Friday, May 2, 2014

What you wish for...


                Its May 2nd today, two weeks before the results are announced in India’s elections. People are excited, both the ones who have already exercised their right and the ones who are still waiting (voting goes on till May 12th). ‘Excited’ might not do justice to describe what Indians are feeling. It’s not only the 100 million new voters who will be voting for the first time these elections. It’s Shyam Saran Negi, India’s first voter, it’s the daily wage earner, it’s the corporate honcho, it’s the recent graduate, it’s the housewife, and it’s the elders in the family. All are spirited.
                On the other end of the planet, Brazil is getting ready for hosting the World cup of soccer next month. Not too long ago on October 30th 2007 FIFA officially confirmed that Brazil would host the 2014 event. Brazilians who are famous for partying got one more reason to drink and dance. The world famous Copacabana beach which was hosting the ‘watch party’ to witness FIFA’s decision live became the largest party venue. Brazilians were living there dream.
                Well, it didn’t take long for the dream to become a nightmare. World cup is only a few weeks away and preparations are still going on. Stadium’s and hotels are behind schedule and protests are growing at the amount of public money spent. Public protest in Rio and Sao Paolo became a weekly thing. Army had to be called in many instance to control the violent protests in the favela’s (slums).
                I am not comparing the two situations, but am trying to capture the public sentiment. I am just a little nervous with all the excitement and bullishness in people’s tones when they talk about elections. I understand stakes are high but…I guess it’s my wariness about very optimistic outlooks.
                I guess we will find out soon.
                In the meantime, I wish all the best to Brazilians for successfully hosting the world cup and then the Olympics. And to India, keep your hopes alive…Ummed par hi Duniya Kayam hai!!  

Thursday, March 20, 2014

The Great Election Tamasha





                In India, we celebrate Diwali, Uttarayan, Dussehra, Janmastmi, Navratri, Idd, New Year, Nowruz and a lot more but the ostentatious of them all is the General Election!!
                That’s right; elections in India are nothing short of a huge, magnificent, dynamic celebration. Celebration of boosting the local economy by bringing out all the black money that was collected over the past election and spending on gathering people for rallies and late night parties. It’s a celebration of making a mockery out of a common man. It’s a celebration of a coming out party of a candidate with shady background into the main stream public life. Oh! And yes, it is also a celebration of Democracy…or whatever we have it these days.
                In a developing democracy like India, different classes of people will have different expectations from their elected politicians (they are far from being a leader!!). The ‘haves’ will expect a leader who is willing to make deals. The ‘intellectuals’ will hope to have a leader who is a university graduate and who does everything ‘right’ and then there are ‘poor’s’ who make sure India remains democratic by coming in masses to vote and in turn our politicians make sure that they remain poor, so our grandeur history of being a democratic society continues.
                Come April and 814,591,184* registered voters in India will celebrate democracy by going to the polling stations and voting. Or watching/reading about the exit polls and complaining about the outcomes. Each and every election cycle brings with it the ‘new crop of politicians’ who think about changing the system. Alas, they become the part of the same system by the next general election. General election, we are told, is the celebration of the power of people. But in India it has become the celebration of the power of politics!!
                Although a true democracy fails to exist, religious and provincial issues continue to be used for political promotions and criminalization of politics has become the modus operandi, a Common man continues to believe that the upcoming elections will bring the Change they are hoping for.
to the Hope!! to the Change!! to Democracy!!

*NYT op-ed – ‘Old Fantasies are distorted in Indian elections’. Mar 5th, 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Baroda the Beautiful

 

                Flyovers and wide, flat streets have replaced the narrow pot holed filled roads of yesterday. Bare open spaces have been replaced by residential high-rises. The nightly groupings at paanwala’s have been shifted to Barista’s. An unorganized galli cricket has taken shape of an official league. School auto rickshaws have been replaced by vans. All night Garba’s are now restricted till midnight during Navratri.
                Life or should I say time, has changed Baroda. But has it really?

                The flyovers and broad boulevards have not stopped Barodians from going on the wrong direction instead of taking a long u turn!! Stray Cows and dogs still wander the streets and cause traffic jams. Even though there are long waits in Coffee shops, paanwalas’ also command the same popularity. Cricket, politics and movies are still the favorite topics of discussion. So what if roadside cricket is not as popular now a days, Sports academy’s and organized leagues are garnering the same level of interests. Cricket is still played with same passion. Rickshaws are not a common school vehicle now a days but just as in yester years, kids constant chattering is still responded by drivers bawling and more importantly there is always space for ‘one more kid’ in a packed school vehicle!! 12 am deadline during Navratri has failed to put a dent on Garba crazy Barodian’s enthusiasm.

                When I walk at midnight on VIP road, crossing the new flyover, I can’t help but wonder if it is the time that has changed or is it our perspective? The city, as I see, has been the same since I left. Traffic rules are still broken, cricket experts and international relations gurus still gather at the roadside paanwala’s, school vehicles are still flooded with kids and their backbreaking backpacks, the famous roadside food vendors are still packed till late night with food junkies. Navratri is still the best time of the year.
                Here’s to one of the best things that ever happened to me…I spent my school years in Baroda.

                To the city that gave me more than I bargained for, it gave me an identity…Thank you!!