If you are here for the numbers, the figures, you may as well stop right now. You would fare no better than those office bearers, those aristocrats and bureaucrats idling in plush interiors while dreams are shattered in every nook and cranny across the nation. For a country that “celebrated” its 65th Republic Day this year, it is sad to know that an overwhelming majority of the people don’t even know the significance of the day! The day serves as a reminder of the power we have, the power that was invested in the people 65 years ago by the constitution. And to think of what we have done with it, it’s heart-breaking, to say the least.
It is a common misconception that certain individuals have misused this power to rise above all and disgrace a billion people, destroy a billion hopes. The fact remains that it is us, who have misused this power to let these select few rule over us by electing them unwisely. It comes as no surprise that people turned to Sachin, revering him like a God as he was the sole exit door for all their piled up grief. He made them forget their pain for a moment and rise in unison to the occasion. Cricket virtually became the national sport. But what now? Good luck finding a new shoulder to carry the burden of a nation.
No Indian flag in the Olympics! This might be one of the worst days in the entire Indian History. As a general rule, it is the attacks from outside, the terrorist activities that shake our faith, our belief in the system. But this is beyond everything we have seen yet. This is an attack from within the system. This is when fear sets in, helplessness creeps in. This is one form of terrorism that we have cultivated ourselves in full consciousness. This is one hell of a dream.
One man decides to wake up and change the design altogether, using the power in its true sense. He talks of eliminating corruption, bringing equality into the system, restoring power into the hands of the common man and what not. Year by year we hear the same crap from the two biggies and still we choose them our leaders. But this guy asks one question and we barrage him with enquiries, all sorts of nonsense questions of our own. He’s all over the news channels, day-in and day-out. By a miracle he somehow manages to satisfy the common man with his argument and becomes the leader, making numerous promises on the way.
A week into the office and people are already accusing him of being a traitor, for not keeping his promises! Mind-blowing. Imagine the pressure this man must be feeling right now. And we realize that we can actually do that to someone. Did we ever do the same to any of those two biggies and their representatives? Did you ever question The Lady? No. Why? Because they are The Government? And I thought we were a republic, the great Republic of India.
Think about a coveted international event with no representation from a country of a billion people, all because of a corrupt system. This is unbelievable. We often hear our elders saying “Be proud of your country, kid”, did we ever ask for even one reason to be proud of it? “Hey Daddy, I’m so proud of India, I’m so corrupt!” Think about those athletes who have worked so hard for years without any infrastructure, sacrificed so much just to bring glory to a nation, a nation ruined by a disease. They would be just common individuals with no identity. But, there’s no glory without sacrifice.
This is what the acting president of the IOA has to say, “Yes, it is sad that this is the first time ever that the Indian contingent will not be carrying the national flag during the Winter Olympics. However, the Indian Winter Olympics athletes don’t stand a chance of winning any medals, either.”
[ ] This is a dream space. What do you see in between the brackets? Now, decide if you want to do what you just saw or you want to wake up.
