The Gandhi Of Small Things…
Tarun J Tejpal:
“The idea of India was not based on religon, not on commerce, not on race, not on language. It was set on the plinth of a deeply shared culture and history and built by the brick and mortar of the great ideas of modernity - equality, liberty, justice.
but national narratives are not unchanging… as generations die a steady forgetting of the bhai-bhai past..."
Khushwant Singh:
"Wounds inflicted by Partition took a long time to heal... The new generation doesnt even believe somethng that horrific happened. "
So, what does the new generation believe?
It believes what it sees.
1992 demolitions.
1993 blasts.
1999 war.
2002 riots.
2006 protests.
It believes the 'demonisation' of a few.
It believes the 'demon' in a few.
But that’s too fictitious and that’s too plebian.
Or is it?
In out great fictions we are reminded how power corrupts. Perhaps in our not-so-great lives we are constantly reminded how absolute power corrupts absolutely. Just take a look around…millions of unfulfilled promises… thousands of children being made to work on streets… hundreds policemen asking for bribes to harass lesser citizens… media working on whims and fancies of corporates… big shot’s children believing they rule the country…and many more.
In all the initial court proceedings of Jessica Lall case, Manu Sharma’s face did not show a shadow of remorse or guilt. All that shone from his actions was the undeniable fact that he would get off lightly, for he had the power. This changed when the youth took charge.
The youth of this great nation is growing up in an atmosphere of distrust towards all. Its time for our Gandhi to emerge and lead the way towards another freedom struggle. Freedom from the shackles of pervasive powers that are bent on realization of self-interest. Freedom from all the demigods that rule over all the small aspects of everyday lives.
Lets get up and energize ourselves for the onus is on us to act now and act with courage if we really, actually, whole-heartedly want to see India shining. We need to get angry at what’s happening, because anger shall culminate into active action. We need to make our voices heard; we need to make our marks seen.
As the nation celebrates Gandhi Jayanti, we at Purdafash have gone live to give the millions of unheard voices in India a chance to fight back !!
So now its time for us to get angry and raise our ‘dandas’ as we can be the new generation Gandhis in all the small and big things in our lives.
