When you look at the whole political canvas, what exudes and hits you between the eyes, are the drifting, floating, breaking, disconnecting, and if connecting, then, a forceful juxtaposition of paradoxical conceits of individuals. And the overarching element that compels all the above into a frenzied momentum is, in simple words, money
A few days back, I watched a certain performance on social media.
Was it on Twitter, Facebook or some other, I don't quite recall. As an academic, while working with the students on literature, women or gender studies, I very often evoke anecdotes from our legends, epics and mythologies, the archetypal woman, Sita, the transgender Shikhandi, the illfamed Ravana or any other to prove a point, as to how far we have moved away from those images of the past or how close we really are in subscribing to those values which still hold good today. We juxtapose the then and now for finer understanding.
Many faculty members use this method of evocation to show what fits or functions in today's world or what does not.
To go back to that social media enactment, a woman evoked a story from the Arabian Nights Tales, Alibaba and the Forty Thieves.
The magic phrase in the tale is khul ja simsim (open sesame)'or simply 'Open up'. So in the tale, when the magic phrase is uttered a door to a cavernous unfathomable space opens up to display unparalleled treasure. All those are looted wealth.
So now my question is, when people of the said constituency vote on November 20, will all those voters gain access to untold treasures? Now, what may I ask, are the treasures? Is it plainly getting access to the loot like that of Alibaba's tale or is getting a free visa and ticket to get out of the country and work in some other land, the loot? Is working in a different country akin to unparalleled treasures? Some other candidate in another constituency, Bara, too proclaimed the same, free visa to the voters, and off to a far off country to work. The scenario is ironical and very sad.
In these recent days, the whole social media is rife with discourses on politics, politicians and the political parties. And wherever you go, every conversation is tempered with political spices, old and new. Even though not an avid fan of politics, I have started to sit up, look and listen with dismay and disdain at the scenario overpowering us.
When you look at the whole political canvas, what exudes and hits you between the eyes, are the drifting, floating, breaking, disconnecting, and if connecting, then, a forceful juxtaposition of paradoxical conceits of individuals.
And the overarching element that compels all the above into a frenzied momentum is, in simple words, money.
It is amazing to see how the political fantasy of our political candidates work.
All these years after the advent of democracy, the fantasy or the ecstasy of the socalled political leaders (for want of a better word) have not faded.
Here I'd like to quote a cliché, "age is just a number", to prove their point.
Look at those timeworn weed puppets, doddering on their ancient feet, desirous of claiming their seats.
But sadly they lack conviction in proving their worth.
Therefore, the proportional representation (PR) quota has been stormed with their own selves and their family members, irrespective of qualification.
These people I know are very aware that reservations were meant for the marginalised people whose lives are directed or informed by intersectionality of class, caste, ethnicity, gender, economic standing, traditional practices, sexual identity and orientations, and many more classifications.
Such are the qualifications for the PR.
Many of them who have usurped the seats of the PR, know very well, that an old veteran who has had political hold and government positions at the ministerial level multiple times in the past is not qualified to take the PR seats. Neither are women who are replete with wealth (does not matter how they earn it), education and a certain standing in society allowed to forcefully claim the PR seats. That is not social inclusion.
It's shocking and distasteful to see how the young and energetic youth are bribed into going out of the country. Is that what the people want? Don't you think creating employment, decentering the capital, creating inter-city diplomacy within the country and with other countries is an important need of the day? Do we still believe when the perpetrator of janayudha promises us a Singapore in five years or a Switzerland? Do we still allow ourselves to believe in the falsity of their proclamation? Do we want the ancient and obsolete people to rule again? Do we want them, those who have siphoned off the country's resources to another holding, or in other words do we want our country to be auctioned like a Sotheby's Real Estate property? This is not to say old, aged people are useless. Far from it. But that also does not mean they can climb on to the political trapeze to try and prove their worth. They will only land up making fools of themselves.
The old timers should give the younger generation and the engaged citizens opportunities to lead the political front while they sit back and offer much-needed genuine advice. Due respect will then be accorded to these political veterans.
We, the people, are not demented. We do not want the public careening into a frenzy of voting for such candidates, which would eventually result in the dunking of the country into a quagmire of destruction.
My appeal is to the educated elite (those who have usurped the PR seats also come into this category), no matter what our political affiliation, we need to think carefully and cast our votes for individuals whom we think can work for the betterment of our country.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 4, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
