Its that time again- when all one gets to see if one steps outside one's home are buntings strung over roads, wall graffiti defacing pristine walls of houses and flags waving over every street corner, when all one gets to hear are loudspeakers blaring at every hour of the day and even night and the hoolabaloo of processions-yes, its election time once again. Once again, the world's biggest democracy gets to exercise its great right.
But one glance at the people on the street might be enough to convince someone that nothing of this sort is happening. Indeed, its quite strange seeing this. Considering the amount of interest the U.S. Presidential Elections got last year, India has not seen anything of election frenzy. And we outnumber the Americans many times.
The interest is just not there, especially in the youth, who are seen to be the shapers of the future. The other day I decided to have a small survey in my hostel at college. Right from the morning I kept on asking whoever I met- Are you going to vote this year? In return I was questioned back-Why should we? I got truly exasperated with some of them. Forget knowing the date of elections, they did not even know under which Lok Sabha constituency their home falls. Some of them even asked-Are the elections being held this year?
Now this has been the bane of our country. The standing philosophy behind this mindset, I believe, is the present condition of our country. It has ingrained in the people a state of hopelessness. They believe that one vote will not matter, but it does. A lot. This attitude is seen a lot in adults. And what are we, the youth, supposed to do other than adopt their attitude?
People have to believe that they have it in them to change their own country. There is no dearth of talent in our country, as is demonstrated by the achivements of Indians working abroad. We have to ensure that this talent is made to shine upon our own nation and not benefit someone else first. It is time for us to make the 15th Lok Sabha elections a real example of our democracy.
But it seems that this year, the first time I get a chance to freely exercise my right to vote, I will have to give the elections a miss after all as I am going off on a vacation with my family. Oh well, guess that puts an end to my lecturing people about the necessity to vote.
