It never ceases to amaze how for decades we spawned, accepted as normal, political leaders who were nothing less than Mafia Dons.
We voted them to power, over & over again allowing them to steal, extort, loot, threaten us -
fearful to speak lest they took away our livelihood, our belongings, our lives even.
Pathetically believing all the while that we lived in a democracy because we cast our vote once every 5 years for the same Dons.
As we look around, it becomes more certain that till the old Dinosaurs don’t depart from the country’s political landscape we will struggle to loosen their vice like grip on our throats.
Choking us everyday with shame, cynicism & compromisses no decent human being should be asked to make.
In the days when Letters To The Editor were the only way for commons citizens to convey their opinion on various subjects of governance, I often wrote to TOI & Indian Express.
More often it was the latter that published my letters, with name & address as was the norm.
In 1988, the Bofors scam had recently exploded, the vacation onboard INS Viraat was still in the news, the Baba Log as the term was then coined, in office & out were running amuck.
So most disheartened with the Rajiv Gandhi Govt I wrote how it was unforgivable that
he had betrayed the mandate of the people.
Mostly, a retired person’s pastime I had several regulars who corresponded with me via post with their own opinions & comments.
This particular letter however, seemed to have touched a chord with the young & old alike as my letterbox
With what face can those who stole,
plundered, deceived,
colonised, enslaved, annihilated cultures,
converted through coercion & torture,
justified abominable atrocities in the name of colour, race
even destroyed indigenous wildlife in a maniacal show of drunken power
have the nerve to lecture us on tolerance, democracy, inclusiveness ?
Wealth, they say, gives them power !
Ha!
Even that, is from the back, the toil, the blood of our ancestors. Their museums filled with our art & treasure.
Cloaked in 21stC sanctimoniousness this pillage & racism continues in their own inner cities, no go zones
The reason why the Gandhis & their controllers want Narendra Modi out now & at the earliest is-
The longer he stays the more India gets accustomed to more.
And more is not what their Idea of India is all about.
After all, when in power they ran us with a crumb now & then, dribble here & there so that we remained perpetually wanting & grateful while they flew in & out of the country having enriched themselves exponentially.
Plucking a page from Dadi’s & Daddy’s old, faded albums these touristy picture postcards of sipping coconuts, joining in the local colour & dance sent from various parts of the country is what the siblings believe will overcome their disconnect with the challenges & aspirations