Thursday, October 03, 2013

Pondering on Freedom...

It was another late night commute in the bus.

I boarded many transit buses n finally I got a bus directly to my destination.

I quickly boarded it, thankfully, I got a seat as well. Feeling happy, I sat and started reading a book as usual.

There happened to be a daily-wager from UP in the bus. I couldn't get the full context but the local people around him were trying to push him to a separate league. They were questioning his Benglur quotient and he seems to have an above average score to his experience. They were branding him intelligent.

These local people were trying to question him in Hindi (yes... irony...) n were very good at it. At the end, one of them said 'ಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲಪ್ಪ! ಇವನಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಗೊತ್ತು. ಯಾವ್ ಯಾವ್ ಸ್ಟಾಪು ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಿದೆ ಅಂತ ಗೊತ್ತು. ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಏನ್ ಸಿಗತ್ತೆ ಅಂತ ಗೊತ್ತು. ಆದ್ರೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಾತ್ರ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. '.

This actually triggered various topics among them. It started from outsiders, and then they started cribbing about the lethargy of the locals and it reached the inflation and finally about the country politics... One man started cribbing that the country would've been better had it still been under the British till today... All these wicked, corrupt politicians are selling this glorious country for selfish motives. Bleh bleh bleh...

I, as always was silent reading the book but the disturbance made me close it. I alighted at my stop and started contemplating on the thoughts they were discussing.

One should notice that for him to express that 'this country would've been better had it still been in British rule' the right to express the same is obtained by the freedom what our forefathers fought for. Had they remained silent, this guy wouldn't have got an opportunity to even say those words. He would've been in jail had he said anything against the government.

Our generation doesn't know the value of actual freedom as it was known for those who really fought during freedom struggle. You'll know the value only when you lose it.

Also, if you're so concerned about the country, you would've elected the right candidates (if only... well, that's another story...) and not crib about after voting out the wrong candidate term after term. Yeah! I'm talking of Utopia.

Before this post turns preachy, I just want you to ponder over the above questions and  think about the real value of freedom.

Sunday, May 05, 2013

My Experiment with vote - 2013

Its election time. The only time when YOU are of prime importance to the filthy rich, utterly corrupt politicians.

No matter how much we curse the politicians, I feel it is our right to vote rather to be indifferent to the system.

Without much blabber about changing the system, bringing awareness n other crap which never happens (yes, I'm too cynical) let me put down my experience of voting today for the Karnataka Assembly elections 2013.

Thanks to the election committee for arranging polls on a Sunday lest our companies would've made us to work on another Saturday.

Comparing the campaigns that were carried out late 80's n 90's this time (what we witnessed as kids), I must say the campaigning has become very dull this time. I vote in the Byatarayanapura assembly of Bangalore Urban division and I couldn't even name 3 three candidates who are contesting.


I see many campaigning on social networking sites as well, many claiming to be anti-corruption, don't know to what extent. By the end of campaigning period, all data I could collate were from the pamphlets distributed across the constituency promising wonderland to the voter.

I've cast my vote three times in the past and bad luck prevailed twice. Still it hasn't put me into a condition which would trigger me not to cast my vote.

Last evening, all of a sudden I felt the urge to cast my vote. The standing MLA/Councillor had dug out our road one and a half year ago planning to repair the same but not doing so. One and a half year isn't enough for these people to repair it. Who knows what they would've done if they were a part of Japanese Govt (which repaired out a road in 6 days which was damaged due to a 6.8 Richter scale earthquake)

I started grepping ceokarnataka.kar.nic.in site to check out the candidates who are eligible. Nobody stood out. Decided not to vote.

Got up early in the morning. 4AM. Got ready very early as if it is a festival. Took a book to read and dozed off another 2 hours.


My grandpa had expired this February and my dad is not in a position to vote as he his bed ridden. I thought of informing the same to the election officials in the booth. Took the death certificate of my grandpa and a doctor certificate for my dad along with the documents I needed to vote.

On the way, as every time, I was greeted by all people who would never even look at us on any other day screaming at me 'Sandesh, kaangress paksha, kai ge mata haakeepa', 'Sandesh, Kaangress avru enu maadilla, nimm beedi ella ekkutsbittiddare, ee sarti JDS ge mata haakbeku', 'Swamy, BJP ge mata haaki aayta??'. I just nodded at everyone affirmative just to get rid of them as usual.

Went to the polling booth, gave the docs and got the permission to vote. I also inquired about deleting the entry of my grandpa to which they said, it needs to be done at the BBMP office. I was like 'Come on, BBMP has issued a death certificate, shouldn't it be automatic to remove it from the electoral list? I didnt even ask about my dad's unavailability to vote.

Was very disappointed. Didnt inquire about not casting vote. Went to the EVM desk, selected the same candidate whom I voted last time, cast my vote and came back.

The politicians have brought our country to a state where making a difference is very difficult. Hoping things would be set right at least this time.

See you...