PLASTINO D’COSTA
Our country has a fu ture after all, and the recent protests at Jantar Mantar have demonstrated that Indian democracy is on the verge of making a strong come back. It also signals that citizens are not going to remain silent anymore and will protest for their rights, even if it means facing ob stacles, blows, pellet guns or sticks. However, the most awkward part in this entire episode has been that these protests are initiated and driven entirely by our kids, classified as Gen Z. Of course, Gen Z has been pushed to the brink for quite some time now, and the paper leak affects them the most, so their response was on expected lines, but where does that leave the Generation Past, who seem to be always finding ways to give clean chits to every goof-up or atrocity the gov ernment commits? They easily condone politically arrogant behaviour by ei ther twisting or manipu lating facts. No wonder the Economist called us out as ‘India’s Republic of Uncles’, always finding an easy ex cuse to ignore government failure, while bad-mouthing the Generation Next and taking them for granted. One thing that stood out in this entire episode is that Gen Z is absolutely aware of what these uncles are up to, especially the political ones.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
While we assumed they are in their own world, they have been keeping tabs on everyone, especially the mainstream digital media, who were heckled out of the scene and had to leave mostly embarrassed, there by keeping them out of the loop on the proceedings. Many young journalists who were thrown out of the protest area should really examine their conscience, if they are in the right job or in the wrong company. In normal circumstances and in a democratic set-up, the media usually gets a free hand to cover anything and everything, but what’s the point if the content is going to be distorted in the studios and holes poked at genuine causes? When critical think ing gives way to submissive ness and debating becomes a nasty yelling match, it is absolutely natural for Gen Z to try different methods to put their point across. For those condemning the language used, please try and stand in front of tear gas, pellet guns, sticks or a television host that does not talk but barks, and check out if your language still re mains civilised. For too long, India has tolerated politicians run ning the country as per their whims, without taking into account the needs and requirements of the people. They pretend to listen to the people when elections are fast approaching and then go into ‘king’ mode once they are done with it.
Unfortunately, Indians with their slave mentality have fed politicians’ egos to the hilt and allowed them to have absolute control over us. One can understand the poor, downtrodden and people with limited edu cation succumbing to the politician’s diktat, but what about successful industrial ists, sportspersons, film ac tors, artists whose silence is deafening, especially those active on social media on a daily basis, busy sending congratulatory messages to governments on mun dane tasks completed in the normal course of work, but completely avoiding crucial issues that involve con demning the government for their actions? If these protests have not made them realise that their si lence is costing the nation, then they have become in effectual to the country, not withstanding their high net worth and influence. Goa has its share of uncles too; some of them stand be hind these politicians at all costs, even if the politician strays and takes the corrupt path. Some uncles have even figured out a way to monet ise their close proximity in exchange for favours or a share in the booty the pol itician is busy looting from the masses.
Then there are those uncles who are in a totally different orbit; they don’t benefit mone tarily, but are mesmerised by the demigod status the politicians have crafted for themselves, and the biased mainstream media has only reinforced their belief. Both these types of uncles are a bane to Goa because it distorts the meaning of success for Goans. These uncles, although financial ly successful, are mostly forced to be slaves of politi cians and their ideologies in exchange for allowing them to mint money through a rigged system or are forced to worship them. In both cases, these uncles run a false narrative that the cur rent politician is indispen sable. This explains why politicians remain in their job for an entire generation. It’s basically a mutual un derstanding business; these uncles keep the corrupt pol itician at the helm so that they can mint money while the politician also makes his fortune. If at all a constitu ency elects a new candidate not from their preferred list, these uncles make sure am ple opportunity is given to their corrupt politician to appear in the public domain at some irrelevant event, receiving some immaterial award, just to bolster his image so as to facilitate his comeback. No wonder, even if caught on camera for cor rupt deeds, politicians are sure the uncles will find a way to bail them out. If India’s Gen Z has fig ured out the political balo ney that is going on in the country, it will be foolhardy to believe that Goan Gen Z is unaware of Goa’s political bunkum.
But Gen Z, before you think of protesting, now is a good time to question your parents and the Gen eration Past about their relationship status with local politicians and if they have received any benefits in cash or kind from that association. This should be their first mission, if Goa and Goans need to make a viable comeback. Chances are some Gen Z might not mind such an association, but that’s a small minority; most of Gen Z is hard-work ing, honest and ambitious and wants to succeed on their merit. They want their success to be theirs and acknowledged by their peers and not turn out to be embarrassing for them because they took personal favours from a politician. Uncles, better recognise this fact before you lose face in front of your kids. You have created an unfair world for them which they are unable to navigate and are therefore protesting. The protest is reaching your home; better get your house in order. Gen Z has figured out the uncle-politician nex us; you have to prove you are not that uncle. (The author is a business consultant.)
