New Year Thoughts - Change from within
Another new year! A time to renew our hopes and look forward to a year of peace and prosperity.
The year that went by wasn't too good in general - inflation, economic gloom and of course, terrorism. And the outlook for 2009 isn't particularly bright either, if you listen to economists.
But as they say, all crises are good opportunities. Think about it - certain problems get solved or move towards a solution only when some crisis strikes us. Looked at this way, things that have happened in 2008 have the potential of changing the course of the world. Let's just hope that the changes are positive and bring cheer to everyone.
That said, positive changes are difficult to come when you have an overwhelming majority of ruling class favoring status-quo. India is one of those countries where change is a critical need of the hour. We have not changed much from the 1947 times, politically. If any, our political class has turned from bad to worse.
The change that we need critically is change in mindset. Change in the mindset of every Indian - and more so of those who are part of the ruling class and political parties. Common public like us need to realize that we are as well responsible for out plight partly - some of us get carried away by the histrionics of some political parties and don't use our vote properly. And many of the chattering, educated class never votes anyway. It's only when trouble comes that many of us start criticizing everyone - from the punes in government offices to the IAS officers and their political bosses. In a nutshell, we must try and be the change that we seek - as much as possible by us. Simple step could be to resolve that I'll vote and vote responsibly.
As for the political and ruling class, they need to realize that spin-doctoring and politics of fear has its limits. In the end, if the common public are not able to better their daily lives, it is the political establishment that will be blamed, whatever they are ideologically. And many parties that we have don't have an ideology worth mentioning anyway. The more the parties damage each other - the more the image of India gets damaged. And in this age of globalization, even a cold and sneeze gets broadcast all over the world.
It's fine and even good to have differences, but it is counter productive to damage each other. In a nutshell, political parties and beaureaucrats part of the ruling class need to look at the big picture and act responsibly, even while trying to score political brownie points. And why not a political party try and have development for all as its only ideology - most Indians would identify with it and it can help get more votes.
And if we need our political parties to change this way, then we the people can help by voting definitely and voting responsibly. And we need to vote without getting carried away by the politics of fear that many of our political parties try to play. The political class takes messages mostly only from the electronic voting machine. If the voting percentage in India can grow more than the current 50 - 60% or so, it can bring a sea change.
We have a general election coming up our way in 2009 - let's hope that it'll bring a change that will take India to greater heights!
The year that went by wasn't too good in general - inflation, economic gloom and of course, terrorism. And the outlook for 2009 isn't particularly bright either, if you listen to economists.
But as they say, all crises are good opportunities. Think about it - certain problems get solved or move towards a solution only when some crisis strikes us. Looked at this way, things that have happened in 2008 have the potential of changing the course of the world. Let's just hope that the changes are positive and bring cheer to everyone.
That said, positive changes are difficult to come when you have an overwhelming majority of ruling class favoring status-quo. India is one of those countries where change is a critical need of the hour. We have not changed much from the 1947 times, politically. If any, our political class has turned from bad to worse.
The change that we need critically is change in mindset. Change in the mindset of every Indian - and more so of those who are part of the ruling class and political parties. Common public like us need to realize that we are as well responsible for out plight partly - some of us get carried away by the histrionics of some political parties and don't use our vote properly. And many of the chattering, educated class never votes anyway. It's only when trouble comes that many of us start criticizing everyone - from the punes in government offices to the IAS officers and their political bosses. In a nutshell, we must try and be the change that we seek - as much as possible by us. Simple step could be to resolve that I'll vote and vote responsibly.
As for the political and ruling class, they need to realize that spin-doctoring and politics of fear has its limits. In the end, if the common public are not able to better their daily lives, it is the political establishment that will be blamed, whatever they are ideologically. And many parties that we have don't have an ideology worth mentioning anyway. The more the parties damage each other - the more the image of India gets damaged. And in this age of globalization, even a cold and sneeze gets broadcast all over the world.
It's fine and even good to have differences, but it is counter productive to damage each other. In a nutshell, political parties and beaureaucrats part of the ruling class need to look at the big picture and act responsibly, even while trying to score political brownie points. And why not a political party try and have development for all as its only ideology - most Indians would identify with it and it can help get more votes.
And if we need our political parties to change this way, then we the people can help by voting definitely and voting responsibly. And we need to vote without getting carried away by the politics of fear that many of our political parties try to play. The political class takes messages mostly only from the electronic voting machine. If the voting percentage in India can grow more than the current 50 - 60% or so, it can bring a sea change.
We have a general election coming up our way in 2009 - let's hope that it'll bring a change that will take India to greater heights!
yes. we all have a very strong weapon that any democracy provides. But this weapon can be used productively. That is the VOTING RIGHT. We have the power, individually and collectively, to send the right message to the political class. And we should use it..Lets hope we all will.
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