Kaveetaa Kaul
Posted at Rambhai
Perforce one is subjected to a media frenzy over politicians antics. Taking center stage once every five years the garrulous species having sharpened their claws , honed their insolently obdurate personalities with well oiled platitudes and winning comments, they awaken each morning presumably armed to their teeth with practised machinations eagerly awaiting the glare of lights and the whizz of a camera, while we the susceptible, confused, vulnerable often cynical audience watch on…(hopefully) unmoved.
Do these ineluctable, drama prone gentlemen/women who are ignorantly often fatuous in their assertions speciously believe that we the present ‘mai baap’ of these mendicants are actually open to conversions, skipping loyalties from one party to another, simply because the new candidate has a winsome approach, clever script and inherent capability to demoilsh his opposition? If they do, then all one can say in complete glee is ‘Gimme a break”!! There has to be more than transparent game playing that will woo the resurgent middle class out of their homes and into voting booths.
The Varun Gandhi vs Sonia Gandhi and family circus is best left alone. Without taking sides one wishes to indolently ignore the conspicuous modus opernadi at play. It has made gainful indents in every media channel. Surely a blog can be free of such jejune schemes.
Which brings us to this new breed/class/party of electioneers(?)..the Independent candidate. Suddenly a mushrooming of this genre seems to be materialising out of the wood work. One was subjected to a debate yesterday where a couple of these so called ‘candidates of ‘greater good as opposed to lesser evil’ exposed themselves to the viewing/voting public.
All they appeared to me was a bunch of erudite, perhaps more intelligent, educated, clever but not smarter version of our very own neta sans his Gandhi topi. C’mon, who are they fooling? Greater good my foot! What seemed incredulously in place was a well rehearsed, autodidactical approach, replete with utterings of intransigent if not paroxysmal outbursts to woo even the most cynical of minds.
En masse the studio audience seemed to have adopted the ‘hope’ peddled by these candidates. Its was pathetic really. How much on the brink of hopelessness we Indians are presently was so apparent at this impulsive embracing of do gooders, risen from the ranks with what they stridently and unapologetically proclaim was their philanthropic ideation that led them into the fray! Ha! One wished to tap them ever so lightly and whisper “Friend, good intentions arent marketed, but executed’!
Those whose single claim to getting our vote was that their inner’ Bharatiya desh vaasi’ sentiments were alive then they need to be reminded that seems 99% of Indians today felt the same!! How were they any different? Just that they had the presumtuousness and gall to come out an openly declare their moral high ground? Ah Ah.. Not convincing one bit!!
Lets get real. Successfully bringing about change in a corrupt system is not about Independent candiditure, standing for elections, dividing the vote!! It is about having a plan of action ready to compete with opposing forces. I for one am not the least hopeful of anything but anarchy coming about with this sporadic explosions of middle class intelligentsia. What I find acutely lacking is worldliness and acumen!! In large doses!
You have to be one to change one. Infiltrating the system through their very own corridors is my idea of a slow but steady change. A vigilant, unbiased, incorrupt media, blithely vocal populace, and an accountable politician willl be the seed that nurtures a healthy democracy. These one off budding politicians, roan like, perhaps waiting to jump on to the BJP?Congress/Sp bandwagon at the first opprtunity will if anything shamefully expose the asinine facet of people power, power which can move mountains but also fizzle out like a a wet firecracker if immaturedly handled.
Its also recommended that this exercise be carried on periodically after the elections, so as to ensure accountability and answerability.
Sachiniti 
Hard hitting and very true. Independents are a passing fad I assure you. Even if one or two win they will be swallowed by the larger parties.
Comment by krishnan — March 30, 2009 @ 5:45 pm |
I think bloggers too can be the voice that politicins should be afraid of. Maybe if channels and bloggers get together so much can be achieved.I am going to vote definitely but the problem is i dont know who to vote for :)not even which party. Congress i am not so infatuated with and BJp i dont trust. So what do I do?
Comment by Neha — March 30, 2009 @ 9:16 pm |
Krishnan you are so right. Do you remember the Times initiative about choosing a leader? The Mishra who was elected has joined the BJP..practical Id say.
Neha I have often said that Bloggers are the next frontier, a force to reckon with. Media should work as comrades with us to forge a new way ahead. There is no limit as to what can be achieved.
Whoever you finally decide to vote for see to it that you have thoroughly studied the candidates profile. Apne ‘mat ka daan’ sahi logon ke liye karo.
Comment by Kaveetaa Kaul — March 31, 2009 @ 10:23 am |
Brilliant write up!! You have echoed my fears to the T.
Comment by Jatin Lall — March 31, 2009 @ 5:02 pm |
Thanks Jatin ji.. so I am not alone in feeling presently disheartened.
Comment by Kaveetaa Kaul — March 31, 2009 @ 7:46 pm |
The new world order is divided into news in the cyberspace and news in media. The media seems to be biased because of ownership , whereas the cyberspace is tipsy and confused. But , cyberspace news did a wonderful job during the Iraq war. As WMD went on and on the media, the cyberspace shrunk its appearance and in the end WMD turned out to be cyberspace truimph. In fact as someone commnented , the radio looks more progressive in news for atleast there is no visual tamasha on display and one can do do their household chores keeping the radio on a box near the cooking place or washing place. On the whole this ITL,(Indian Tamasha League) is the new weapons of mass distraction(WMD).
Comment by gajanan — March 31, 2009 @ 5:54 pm |
lol..Gajananji.. Cyberspace’tipsy and confused”? Why? I would credit ourselves with a lot more sanity and integrity of purpose than all of the politicos put together! ITl and Wmd..hmm..thats possible.
Comment by Kaveetaa Kaul — March 31, 2009 @ 7:50 pm |
Very well said.The impression one gets is that the media also has favourites and rightly so.They depend on the advertisment patronage.Most of the political parties have their own channels also and/or support a trusted promoter.Hence,bloggers should come forward and take greater interest.
Comment by B K CHOWLA — March 31, 2009 @ 6:42 pm |
Chowla ji..First thanks a ton for ‘following Sachiniti’on your blog.. (have done the same)Second, great set of thoughts on your blog.
You see that is the dilemma. Media in general has lost its credibility. We tend to look askance at every bit of information imparted and as you rightly pointed out the reasons are obvious but however much we may logicalise, it is unsettling. It becomes all the more paramount that we then indulge in our own little investigative journalism to arrive at who is worthy of our votes.Bloggers are a force to contend with and are here to stay. No two ways on that 🙂
Comment by Kaveetaa Kaul — March 31, 2009 @ 7:56 pm |
Just received this forward..Must share it with you all. It was simply hillarious.
Quote:
Application Form for “Lok Sabha Election”
1. Name of Candidate: _____________________
2. Present Address:
(i.)Name of Jail: _____________________
(ii.)Cell Number: _____________________
3. Political Party: _____________________
*List ONLY the Last Five parties in Chronological Order
4. Sex: [ ]
A- Male
B- Female
C- Mayawati
D- Uma Bharathi
5. Nationality: [ ]
A- Italian
B- Indian
6. Reasons for leaving last party (circle one or more)
A- Defected
B- Expelled
C- Bought out
D- None of above
E- All of above
7. Reasons for contesting elections (circle one or more)
A- To make money
B- To escape court trial
C- To grossly misuse power
D- To serve the public
E- I have no clue
(If you choose “D, attach Certificate of Sanity from a Recognized Government Psychiatrist)
8. How many years of public service experience do you possess?
A- 1-2 yrs
B- 2-6yrs
C- 6-15yrs
D- 15+yrs
9. Give details of any criminal cases pending against you (Use as many Additional Sheets as you want)
10.How many years have you spent in Jail? [ ]
(Do not confuse with question 8)
A- 1-2 years
B- 2-6 years
C- 6-15 years
D- 15+years
11.Are you involved in any financial scams? [ ]
A- Why not
B- Of Course
C- Definitely
D- I deny it all
E- I see a foreign hand.
12. What is your Annual Corruption Income? [ ]
A- 100-500 Crores
B- 500-1000 Crores
C- Overflow…
(Convert all your $ earning from Hawala etc to Rupees)
13. Do you have any developmental plans for India in mind? [ ]
A- No
B- No
C- No
D- No
14.Describe your achievements in space provided:
[_________]
Comment by Kaveetaa Kaul — March 31, 2009 @ 7:58 pm |
Yes , bloggers ki Jao Ho!!! , but do not expect Oscars. Chal , Chala Chal Bloggera Chala Chala, tu akela chala chal. I heard in many states people are aware of this and there is a huge interest to learn what is written in blogs. This blogavution is great, but it must reach aam aadmi
Comment by gajanan — April 1, 2009 @ 6:04 am |
haha..no oscars Gajanan ji. But this ‘blogavution’has to be harnessed well. What I always fear is power getting into wrong hands whether in the blogosphere or the parliament. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Yet to meet somebody who has defied this wisecrack by Lord Acton.
Humans by and large fall prey to their baser instincts the moment name, fame, glory touches the hem of their garment. No wonder Sai baba lived with the poor. Its as if God forsakes the high and mighty. They live in a world of their on making, invincible and comforted with the specious notion of their infallibility.
Till one does not realise every minute of the day that this is but a temporary, transient avatar we have chosen for ourselves, we will be constantly lured into the Maya jal.. jisse bach ke koi nahin nikal sakta. hence the doubt over the integrity and intention of independents and their claims. maybe they are presently passionate about Change and love for India. But its only a matter of time before they will have to be cast in the mould of the old.Dye is cast.
Comment by Kaveetaa Kaul — April 1, 2009 @ 6:49 pm |
Nice blog. Only the willingness to debate and respect each other’s views keeps the spirit of democracy and freedom alive. Keep up the good work. Hey, by the way, do you mind taking a look at this new website http://www.indianewsupdates.com . It has various interesting sections. You can also participate in the OPINION POLL in this website. There is one OPINION POLL for each section.
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The Future Mantra
Comment by Future Mantra — April 2, 2009 @ 8:13 pm |