BEING ALIVE TO THE POLITICS OUTSIDE... AND THE POLITICS INSIDE

Pic.: Bhushan Thakkar

Last night, I was watching, on CNN-IBN, the programme - ‘Open Mike’. It was based on the up-coming Loksabha elections. Sagarika Ghosh was talking to a large group of college kids outside a Delhi college. These young-kids would be the first-time voters in this general election. I was very impressed with them. Being from the nation’s capital city, they sounded extremely aware of the political scenario in our country; almost all of them articulated with clarity and conviction, and, almost all of them did sound extremely concerned about the state of affairs in the country... the economic progress, the social class and cast discrimination, the curse of corruption, the jobs and youth issues etc. They wanted change... But, essentially, did not see a fine option before them.

I was a college kid myself when Mrs. Indira Gandhi had imposed Emergency in our country. It lasted for 21 months (1975-77). We had no TV and social media in those days. The only news came to us from newspapers and radio. But, at home, we neither had a radio nor the daily newspaper. We had only our hand-to-mouth existence! Still, my dad, who after his daily work as a mechanic, would get his day’s news from the newspaper at a nearby shop. Every evening, half a dozen men, including the shop-owner, would huddle there to discuss and debate on the political scenario...

My dad – whose literacy barely enabled him to read and understand the news from the local Kannada daily - was incredibly alive to the politics around him... Let me tell you this: It was not just the Indian politics, but it was also the international one! He was a die-hard ‘worshipper’ of Mrs. Gandhi and America. When she was trounced in the general elections after the Emergency, almost the whole of India had turned against her. I remember, my dad would fiercely argue with everyone who decried her. Ditto about America. The whole world would condemn America for its excesses in Vietnam. But, my dad would defend America, like a true friend!

Strange it sounds to me, today, when I rewind those reels: Mrs. Gandhi befriended the USSR, the ‘Iron Curtain’. My dad embraced America!

Yes, strange kind of friendship, and worship, that was!

“Where do you guys get your political awareness from?” last night, Sagarika had asked our Delhi college-kids.

“From the media... from you guys,” was the unanimous reply.

And, what about we kids, back in our sleepy village in Mangalore? What about my dad? Yes, how did we become politically aware? Remember, no TV and social media in the country, and no radio and newspaper at home!

I vividly remember one incident. The historical general-elections after the Emergency were barely weeks away. It was our annual college-day-function, held in the college grounds. Hundreds of students had come to attend this function along with their parents, teachers and college authorities. In his speech, the chief guest had passionately urged the students to be politically alive. He had aroused them to take active role in the political agitations aimed at fighting injustice and corruption... And, he had concluded, that the best way to do it was by taking an active part in politics!

Immediately after that, the President of our college-students’ union had spoken. He was an immensely popular, and dynamic, student-leader. Students, staff and the Principal... all admired him alike. That evening, perhaps, for the first time in our college history, even our - otherwise-praise-stingy - Principal had lavishly showered praises upon this student-leader.

“My dear friends, I beg to differ from the views of our esteemed chief guest, today,” the student-leader said in his speech, “I urge you to stay away from active politics... It is too dirty.” He had added, “Believe me, you can make this country a great place by being exceptionally good in your respective work, tomorrow... Whatever be it... You can make this country great by being exceptionally optimistic, productive and self-reliant. Mind you, that would the best way to do away with all the ills facing our nation!”

The words may not be the same as I have quoted above. But, after almost thirty-five years or so from that evening, I still remember the message our college leader wanted to impart to us:  The best way to build this nation is by building oneself... As the Father of our nation had said, we need to be the change we seek!

Be alive to yourself... to the ‘politics’ within you!

GERALD D’CUNHA