr.
Obama who referred to India’s religious diversity and also the present day
threats it faces. Modi government has still not been able to win the trust of
its people on matters of religious tolerance. The arson on churches in Delhi is
just one among many issues that disturb a peaceful coexistence among religions,
without fear, difficult.
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| Image Courtesy: www.pardaphash.com |
Kejriwal’s victory is a Magna Carta of hopes that the people in
Delhi have implanted in the machinery of their governing system. This new
sprout of hope must be able to quench the thirst of justice on all issues
concerning human dignity and security. The name “Aam Aadmi” refers to “common people”.
Although at first sight this may bring to our consciousness the sociality ideal
of proletariat, this theme should be understood closely within the Indian socio-cultural
context. Most leaders of the AAP are not the so-called common people. There are
rich businesspersons, writers, and activists. Here too, a socialist paradox
settles down. Who is a common person or proletariat? The one who lives one’s
life denying all sorts of wealthy comforts or the one who in his mind believes
in lessons that can be learnt from living a life submitted to humble whereabouts?
The answer might have a demanding impact upon Delhi’s future.
Let’s wait and observe.
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