Shashank's Musings

India - a country young in democratic terms yet rich in heritage due to glorious past.A country which for a majority of its long existence been a feif-minded in governance.54 years of democracy havent exactly been able to wipe out what hunderds years of ignorance and slavery drilled into the general physic.Indeed democracy itself seems to be adapting to feif-physic of the country and the current politics is spawning a new class of nobles.A class which is aiming to govern with the legitimacy of the constitution of Indian Republic.

Across the landscape the sons and daughters of a generation of politicians are seeking the indian voter's approval to follow their parent's as next successor as if a constituency is their parents to give and theirs to seek. Its disturbing to see the trend emerge accross the corners of the country - this is not something restricted to some pockets - but accross all land , as if an offspring has a divine right or duty to takeover from his siers. Most certainly this disturbing trend attributes its origin to the most esteemed " Gandhi-Nehru" family. Great though has been their contribution to the country's independence , the way their offsprings have run the INC ( Indian National Congrees) and through it held dominion over the country is disdainful.The seeds of succession and feif mentality cropped up by Nehru and nurtured by his various decendants have now found their way to the common neta mentality.A generation of neta's are now rearing their desendants to take on a political role.The little netas bred on an often fawning public , a lord-like reverence and pampered by vast corruption spread have found themself intoxocated by the the political melodrama.Though better educated than their parents these people have begun to assume that its their divine right to follow their parents and retain "whats theirs" ! Power is more or just as dangerous as lust. The power weilded by the politicians has inadvertantly seduced their sons and daughters leading to a dangerous jucture.

The common man has just as much responsibility for this mess.But decades of ignorance and servitude and continuing hardship to earn a living or to just get by have bent and humbed him.The tragic side is the papa neta and little neta are hardly pressed to do anything about it other than stuff their bellies as much as they possible can accomodate .

Ignorance-particularly the lack of education has severely hampered the development of the ordinary man's mind beyond a certain level.Spread of basic education will to large extent dispel the near -idolistic regard some members of some ' dynasties ' are held in people esteem .If only people memory wasn't so short ,they might remember the promises - broken promises . Promise a desperate man in a desert water and he will follow you as he has no alternative.Such is the state of the below poverty indian.He has no choice but to again and again trust those who have betrayed them so many times.

For true democracy envisioned by the many who fathered the independence of this new country we have to remember Frost -

" .....The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep....... . .. . "