Democracy and the Shoe
There was a time in India when Democracy stood for a Government of the people, by the people and for the people. Over a short span of around sixty years, the definition has unoodergone a drastic change. Now, Democracy is a Government of the deaf, by the deaf but for the dumb.
There are elections for choosing genuine Representatives of the people with their ears and eyes open. But those who wield money power, muscle power and/or bluffing power manage to get elected. They are, generally, self-seeking, single-mindedly pursuing the policy of self-aggrandizement and promoting the interests of their kith and kin and friends, with such intense dedication that they forget the people who made them their rulers, and develop serious hearing and vision problems. They fail to hear the voice of the people, democracy, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression and the right to be heard, be damned. The people feel cheated, let-down,frustrated and furious.Their anger and protests are invariably drowned under the force of water cannons or lathi charges or bullets. In fact, these so-called servants of the people know how to repress them with iron hands and closed eyes, invoking all types of horrendous laws, framed by them ostensibly in the interest of Democracy but in actuality for self preservation. People are turned into dumb-driven cattle.
This is what has been a depressing and disquieting spectacle in this land of the greatest democracy on earth for quite some time. All avenues to reach their voice to the deaf, insensitive and intolerant rulers have been seen blocked. This naturally gave rise to dare-devilry among some sensitive and self-sacrificing souls among the mute and speechless people. They looked around for some effective, noiseless and unobtrusive weapon to give vent to their suppressed anger,resentment and emotions. That is how the innocuous Shoe became a non-violent tool of communication for the people who had lost their voice due to incessant shouting and crying for being heard.It seems to have had some desired effect.There was a time in India when Democracy stood for a Government of the people, by the people and for the people. Over a short span of around sixty years, the definition has unoodergone a drastic change. Now, Democracy is a Government of the deaf, by the deaf but for the dumb.
There are elections for choosing genuine Representatives of the people with their ears and eyes open. But those who wield money power, muscle power and/or bluffing power manage to get elected. They are, generally, self-seeking, single-mindedly pursuing the policy of self-aggrandizement and promoting the interests of their kith and kin and friends, with such intense dedication that they forget the people who made them their rulers, and develop serious hearing and vision problems. They fail to hear the voice of the people, democracy, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression and the right to be heard, be damned. The people feel cheated, let-down,frustrated and furious.Their anger and protests are invariably drowned under the force of water cannons or lathi charges or bullets. In fact, these so-called servants of the people know how to repress them with iron hands and closed eyes, invoking all types of horrendous laws, framed by them ostensibly in the interest of Democracy but in actuality for self preservation. People are turned into dumb-driven cattle.
It is high time that the Netas got their ears de-waxed and cardiac arteries de-clogged to be able to hear, understand and empathise with the people, who should, in all earnestness, be regarded as their masters. The leaders should understand the message in all its ramifications before the Shoe assumes any other form of wider reach,range and devastation.
