Politics Rocks, Literally

Politicians’ sons and daughters are getting married in seven-star hotels. The guest lists read the who’s who of the power circle. Fifty or hundred course meals are served and government machinery is seen serving its political masters at the tax payer’s cost. And in villages across the country the growling sounds of empty stomachs are growing louder by the day. I know politicians are doing nothing illegal, but how ethical is splurging on personal celebrations by a class under oath to uphold the basic rights of their countrymen? If that’s ethical, then what’s the difference between a Monarchy and a Democracy?

In metros and large cities, the moral police are busy clamping down on couples, opposing Valentine’s Day, enforcing dress codes for women, and giving lectures on morality. A few hundred kilometers away, women in villages don’t have enough cloth to cover themselves and lead a life of dignity. And I don't see any moral police there upholding the dignity of these women. There’s no gain in trying to save those without voter cards, is there?

Political parties and religious organizations are on the ball ban movies, plays, and books that they think are obscene. Reasons given include rape scenes in movies infringe on the dignity of women, the story offends the sentiments of the religious, a book can affect the psyche of young readers and negatively alters their outlook to life, and the play violates the spirit of humanity. Every time I switch on a news channel, all I can hear of is some woman being molested, people killing each other in the name of religion, and the list in endless. And I don't see these people who are so eager to clampdown on art anywhere in the picture trying to protect these real life victims or ensuring justice for them. No one wants long term commitments, I guess.

Every business worth its salt talks of corporate social responsibility. Every NGO claims to be helping the poor. Every government claims it is the messiah of the masses. If everyone is so busy helping the poor, then why on earth is the number of poor increasing by the day. Or are we to believe that the poor are leveraging the benefits of being poor? I guess aimless charity is a fashionable and visible way of building brand equity. That it benefits no one is a different matter.

And last, if political parties and leaders spend the money that they waste on election campaigns on improving the life of the common man, they wouldn’t have to campaign in the first place. But then what’s the fun in helping people in need. The law of life is to help those who don't need it and condemn those who need it. It’s akin to gifting a Mercedes to Mukesh Ambani. But that’s what people do, don’t they.