Whilst the Supreme Court is asking why women are illegally barred from entering the Sabrimala Temple, both Hindu and Muslim women have dared to challenge their priests and mullahs by forcibly en mass attempting to enter the Shingapur temple in Ahmedabad and Haji Ali in Mumbai.
In a progressive and enlightened nation with scientific temper as encouraged by our Constitution, it is high time all outdated entrenched perceptions and customs stifled by religion and tradition and also stigmas like caste, LGBT community etc must be openly questioned!
After 68 years the reserved overshadows the deserved, and people fight to be labeled backward. The Dalit student’s suicide has brought matters to boiling point. Education, freedom permitting fearless open debate, toleration of criticism and change in mindset is the answer. It has been impossible to change reservations, caste and vote bank politics and like religious exclusion of women, there is now immense pressure on the politicians and classes to break this ceiling. The Delhi and Bihar elections results, the RSS mentoring and BJP led by Prime Minister Modi’s development and ‘Make in India’ mantra seems to be leading to crony capitalism and driving the less privileged to despair. Living is very expensive. Minimum government and better governance is still a far cry.
The arrogance and own welfare priority of the politicians and ruling class appears to be paramount. From the VIP culture to being a law unto themselves, going on foreign jaunts whilst preaching zero-corruption aided by bureaucrats can declare a coconut tree not a tree in Goa! Keeping it out of the purview of Forest Department, it is free to be mercilessly felled without any permission. An Investment Promotion Board which can negate all environment protection and any other laws, by passing the statutory and local bodies in our democracy is dangerous. Delhi and Mumbai have become concrete jungles and gas chambers! We cannot allow frantic development and resultant Madras like floods! Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The continued VIP syndrome and progressive polarization of this nation is getting to be endemic.
Right from the Presidential pomp of exclusive horse mounted guards, elaborate police, security, ADCs, bearer holding a ceremonial umbrella and other unnecessary paraphernalia, repeated to a lesser degree with Governors and CMs, down the line to ministers in luxury vehicles, their escorts, grand maharaja accommodation and perks, tax free salaries and pensions decided by and for themselves with absolutely free services! Generally all traffic is stopped for them and they get priority everywhere. They are revered as “Your Excellency”, “Honorable” etc. Does our democracy permit government authorities to splurge public funds, behave like aristocracy and rule citizens in this way or require them to behave like honorable elected representatives as per the oath they take to serve as “We the People” have specified in our Constitution?
The basic essence of our Constitution guarantees equality to every citizen rich or poor, irrespective of caste, creed or sex but is given lip service and also brazenly violated by communal outrages and religious intolerance. This is increasingly encouraged under government patronage, which they blatantly deny. If we do not agree that a problem exists, where is the question of solving it? Police inefficiency, Ministerial obfuscation and public growing propensity for violence have become part and parcel of daily life.
Social reforms take time, but when fast progressing technology and science with knowledge explosion is taking place, reforms must keep pace. Goa recently held “Difficult Dialogues” where learned minds and people from all walks of life including students debated the much needed changes required. Overdue reforms are the next frontier. Governments will likewise have to be pushed to free their stronghold and interference in implementation of law and enforcement. For example the time consuming judicial system, not freeing the “caged parrot”, lethargy and politics in appointments of judges and Lok Pal/Ayuktyas, Information Commissioners, police force not changed to police service and so on. A country wide movement for justice organized by Mumbai based “Forum for Fast Justice” comprised of social workers and lawyers with Chairman former Karnataka High Court Justice G.C. Bhanuka are reportedly spearheading the movement. The government has been given 8 months ultimatum or face nation wide Satyagraha.
The BJP seems to think that Goa is its fiefdom and since they are elected representatives, they can do whatever they want without bothering about the stake holders. The trade off between degradation and local earnings is the resident’s first right! Congress is a secular BJP and BJP have proved to be a saffronised Congress. People are therefore looking for alternatives. A new regional party “Goa Forward” led by a respected educationist and ex-Election Commissioner of Goa is being formed. Their avowed objective as stated by their President Prabhaker Timble is ouster of the ruling BJP. This is reportedly firmly backed by Rohan Khaunte, Vijai Sardessai and some other sitting MLAs. The AAP owes allegiance to Delhi and Kejriwal has his hands full fighting off the Lt Governor and BJP plus Congress! Some of his actions and decisions have not been covered in glory. The electorate must take part proactively and dialogue to come up with fitting answers to enable tackle the tough questions hanging fire which nobody is inclined to solve. A new regional party can perhaps now force change from representative government to a truly representative democracy!
(The author is a retired naval officer.)
