This is a story of real India- big in geography, world’s largest democracy, currently facing one of the worst humanitarian crisis in the face of corona virus. All big economies tanked by a microscopic virus; giving jitters to scientists, experts, policymakers and all of us. These are trying times for the entire world and India trying its best, implemented a nationwide lockdown in order to contain the spread of the deadly virus. The lockdown has indeed helped in keeping the case count low but it has also exposed the loopholes existing since colonial times.
As a proud citizen of my country, I am obliged to write and thank our forefathers, all those freedom fighters, nationalists, patriots and alike who had fought for a Hindustan- meant for the vulnerable, poor, all sections of society without any hatred, bias or communalism. But with time the beautiful picture of Hindustan has changed upside down.
Independent India’s governments have been known to work relentlessly for its poor and marginalised people. Mandate to them meant more than votes- it was more than staying in power; they had vision, they had a personality to lead and care, they were foresighted, they knew how to run India. The current dispensation seems to be interested only in hubris, it is afflicted by an unknown evil called ignorance, it has no time for the marginalised, the migrant labourers who are hit the worst by the corona virus-induced lockdown.
These poor migrants already lived in hand-to-mouth conditions, on daily meager wages with no certainty of tomorrow. Seeing their plight, their distress made me think of what distinguishes the present system of governance from the previous ones? This is not about taking sides, left or right leanings but this is about those unheard voices who are forced to walk miles off to their villages, far away hometowns after being abandoned by the government.
I, as an avid History reader, drew some comparisons between the leadership of what India has today and what it had years back. Looking back makes me admire some of our noted humanists cum leaders like Gandhi, Nehru and Patel. I could not keep myself away from Tagore too. The list is long and heart gets heavier when one realises that in these times we can’t have them back. To them, Hindustan- the nation mattered the most.
Gandhi for his higher ideals, Nehru for his perseverance, Patel for his conviction and Tagore for his composure- all of them made India greater than any other nation. What they had in common was concern- for the poor. Their idea of India was deprived of all evils, they visioned India as a land of all religions and sects. We need them more now than ever before, though we can only remind ourselves of how great a country we have been and where are we going.
On one of his trips to Japan, Tagore had once warned:
On one of his trips to Japan, Tagore had once warned:
” you must know that the day comes when the defeated have their chance of revenge; that people have long memories and wrongs rankle deep in their heart; times of trouble are sure to come to all nations when the weak can bring fatal disaster to the stronger. The warnings of providence are often silent, and politicians do not heed to them. “
This was in relation to the Japanese excesses in Korea. But it very well goes with the present context as well. The migrants, left helpless with no food supplies may appear to be the weakest but their day too will come.
Politics has stooped down to a level that has no parallels to draw. Its unparalleled hunger for power, hubris, ignorance, avariciousness are all playing havoc for India right now. India having a federal structure had the advantage of better managing the lives of these abandoned migrant labourers. Numerous died, many left stranded making it one of the worst crisis in human history. Social media is full of disturbing visuals but the dispensation seems to be in denial. Package showering won’t do any good, it is only hurting the interests of the poor. The money does not reach the needy, it is the duty of Central and State governments to look after their people.
Politics has stooped down to a level that has no parallels to draw. Its unparalleled hunger for power, hubris, ignorance, avariciousness are all playing havoc for India right now. India having a federal structure had the advantage of better managing the lives of these abandoned migrant labourers. Numerous died, many left stranded making it one of the worst crisis in human history. Social media is full of disturbing visuals but the dispensation seems to be in denial. Package showering won’t do any good, it is only hurting the interests of the poor. The money does not reach the needy, it is the duty of Central and State governments to look after their people.
These migrants too are the citizens of Hindustan then why are they being subjected to such dejection and helplessness? This is not the India that we wanted. I urge as a citizen of this country that this is no time to do politics, this is no time to counter attack Opposition. This is the right time to stand with each other, to help all those in need.
Because the enemy is one and common, i.e; COVID-19. Corona has claimed numerous lives so far, we should aim for a higher India, an India of all, for all. The virus should not snatch away our identity, we should rather take this opportunity to make the world a better place. If not Gandhi or Tagore, can we be humans at best?
While writing this how can I forget about the media and its decay. Most of the News channels have become echo chambers of lies and propagandizing. They constantly bear allegiance to either of the political parties, giving a tilted view of reality. What is happening to the world and India in particular concerns me as a ctizen and we all need to understand our individual responsibilities of not conforming to these evils of information bubble and yellow journalism. Let us take a pledge to strive for the best in us, for the world and the days to come.