Imagine if 1 billion+ Indians demand a say in every other decision that’s being made. Imagine if we take all their consensus into account before arriving at any sort of conclusion.
How long the decision making process will take? How will you weigh opinions?
This is exactly what is happening right now.
The country, on the whole is searching for answers for a million dollar question. Who’s going to be our next President?
Prez election - So how does it work?
If my memory serves me right, the President is elected by a group of elected representatives. Elected representatives, as in the ones we chose by casting our votes hoping that they would save us from the impending abyss. Simple. High school social science.
But the system doesn’t work that way. History says that the nominees of the ruling party have always won the elections. Most of the times, they’ve won without any competition whatsoever. And the VP in turn is elected by yet another vote-up. Common man doesn’t get a say in the process.
All this for what?
To elect someone who can occupy the RB which has close to 360 odd rooms for the next five years.
To elect someone who hoists the flag during Republic Day and other national events.
To elect someone who is authorized to sign peace treaties with nations that don’t matter at all.
To elect someone to listen to the clemency pleas.
To elect someone to go on a world tour. Have a cozy vacation in Malibu, Hawaii at the exchequers expense. Of course, everybody needs a way to blow off some steam. But going on a vacation shouldn't be the only job ;-)
I can go on and on about how little a President matters when the question of the day-to-day governance comes into picture. The twitterati were the first ones to jump into the fray to joke about the importance of having a President. “Having a president is like wearing an underwear. It doesn’t have a direct say in how people see you. But it is IMPORTANT.”
But I am not worried about these things. All I am worried about is the furor that the junta create by creating FB pages like We Want Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam As President Again [Link] and asking for a vote. Ok! Boss. Everybody wants someone who is educated/not corrupt to occupy the top brass but you do realize that you don't have a say in the Prez elections right?
Assume that I do 'LIKE' the page and I do vote for Mr. Kalam. Does this mean that he'll be made the President?
As I type this, I know how people are going to react to this statement of mine. I can hear people yelling, “Can you for once, leave all your cynicism and be a part of the Mission-India-Shining? What have you achieved so far by mocking people who stand up for a real cause? Don’t you have the spine to protest against something which you know is wrong?”
My dear buddies, I hear you. I haven't achieved anything. I agree. At the same time, all you people with big talks and high ambitions – you haven't achieved anything either. You are just as helpless as I am.
We cannot stop people who skip the queues while you wait patiently for your turn in ticket counters and fuel depots.
We cannot stop people who cut you on road with their powered up vehicles and their rash driving.
We cannot stop a random stranger who is hell bent to bully you just because he is high on alcohol.
We cannot stop a group occupying the lunch table while you were waiting for the group which occupied it earlier to finish their business. No? It doesn’t happen in your office cafeteria va? Lucky ra you people are...:)
Oru kutti kadhai*
One fine day, I was waiting for my turn in the petrol depot. I saw a middle aged man drive past me and five more who were waiting. I said to myself, I have had enough of this. I am going to confront that son of a bitch right now. Give him back what he deserves.
I yelled at him. He dint budge. He had his ear phones on. I went near him and shook his bike to get his attention. I asked him to step aside. Throwed a few cuss words. Got back a few. Still we were dealing only in words. No hands. While we were about to lose our cool, the supervisor entered the scene. He let him go. He patted my back and consoled me by saying this. “Thambi, patha padichavar maari irukinga. Chinna payan dhana, avar periyavar, neenga dhaan vittu kudukanum. Office’ku time agudhu’la. Kelambunga.”
I stood there like a lost puppy. This is how helpless we are. People like that bastard always get away. So save your big talks about how we complain [Link] about anything and everything without even trying to change. Even now, I ask people to wait for their turn. Some listen while most of them give a rats ass about it. Let’s face it. WE ARE HELPLESS.
The point is, we[most of us] cannot[struggle really hard] fix something which is within our limits. But we are talking about something which is way beyond our limits. Makes sense?
And while we are at it, I sincerely hope that the would-be Prez dedicates his victory [Link] to Sachin. Hope he sticks to the protocol.
Good luck Mission-India-Shining.
* - Anecdote.
Note: A few months ago, I expressed my anguish about how people expect FB votes and polls to decide matters of national importance. Read on. [Link]
~ Cheers.!