You think Indian democracy is in deep shit? How about rescuing it with your vote?

With elections in vicinity, I have been seeing seemingly normal people transforming into vehement psephologist who appear to have figured out "everything" and it doesn't matter if what they say has any valid reasons! The daily political antics and filthy games of political parties have long back stopped amusing me. These days, the "political experts" that one meets everywhere are thoroughly entertaining!  

Its election time once again in India and like it always happens around this time, we Indians have judiciously performed rituals of abuse, slander, laments by turning in to cynical lynch mobs making chest thumping proclamations about our respective political ideologies that we believe in or are drawn to due to our selfish needs or compulsions. We have been engrossed with mudslinging rants by media on jugglery of numbers, argued and fought with high decibel exchanges. Yes, it is our favourite sport to criticize, ridicule, accuse, abuse, deride all politicians and political parties whose ideology we don't subscribe to and give our "expert" views on just about everything under the Sun.  

There is no denying that India is in deep shit! The saddest part is, we have everything that it needs to make it a successful democracy that can set example to the world. But we don't work on it because it really doesn't matter to us. Yes, we are absolutely callous about our right of voting and its immense power. It is easy to blame political parties, leaders, rotten systems and corruption for India's failure on delivering on its true potential but we cleverly ignore the fact that we all have been silent partners to this disaster. We are verbose on how the country needs to change. But we conveniently forget that if we want the change its us who need to bring it. 

With the upcoming election, we have one more chance. It is time for reconciliation on our blunders of epic proportion that made our country suffer dearly. I know, the ethos of such framework is never a simple black and white solution. To move forward, we need to quell the disruptive forces in mediation of who we truly wish to be as country. Unless we do this exercise with utmost honesty and conviction, the rhetoric of a "great democracy" is nothing but a big joke!

For any democracy, it is very important to have more voices out in open to question with erudite judgement as to what is wrong with its system and participate to create necessary change and awareness. How many of us own up to our country as "my country" and feel truly proud of it? A person littering public places/public properties without iota of guilt or shame, is seen flashing Indian flag on the dashboard of his car on 15th August and 26th January! We expect government to take care of country and run it smoothly but evade taxes. We, as society have nurtured decadence since ages and what we see now is the result of that. 

Sadly, when we inherit something without paying its price, we don't value it. I would say it applies to Indian democracy also. We have enjoyed all the blessings of democracy and taken it for granted. A school going child knows he can get away with anything by just paying some money. Who is responsible to create that mindset? It has certainly taken ages of misuse of power and money for the sake of one's greed and convenience to create the mess that we are faced with today.

I often hear complaints that people don't like to vote because they don't have right alternatives. Agreed! Why not take part in politics and set an example? "Good people" don't wish to join politics. Why? Nations can't be created overnight. It needs participation of its people who are aware and willing to learn to live with fatigue of supporting it. When educated people capable of critical thinking shy away, the majority of other class gets an excuse not to think at all. We are at the brink but it is a process. The day we connect with our country as "my country" and own it up, things will start to change. But we must participate irrespective of the state of affairs or the filth in our system and do our bit. Then change would not seem as distant. 

Patriotism is not about temporary titillation of acrimonious acts of rancour. Unless we learn to value the positive energies of life and offer the respect and considerations to differences, we will be condemned to live in the world that is devoid of humanity. The onus is all the more on educated class, the enlightened minority to do something constructive about it instead of posting messages of hatred and spread negativity. We can't afford to be a proud nation if we are not enlightened too.

The time for rhetoric is long gone! It is time to walk the talk as voters. It is time for eternal vigilance. It is time to do our bit. Let's use our power of voting and bring that change we all are so eagerly awaiting! I think, we owe that much to our country!