I appreciate your honest response. As you might have noticed I have not commented anything on Mr Sonam Wangchuk whom I do not know personally. I have nothing against protests either which are part of any democracy. But I do believe that protests must not disrupt the life of a common man. It is counterproductive to say the least. People join, not because they are interested in the cause but because they have vested interests, generally to grab political power. This is not about this or that government which would be a different discussion altogether. It is about the path that the youth must take to usher the change. I am not saying all this mere theoretically. At 15, I had participated actively in the JP movement against corruption. We held closed door meetings inspired by a communist novel Lal Rekha. Some of us, including myself, played Robinhood holding the trucks of rich businessmen with the idea of distributing the goods to the poor. I had also participated in the hunger strike. Soon we realised that we were being made pawns by all the parties in a prefixed game. The things I discovered are not worth narrating now. But I did follow politics closely before turning completely towards Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. All that I can say is that politics is indeed the dirtiest thing, full of lies and falsehood. It is almost entirely driven by lust for power by any means. Hobnobbing with politicians is to court falsehood where words, claims, promises, slogans mean nothing. The power hungry simply want power, nothing else, and for that they are ready to sacrifice anything and everything including someone whom they call their closest friend. In fact they befriend people based on what advantage they can derive. It is the same archetype model of Duryodhana befriending Karna leading to the downfall.
You may say not all politicians are like that. Perhaps, I might agree. But honestly tell me, who among those who are protesting, except for Mr Sonam Wangchuk has done anything worthwhile in public life before entering politics and claiming to redeem the country? I don’t want to take the names but what are their credentials to ask for public support? Should a politician who really wants the good of his country call the youth to sacrifice their life for furthering their blind ambitions. Should not they be asking the young to first stand on their own feet, do something good for the country, show their love and worthiness to even participate in the call for change? That is why a cadre based party offers an advantage. It first creates lovers of the nation, helps them understand the nation, gives them opportunities to serve the nation in different ways and then, once the love for the motherland has settled in their blood, not for furthering their personal ambition, that they can enter into politics. This is the great advantage of the present government that at least some of them, including the present PM has risen through this process. There is no reason why any right thinking person would not trust a man who has proved his love for the motherland since decades and instead chase shadow dreams floated by unthinking masses driving the young with shadow dreams and doles of different kinds.
Let me conclude that neither dharna, hartal, – violence or non-violence will solve the problem of humanity. We will only replace one tyrant with another, one corrupt person by another. Well to some it may seem a solution, a choice between lesser evil, or evil locking horns and keeping the other in check in a mock battle. It may satisfy someone who doesn’t believe in anything more. But once one has known, experimented with and realised that there is indeed a higher possibility, a greater spiritual evolution that will radically solve the problems that vex humanity then one puts oneself fully in that direction. Hooliganism and vandalism only debase the individual and the group life, drag mankind towards the animal kind and worse. If countries could change shouting then let us all shout. But a nation or any cause demands sacrifice, sacrifice of something you hold dear and precious, – money, talent, time in the service of the people and the nation. Then perhaps, and only then, one should be trying to change the nation and expect one’s voice to be heard. That is not the case here. There is shouting, gesticulations, stone pelting and what not. Would any sane right thinking person would follow such stupidity and blind rage? Do we want the nation to be run by hooligans. I think an average Indian is far more mature and all this western toolkit will only go to their disadvantage.
It is children of the same mother, in the same country fighting with each other, destroying properties, blocking the regular work, open display of murderous instincts, abuses hurled against Mother India, stone pelting and what not? Even hooligans will feel ashamed. It is sheer madness at display by darkest elements whose sole purpose is to create chaos and disorder. What will this kind of a so-called revolution solve? And does one believe that any government will ever concede to this aggressive violent arm twisting?
Instead of blaming and shaming, the young students should come up with constructive suggestions, even form an association to help the nation grow along the lines they think is the best. I don’t deny that the police didn’t get into an excess. But then when anarchy prevails then madness takes over rational thinking. And when people stop reasoning and are taken over by anger then nothing good takes place. It is simply the road towards destruction of self and the country. Is that the road you think our young capable persons should take. Rather be with the forces of the new creation, bypass the government and set the example of the good a strong and intelligent person can do for the nation and the world. And once one has proved oneself and set an example of public probity, of love and sacrifice for the country and its people then yes, they would be the true leaders in this or that or any party or no party. They will carry India in their heart, they will breath the spirit of Sanatan Dharma in their life, aim for the very Highest as the seers of old, search for the unmixed Truth, sacrifice like the Pandavas, be a renunciate and steadfast like Rama, or lead a life of sacrifice like Krishna before one can claim the throne. In simple words politics too should need a qualification, not outer such as degrees and successful businesses but inner such as service to the country and clarity of ideas expressed through writings. Sloganeering and social media activism or a voter base support is clearly not enough. This is a long overdue change in our political system. And unless it comes democracy will remain a handmaid to forces of blind ambition and at the service of self interest rather than service to the country and its people. Serve the country selflessly for few years before one can qualify for contesting elections should be what one should be fighting for. That will open doors to proper change. And yes, politics should not become a family business. These two reforms are urgently needed.
I think I have written enough on this subject mainly because I love India, the mother, not just India, the country or a congerie of states as some call it. And of course out of my special love for you having seen you through your growing up years. Men like you do hold the future of the country. But make sure that your sarathi, the charioteer is Krishna. Else what is the difference between Karna and Arjuna but that of who mentored them and whom they befriended.
With love and blessings
Alok Da
