Negative politics will harm nation building

Politicians are busy abusing each other while soldiers are busy dying for the nation.

It is sad to see the national elections fought with such atmosphere of negativity, bad language, personal abuses and everything bad and not on what it should be like issues of development, poverty elimination, nation building, policies of various political parties etc.

Is this the so called Indian culture we boast about? Where is the grace, the wisdom, the value system we always talk about? What a downfall of Indian politics!

Elections are part of democratic system and it is crucial to have fair election based on issues of national importance. Unfortunately all political parties are indulging in manipulation of election process through verbal attack on each other.

Media too is not showing an maturity. It is full of breaking news on who said what. Whereas it should focus on national issues and seek views of all political parties. Even if they have discussion on such issues, they turn out to be more of how to abuse each other by political parties.

Nation building is not about abusing each other or making tall claims. It is serious business. It should be reflected in approach and deeds. It should be above party politics and attempts to win election and grab power at any cost.

Nation can not be fooled. Who is right who is wrong is not decided by who said what but is decided by who did what.

It should be made a rule that no one is allowed to talk about others or opposition. They should only talk about own ideology, own policies, own work, own views how they see national problems, own plans how they wish to bring about a positive change. This way people will be able to judge who is best for them.

Election is not the final word. It is only a small process of democracy. Who will win who will lose does not matter. No party can ever get 100% votes. Nation belongs to all and nation building is the ongoing task of entire nation. It can not be left only on government. It is a system that must involve collective effort of all citizens. And for that we must avoid such negativity and bitterness. This blind party loyalty and political communalism will only cause further divide in society. And this divide will be the most dangerous and harmful for nation.

Our loyalty must be with nation. And if we are loyal to nation then we should have the ability to question and oppose views, words and deeds of anyone irrespective of our political affiliation. Blind support or blind opposition both are equally bad for nation. Sad but this is what we see today. Everyone will defend own party as if it has done no wrong and will abuse other as if it has done all wrong. This defeats the very purpose of election and democracy.

By undermining election and democracy how can we think about nation building? Media and politicians must do some honest thinking.


Election process must improve - 


Highlights of elections that damages the very purpose:

1. Money power

2. Muscle power

3. Bad language

4. Spreading hatred and divide

5. Manipulation of facts

6. Media abuse

7. Weak EC 

Result of all this is what nation has seen election after election. Bad candidates reach constitutional houses. Nation and its poor people continue to suffer. Democracy is ashamed but who cares?

But this can be improved if following steps are implemented.

1. No publicity - Any kind of publicity, advertisement, rallies must be barred. Candidates can spread information through word of mouth, locality based public meetings, specified media discussion with equal time to all candidates.

2. No reference to others - Representatives must present only their work, policies or proposals and refrain from making any reference to opposing candidate or party.

3. Elections should be short - Within two months the entire process of election including campaigning must be completed. No one should be allowed to campaign before specified date.

4. Media - Media should be barred from making publicity on behalf of or against candidates and parties. They must only objectively report the progress of process. Who said what including speeches must be barred.

5. EC - Election commission must lay down strict guidelines and follow them in true spirit. Anyone violating guidelines must be immediately arrested and should not be released till completion of election process. If they belong to a party then that party must penalized too by cancelling candidature of increasing number of candidates for repeated violations.

6. Expenditure - Candidates must spend only upto their own limit and parties should not be allowed to spend anything.  Big parties spend a lot and this put other parties and independents at disadvantage.  


We can not build a great nation by negative politics. If we wish to, we must change to positive politics. Not difficult to understand that such positive politics must have:
- Honesty
- Decency
- Commitment towards nation

Nation and the care takers must choose path.

When can India change for real

Why India is not changing for good? Why revolutions are failing or not succeeding as they should? Why nothing will work come what may?

Reason is simple.

India is taking steps in wrong order:

Development  -----  by money  ----- by business  ------ by policies  ----- by political revolution


This is not right order. This will not succeed and will never succeed especially in India. On the contrary there is huge risk of going through negativity and turmoil.

Reason???

Without settings the basics right nothing will work. In reality we have a system which is causing more harm than good, it is

lack of development  ----- due to corruption ----- due to politics of power ----- due to vote bank politics ----- due to fragmented society ----- due to lack of harmonious human development

Nation building can never occur without harmonious human development and this is where India is lacking and not making right efforts. India has a fragmented society and a big majority is suppressed. Nation is divided in name of gender, caste, religion. region, social status, economic status, educational status, political loyalty, rural urban and so on. Politicians may make big noise about human development, harmony, equality but in reality no real efforts are made to this effect. On the contrary politicians only try to further this divide and take advantage in winning elections and power.

Every time nation desire a change, we look forward to political revolution. And this is where we are making a mistake. Every time we stop at so called political revolution or change of government but there is no real change. This is cosmetic change and will never help nation in real terms. We have seen many great political revolutions in past but nothing changed. This is according to nature's law of evolution.

So what do we need???

We desperately need a social revolution focused on homogenous harmonious human development. We had many social revolutionist both before and after independence and that was making some impact. But for last few decades the process has been derailed. There are no social revolutionist now. This role could have been played by education system and media but both have failed miserably. Modern education is not making desired impact as we can see how even educated people are lacking in human development. School education lacks substance and direction. So this crucial step of nation building can not be left on education alone. To make it worse education itself is not available to big portion of population in India. And there is no point discussing the role of media. It has failed at all fronts. All it knows is how to brag about itself.

So what can we do?

We need real leaders who can bring about social revolution and only then India will rise to the position it deserves. This can also be achieved by collective efforts of common people of India. All we need is to set our priorities right, set social goals and make sincere efforts towards them. The correct order then will be:

Social revolution ----- Human development ----- Harmony and integration in society ----- Positive politics ----- Stronger system and institutions ----- Elimination of corruption ----- Real holistic development

Till we do this nothing will work. It is for people of India to decide. They really wish to change for good or just be happy with failed revolutions and heated media debates.

Politics for system

World is racing ahead.

Nations are now switching to next level of development. And this would be much higher and much more complex than today's. With good infrastructure, latest technology, better system in place and check on corruption, these nations are now developing system for the next level. This requires high level of discipline and commitment.

And in this if India has dream of becoming world's super power, its citizens must introspect and answer some serious questions. Is merely having a big dream sufficient? Are we not too casual about nation building and have taken it for granted that we are next big thing? How long it can remain and survive as a consumer economy?  Leave aside next level of development even to reach current level of development at which other nations stand today we need years of committed hard work. But are we making right efforts in right direction?

Where is the plan? Where is the preparation? Where is the ground work? Where is realism???

Is this the way a nation is managed ?

The kind of problems India is facing today are huge.

- The big population which is still rising rapidly
- Majority under severe poverty
- Miserable state of education and healthcare
- Rampant corruption
- Society affected by caste religion and region
- Poor ranking in major development indexes
- Poor inefficient system
- Alarming crime rate
- Terrorism and Naxalism
- And if all this was not sufficient to ruin we have a political system which is so much election driven which has to be won at any cost, so it leaves no scope of focus on nation building. Leaders are totally focused on defeating opponents in elections as well as before and after. This fight is at nation's cost. And in this they do not care what harm they are doing to the nation. So called top leaders use such bad language which does not suit even roadside hooligans.

Where is the time to think about nation. We have election after election. Politicians and political parties try best to pull down others. They spend whole time in finding faults in others. Rest of the time is spent in defending self. Manifestos remain on papers. No sincere effort to work on system. Words are in plenty but action is missing. And even if nation walks four steps, world has gone ahead forty. There are few bright spots but those are far too less and does not help majority of nation.

How this is going to create a world super power?

India a nation of enormous potential with brilliant people remains unlooked after.

It is difficult to believe why nation building has proved such an impossible task for India. Does it require some super natural work?


Task has been made enormous and now it requires a complete collective work by each and every individual.

To begin with it is important to improve the atmosphere. People today have lost respect for leaders. And this creates a chaotic society. Political class has to regain respect not through fear but through respectable speech and deeds. Why it is not possible to create a consensus that politicians are not allowed to talk about other politicians, they can talk only about own policies and works. This will check negative propaganda and will bring focus on important national issues.

Elections must be free and fair. They must be free from muscle and money power. No tainted person must be allowed in constitutional houses. Elections collectively national and all states, must be held one in four or five years.

And then there must occur the politics for system. Whosoever win in the election, nation building must involve entire spectrum.  All political parties and politicians must shed selfish interest and work with consensus to create a better system for the nation. Only a good system can take nation forward with good speed and consistency.  Debates must be on system. National policies must be formulated. Constitution must be looked into and obsolete laws must be removed or amended. A long term National Development Program must be formulated through consensus involving public opinion as well. Development must be beyond roads, flyovers and malls. International development indexes must taken as goals. Corruption has to be eliminated because till corruption is there, all talks of development and nation building are just words. Social equality and harmony must be created. Education and healthcare must be the topmost priority.

If India follows this simple path, it can eliminate poverty in five years and attain higher goal of development in ten years. But if it does not, debates will continue on TV channels.

Obscenity rising

When people use sex and vulgarity to get success or earn money either directly or indirectly, how it is different from prostitution.  

India must guard against rising obscenity in media. It is moving towards semi pornography. And what internet is doing, is known to all.

Where is the class for which India was known for ??

Unfortunately this rising obscenity is shielded behind certain standard arguments

- freedom of expression
- freedom of media
- expression of art
- people's desire and demand

On the other hand there are certain groups who become self appointed watchdogs and use every opportunity to create a show which is only in their self interest.

No one is genuinely concerned about balancing the freedom with responsibility. The damaging impact on society is subtle but deep. Sexual crimes do not happen in impulse, they are cultivated in minds.

No one can be against glamor or freedom of expression or freedom of art. But at the same time it should not become degraded form of sexuality be it print media, advertisements or movies.
 
Obscenity and vulgarity can never be expression of art.

So who will decide. True there is no clear cut line of separation but few things can help:

- There should be no social or moral policing. No one has right to use force to tell others what to do or what not except when it becomes illegal. Even then it should be through proper system.

- Social courts supervised by bench of eminent citizens can bridge the gap and help in creating discipline. They can suggest controls and reforms to guide society.

- Obscenity must be controlled by self discipline and social control which should be peaceful but clear and specific. People must reject obscene and vulgar material. It should be clear that - Sex does not sell.

- Attitude of those using such material is visible. Those trying to sell sex must be discouraged.

- India is not having good role models. Politicians and other celebrities are doing more harm to society than good.

India must choose its course:

Class  or Crass

Supreme Court recognizes Transgender as 3rd gender

First country in world to do so.

A great and welcome step towards betterment of many lives.

Now an appeal to all political parties -

Decriminalize Homosexuality

Welcome Real Democracy

Congratulations to everyone in India.

Real Democracy has arrived

The festival of democracy has started. And this time this is no ordinary festival. This election of 2014 marks the arrival of Real Democracy in India.

What does it mean?

This mean this is time for real action as people are getting aware about democratic system, its functioning, their rights, role of media and above all the power of their vote.

Elections will soon be over and new government will take shape. But this time it should not end there. The days of one sided governance are over. It is time now for participatory governance. The real action will start once the government is formed. Who wins does not matter.


Post Election

The task of nation building must begin.

Task for Government
Government must get down to work immediately and it must work taking everyone on board. It should not stick to own manifesto or ideology. It should take note of all manifestos and invite people across sections of society and work. They have to fulfill promises and do more towards higher goals. Their work must be time bound and result oriented. Government belongs to nation and must rise above party politics.


Task for Opposition
The task for opposition will be even more important than government. It must play dynamic and constructive role as opposition. It should not oppose just for sake of opposition but must check government against lethargy and wrong doing. They too must take people into confidence and play a constructive role in national interest.

Opposition must not remain limited to opposition in constitutional houses. It should come down to public level. Opposition must remain alert and active at national, state, district, city and village level. 

Task for Losing Candidates
Opposition must have new dimension. Not only the members of houses of non ruling party must play role of opposition, now the candidates who lost elections must continue to remain associated with their constituencies and play active role as watchdogs. They too got plenty of votes. They must check that the work is being done or not, is there any corruption in their constituency, how to make people more aware about their rights and support them in getting their rights and work done.

Task for media 
Time for media to become more graceful, accountable, transparent and responsible. Their deeds will be judged by state of people and state of nation. They must understand their social obligation over commercial interest. 

Task for common man
The common man too must realize duties and responsibilities. Irrespective of party loyalty they must cooperate with new government in nation building. Work hard, be honest, pay your taxes, respect and obey laws and always keep nation ahead of self.


Do not leave task of nation building to government. You place few people to work and you have to make them work.

Stop cribbing and get the work done, India !



God Bless India !!!

Who is responsible for my pain

If two people have discord they can complain in police and go to court. But what do I do? Where should I go to make my complaint? Who can help me in my pain?

I am a citizen, an ordinary man on road. I live my life honestly, sincerely and work hard to live a decent life. I pay my taxes sincerely. I obey and honor rules and regulations of the country. I respect social system and do nothing to hurt or bother others.

But what about my pain? Who is responsible for my pain?


- I do not get proper education and healthcare at affordable price.
- I do not get basic civic amenities. Roads are bad, no proper drainage. Poor water and electricity supply and whatever is there it is very costly.
- There are toxins in food, milk and water I consume.
- I have to bear and get sick in polluted environment.
- I suffer in offices, my work gets delayed or even not done because they ask for bribe.
- I do not get justice, my complaint is not heard in police station and I do not get justice in courts.
- Everything is getting too costly and I am told that prices are manipulated by some influential people.
- I do not get proper job because jobs are less and taken by those who pay bribes.
- I am asked bribe everywhere.
- I feel pain when I see my country lagging behind other countries and ridiculed by others.
- I feel pain when my fellow citizens suffer and die due to poverty, hunger, malnutrition, lack of treatment, heat and cold wave, riots, man made disasters etc.
- I feel pain when my fellow citizens suffer due to lack of education, lack of healthcare, lack of jobs, no house, no sanitation and poor living conditions.
- I feel pain when my fellow citizens suffer due to lawlessness, lack of justice, police atrocities, crimes etc.
- I feel pain when I hear about corruption in government, high offices, media with no check.
- I feel pain when I hear that national treasure and natural resources of my nation are being looted. This was nation's money and could have saved poor people's life and saved them from suffering.
- I feel pain when I see map of my nation shown in other countries which shows part of my motherland occupied by others. Soldiers died then and everyday for nation but no one cares.

Think of the pain of those who died and suffered. They will never come back, pain of their family can never be erased. They were equal human beings like you.

Who is responsible for my suffering and suffering of my fellow citizens? Who is responsible? They all blame each other but do nothing. Who is responsible?

Politicians?
Media?
or those high and mighty who could have done something but chose not to?
or you who vote and support corrupt and criminal tainted?

You all are equal partners and equally responsible for my suffering.

Is this a dead country or a country with no brain no heart no soul ?????

What is ailing India

Is India a nation of low IQ morons?

No, not at all.

Then why India is not coming up with holistic development despite being blessed with ideal conditions, resources and most talented human beings? If one is looking for answer, the simplest way is to look for how other countries have done to make it big. Take top three countries to understand:

- USA
- Japan
- China

True Spirit of Nation Building
What is common in these three nations? Only one thing - Spirit of Nation Building. People of all these three nations are very sincere, thoughtful and passionate about nation. They always keep national interest higher than own interest. They are very clear that they can live a happy life only when nation is strong. They understand that in order to have a good life it is crucial to make nation stronger. They know very well that it can never be possible to have good life if nation is not strong.

Whenever this spirit is adopted by people of any nation, it start doing good, develop at faster pace and in return give good life to its citizens. And this is where people of India are severely lacking. The spirit of nationalism is limited to singing songs, selected days of celebration and worst thumping chest and shouting aloud about nationalism. And when it comes to deeds we are quick to see selfish interest, get corrupt and do things which are bound to harm nation. It is not difficult to understand that all this leads to weak nation.

Paralyzed nation
Corruption is typical example. It has damaged nation. Unfortunate but true that more than half of nation is under severe poverty. They suffer and die due to hunger, malnutrition, lack of treatment, no house, no sanitation, no proper education. This is like a paralyzed nation. Just like a body with half side paralyzed, nation with more than half population under severe poverty is like paralyzed nation.

The minimum basic necessities - Shelter, Food, Treatment, Education, Security are lacking. If a nation can not provide these to citizens, then there is something grossly wrong. And that wrong is Corruption. Till we eliminate corruption, we can never eliminate poverty and till poverty is eliminated, nation can not become stronger and its people will continue to suffer.

Dharma
India is said to be the land of Dharma - the path of righteousness. It was this wisdom to live a life based on path of righteousness which is honesty, sincerity, knowledge and hard work which was the foundation of great culture and great civilization that India was known for. If one look around, Dharma has been eroded from people's heart, mind and soul. People look for short cuts to serve selfish interest. Fake presentation is glorified and those sincerely following Dharma are ridiculed and humiliated both in public life and in media. And this approach to cater only selfish interest weakens nation.

Similar selfish approach is seen when we vote, we vote for money, in favor of caste or religion, in return of favor or based on other baseless reasons. The shortsighted people do not realize that what ever one accumulates, it is not possible to live a happy life in a paralyzed nation. Just a person can not live happily with paralyzed body. People of India must broaden their vision, look beyond selfish interest, work hard honestly to build nation and then only they can think of having good life. Till then they can only fool themself, change governments and blame each other.

Loss of Trust
Another reason why people are not thinking about nation is that people have lost trust in everything - in system, in government, in politicians, in care takers of law, in administrators, in media almost everything. When people see that those in high places are dishonest and fake, do not follow principles and manipulate everything, they lose trust. This has led to a state that people have started thinking only about how to make self stronger in power and money even if that harms nation. Result a chaotic state with no care for system and nation. Only thought in mind is what can I get. With this state no nation can become strong.

Who is responsible for loss of trust and consequently this state of nation ?
 There are traitors in many shades.
- Four pillars of democracy be it legislature, executive, judiciary and media.
- The fifth pillar of democracy - So called high profile people like top industrialist, educationist, celebrities, religious heads and so called intellectuals.


They feel bad when people say they are all corrupt. They claim they are not all alike, not all bad. But all in these five pillars are equally responsible by acts of commission or acts of omission. They either do deeds harmful for nation or silently endorse by not actively fighting against such wrong deeds. People of these so called five pillars of democracy are equal partners in suffering and death of people of India.


Nation Building
Usually people talk about industrialization, money, power of arms and other things when they talk about strong nation. But in reality it is following:

- Putting a good system in place with accountability and transparency
- Making system work properly so that people develop trust and get motivated for better work
- Time bound goal oriented action to achieve holistic development starting from poverty elimination, provision of basic necessities and moving towards higher goals.

If this is not the case then nothing will work, no amount of debates, no planning, no schemes, nothing.

Now it is for people of India to prove their worth by voting for honest and creating a better system.

Face it or continue to lose it.