This society is only getting the leaders it deserves

Today if anyone asks me my opinion on elections or Indian politics, my first reaction is that I am not in the least interested in politics. And then I ask myself the same question and wonder why? I live in this society, experience the pain of people, even share their grief and yet am so disheartened. But this despair is a result of my helplessness, my inability to do nothing about the situation.

As a writer, I do write and my feelings do get printed, but there is no feedback. And yet I write, about the questions that pop up in my mind, or the issues I bring out in my writings. On these very topics, I pen down my recent thoughts.

Today’s democracy is totally dependent on society. If society is inclined towards education, honesty and work ethics, only then will our politicians and bureaucrats be educated, honest and diligently do their work and then the faith will be restored. Which is why society will have to improve.

The roots are in society and there is an urgency to construct such a society so that able leaders with proper ideals lead the people.

Today if someone becomes rich everyone just brushes him or her aside as a wealthy person. No one pays any attention to how so much wealth was accumulated in so little time. And that is the more important issue—the means used to obtain wealth are equally important. Even Gandhiji used to say this.

In the past 50 years, ambitions have soared. It is a good thing. But at the same time, the tilt towards money has also increased and inter-personnel relations have suffered. In this gold rush people have forgotten to use their brains. According to me the reason for this is the paucity of good news and the lack of praise. Like we casually mention the wealth of a person, why aren’t we able to comment on a person’s generosity or his or her helpful nature?

It’s the same case with education, which is the very basis of democracy. Unfortunately, at present, the meaning of education has been reduced to collecting degrees. In big cities there is still some semblance of education, but in the rural belt, the responsibility to educate ends with the admission process.

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Governments are satisfied opening schools. Once I asked a senior bureaucrat if his children studied in the schools they opened. He promptly asked me if I was crazy and why anyone would put their children in these ‘‘bad schools’’!

I recall a phrase I often heard in our house when I was growing up. Women always said that if you hired a cook then always make sure to feed him also because that would ensure that he made tasty food. Similarly one would want only such schools in which all children can study, otherwise what is the use of democracy?

Maybe it is because of the fact that I am unable to solve these dilemmas that I lose heart and am so sad.

(DR Chandramani Singh
Historian and Writer who is also a senior fellow at the indian history council)

	POLLPOURRI

			BJP rules out early general election BHOPAL Story continues below this ad BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday claimed his party would win in all four states going to elections but ruled out mid-term Lok Sabha polls. ‘‘These will be held as per schedule,’’ Naidu told reporters here. Asked in which of the four states the BJP had the minimum chance, he said Mizoram. Shower of promises in Rajasthan JAIPUR The BJP released its election manifesto for Rajasthan on Monday and it was all about pleasing the farmers, government employees and unemployed youth—the three sections of the society which generally have a bone to pick with the Ashok Gehlot government. Beginning with a huge waiver on loans for farmers and assuring the youth of one lakh job opportunities every year to wooing employees with the promise of restoring their perks, the BJP has already run up a huge tab on its manifesto. Advani sees Emergency in Jogi land MARWAHI Taking on CM Ajit Jogi in his home turf in Marwahi, Dy PM L.K. Advani on Monday came down heavily on the Congress and said it was because of CMs like Jogi that the country was lagging behind and asked why it had not created the tribal state despite being in power at the Centre for 50 years. Advani added that during campaigning in the four states going to polls on December 1, he had found strong anger and resentment among the people against Jogi. He also likened the condition in Chhattisgarh to the Emergency. Mayawati in Mandela mould JABALPUR Declaring that she would fight for the upliftment of Dalits like South African leader Nelson Mandela had fought for his people, BSP supremo Mayawati today accused the BJP of ‘‘misusing’’ government machineries like the CBI to achieve its ‘‘selfish ends’’. Addressing a poll rally here, former UP chief minister Mayawati said she would follow the ‘‘glorious example’’ set by Mandela, who fought against apartheid from prison for 27 years, and fight for the cause and upliftment of the Bahujan Samaj in India.