We, The People....

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE;
LIBERTY;
EQUALITY …….. and fraternity……….. and everything written and promised in/as per the constitution.

All these terms are but interpreted according to the whims and fancies of each and everybody concerned, be it an average citizen, a corporate billionaire, the working class or a professional, a student/ students group or politician or any political organization. We the people of (Global) India … enjoy freedom ‘unlimited’, freedom to do what ever we want ….… at any cost.

"Me” first and all else can follow later!!! Rules are made for others and only to be blindly as well as unquestionably abided in ‘other’ countries which strictly impose those for the common good. Ideals, morals and altruism are meant only for lip service. Discipline and order have paved way to utter chaos. Is democracy the culprit? How much of the individual interests can be restrained to sustain a social cause/ social justice? How much of individual responsibilities account for the collective social responsibility?

Welcome a new day with cheers and hopes!!! Nay, a new dawn now is ushered in with anxieties and uncertainties. Surfing the daily newspaper is enough to bring in all those tensions and conflicts of the big bad world. Start your day with a cup of tea/ coffee/ milk, a complete food…... milk is a complete food and has xy% of protein, abc% of fat, vitamins, minerals, so and so…... “Milk is an emulsion of fat in water”. Sorry, that’s textbook information. Please set your facts right. Recheck the scientific facts. ‘It’s milk in water and not water in milk’!!! Well, what’s new in that? It is quite usual!!! Or else how can the milk vendor survive in times of spiraling prices? He has a huge family to support and expenses to meet. The problem is ultimately with the one who raises the question of why and how such things happen. And here in floods all advices. Please try to adjust, learn to live, be wise, be practical, do not expect too much, this is the way it has been, do not try to change the system and land yourselves in trouble …..Well, the ones who made such “wonderful” systems are forever anonymous and unknown.

“Always eat fresh fruits and vegetables for health”. All that glitters is not gold. Make sure to select ones that are little damaged by pests to avoid consuming hazardous pesticides in raw and in total. “Green” peas once soaked in water turns dull grey with the supernatant assuming bright green colour. This is not a ‘new chemical reaction', but a routine scorching example of the extent of adulteration in foods.

Economic theories also have to be revamped. “Demand for a commodity decreases with increase in price and supply increases with increase in price as well as demand”. How can that be? Supply has to be decreased/ restricted first for scarcity of commodities (hoarding) and for increasing the prices. Prices can only increase and not vice versa, irrespective of demand or supply. Anyone can choose to increase/ fix the price of locally available (unlabeled/ non-branded) commodities. Prices can be increased in small increments week by week so that at the end of the month you end up paying double the amount for the same commodity. It depends on the smartness of the customer/buyer to update him/herself of the prices prevailing in the market to avoid getting duped.

Natural resources are scarce as well as fast depleting and scarcity adds value to a product. So is the case with petrol and diesel. With all scientific and technological advancements there still is no feasible alternative to these and to solve the problem of fuel scarcity. It has become imperative to hike the fuel prices and no government can function effectively without fuel price hike. Meters of autorickshaws run faster than autos themselves, Rs. 4 or Rs. 5 has to be paid as ‘tip’ in addition to the meter charge, for every journey. If one is wise enough, it is to be practiced without objection to avoid verbal abuse and conflicts. The excuse is soaring fuel price and inflation. Such day-light robberies are very common.

Do you exercise regularly? If you do not find time due to a hectic schedule, make sure you travel in state- run buses. You may run for at least 100 metres as no buses do stop at the designated bus stops. May be our successful athletes had come up this way. Also beware, buses only slow down and don’t stop. You can learn all the balancing acts in a packed bus, moving through congested, potholed roads and turns in full speed. Passengers traveling hanging from the window is a common scene. Tiny kids are even experts in foot-board ride. Seen anyone getting into the bus with patience and in a queue? You can only squeeze your way in by pushing fellow passengers. A free training is obtained on boxing, wrestling and gymnastics by choosing a bus travel. Three in one!!!! It may take years to widen highways for easing traffic, but only to be dug out and damaged by public works authorities in a few days. Another long year has to pass before it assumes the previous form. Private vehicles can be parked on public road sides, again narrowing down them to a trickle.

Rules and regulations are flouted in case of VIPs and VVIPs. Security checks can be evaded at one’s own convenience as had happened recently in case of a millionaire private airline owner. What more? We do expect such privileges in other countries also, like the famous bollywood actor. Loopholes in our terror surveillance and lack of alertness have resulted in the country witnessing a spate of terror attacks with greater frequency. The common man’s life is a casualty. Who is bothered, when Z and Z+ category of security, convoy and body guards are provided for those in power, those who make policies for the public..... policies for the rest, to be followed by the rest…. All are equal. Some are more equal.

Freedom of expression (expression of opinion, anger, frustrations etc) and protest happens in a public space on public organizations and on public property. One needs to be loud enough to be heard and so are these ways to be heard causing nuisance to others. Hartals (most popular phenomenon or form of protest in a politically active state like Kerala) have assumed the role of an already banned “bandh”. For the success of hartals, atleast 10 vehicles as well as public buildings have to damaged and at least a few innocents have to be attacked and injured for daring to travel on a hartal day. Rights are prioritized than responsibilities.

Regional political parties in the name of ideology have in a self-styled manner made themselves responsible for preserving the so-called culture and morals in a society. May it be barring education in the national language or forcing education only in the regional language, imposing a dress-code on women etc…. Goons and hooligans of such parties play havoc by threatening and exploiting the public in the name of region, language, culture, caste, gender etc and leash in vandalism. Their priorities seem to be silly when there are other burning issues. Why there are no organizations which work to ensure the right to live, right to have basic amenities like clean air, drinking water, food, shelter, etc? Why men are excluded from moral values? Why not these organizations make sincere efforts to efface eve-teasing, alcoholism and smoking which are more prevalent among men? Puffing away at others face in public place seems not a matter of concern at all. Passive smoking is more injurious to health. No one can dare to stop anyone from smoking in public. There will be protests; demonstrations etc and such decisions to ban smoking in public will be declared undemocratic. Culture and morals are sacrificed in the era of technological advancements. Certain states run solely on the funds provided by liquor barons and so is their powerful clout that their activities are but promoted at the cost of social morals and health. The right to spit where ever as one pleases is a ‘birth right’. No questioning of that privilege. Think the great men who framed our constitution didn’t possess enough far-sight. Else the 'right to spit' would have been included as a fundamental right. The walls, stairs and corners of old public mansions are always stained with paan (An article in a magazine bearing the picture of an aircraft with paan stain as a design is still vivid in memory). More disgusting is the habit of dumping wastes and urinating in public space. Even main roads are not spared. Savagely or beast-like instincts?

Practising faith is purely the choice of an individual. But coercing others to practice the faith or exploiting in the name of religion is to be condemned. Devotion is no longer a peaceful and calm personal dialect, but has to be proclaimed aloud in high decibels using loud speakers, damaging the eardrum and hampering all normal activities. Again who is bothered?

Justice delayed is equivalent to justice denied. Injustice by the affluent prevails when justice is for sale. Better bear with injustice than knock the doors for justice and emaciate in the long chase of the mirage. At the end of the day, the culprits get away with minor punishments using their political and monetary smack, making a mockery of the whole system. Crores are spend on a terrorist/ gunman who in broad day light murdered innocent civilians. Is it to exhibit our rich tradition of tolerance and virtues before the world? This is only an example of how we are projecting ourselves as fools. Trial goes on till a criminal dies of old age. Criminals should be given their due within a time-frame and speedy justice has to be ensured rather than entertaining stupid dramas.

It's 62 years of Independence and we are happy celebrating the hard fought freedom as we wish, as we choose and as we please !!!!.