World's largest democracy

Its been 62 years since we became independent and the saga continues. The world's largest democracy is still continuing its "Tryst with desiny". You talk of India and the image of an emerging superpower is what the world talks about it. IT is the force people think will drive India to be an emerging superpower in the twenty first century. But when we get back to basics, things seem different. India is shining but the majority of its population is still reeling under the darkness, the darkness its freedom fighters once dreamt would be gone. " At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom" that is what Nehru said in 1947. But the question remainds to be answered. Have we lived upto it? You ask the historians, you ask the leaders, you ask the middle class they will vouch to say that it is indeed the India we wanted to make. An India where educated people find numerous source of employment and an opportunity to fulfill their hopes. But in the process nobody will beg to differ the majority of the country has been forgotten. Our promise to humanity has long been forgotten as we submerge our souls into the self pleasures of materialistic and western influence.

I might sound to be a preacher who is disillusioned with the democracy and the development of the country. Or may be socialist. Demanding an equality to all human beings and equal distribution of wealth. But the fact is that I am still speaking for the majority. A majority which still decides whether the government will go centrist,leftist or to the right wing. People who still find nothing out of a democracy in which they have been participating for the past half a century.

I do not hate democracy. Infact I believe it is the best form of governnance a nation could have. Then what has really gone wrong? What has made the country which constitutionally has a government " For the people by the people and of the people" go against the majority of the people. The question still loooms large. Multiple parties, all forms of ideologies some left, some right, some centrist, some secular, some nationalist, some socialist ,some capitalist but the people have never gained anything out of it. What has really gone wrong? Lack of leadership ?? From a group of 1 billion people and one of the smartest on the earth( I bet you are too proud of your IT skills). No I do not think so. There have been several great leaders of all sorts. So where the real problem is? Karl Marx once said "Hitherto, every form of society has been based ... on the antagonism of oppressing and oppressed classes. " Majority of the people in India have been never taught what democracy is all about. The very meaning of a government have been presented into loyalties pertaining to religion, caste and creed.

Time has come we stop this process and end this divide. If we do not then there will be a problem We say the educated should vote, the middle class should vote. But then the solution is short term. Because we know the middle class will always be outnumbered by the poor lot. So its high time we build a society which has people who are educated enough to select the right pack of people to run their country. I know its not easy nor is it going to come instantly but we do have a responsibillty. A responsibility to our nation, our democracy and the society. Make a difference, teach atleast two people around you and the country would be better off. Start by atleast casting a vote and making a difference. Its as simple as that.