If anybody believes that things are going to change dramatically for the better in Kerala, he or she lives in a fool's paradise. This is because nothing is going to change, no matter who assumes power after 19 May.
Take for example, if the LDF comes to power with a landslide, there will be wild celebrations and fireworks, and when the euphoria dies down,they will immediately start the blame game for lack of any change. Firstly, they will blame the previous government for all the ills plaguing Kerala. Second, they will blame the Modi Government for everything. They will most likely start "rule and agitation " as in the 1967 -1969 period. We can expect some Government -sponsored Hartals against the Modi Government.
An outbreak of violence is on the cards under an LDF Government. Even during the campaign period, bombs were made, and one person died while making bombs. Perhaps, bombs are already hoarded for use after the elections.
Nothing is going to change in Kerala because the real issues of the people are not addressed. Take for example, the lack of safety of women and children ,which has taken a backseat . The mishandling of the Jisha murder case is an example. After the elections, this case is most likely to be shelved. Now there's much hue and cry about the case,only to score political points.
As for the UDF, the people's verdict is unpredictable. The UDF Government did many good things,but all the gains were wiped out by blunders. The Congress 's alliance with the CPM in Bengal has weakened the Congress's position. This has provided the BJP a tool to attack both the Congress and the CPM.
While there's much condemnation of corruption at the higher levels, nobody condemns bribery and corruption at the lower level, which affects the ordinary people. For example, various bribes are to be paid when an ordinary person struggles to build a house. It's accepted as a Kerala custom.
Hero -worship is a stumbling block to democracy in the Third World. Nelson Mandela discouraged hero worship. He was a true democrat who stepped down as President of South Africa after one term. (1994-1999 ).He could have continued as President for a second term if he wished, but he stepped down.
Hero worship runs parallel to the belief that Gods, Goddesses or saints would solve people's problems. To please the deities, the devotees sing their praises, and offer gold, money and other things. There's no harm in this. But, in a democracy, when the people expect miracles from a popular leader, frustration will be the outcome in the long run. In Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha is regarded as a Goddess by the majority of the people. Everything is centred around Amma. Senior leaders fall down before her to touch her feet.While condemning hero worship and dictatorship, Cassius, in Shakespeare 's play, 'Julius Caesar' says, "You and I have the falling sickness. "
In Kerala, the people generally don't follow the hero worship tendencies of the Tamil people, but such trends are being encouraged in Kerala during the election campaign. It's naive to believe that a particular leader will perform miracles. No matter who wins on 19 May, clean drinking water isn't going to flow from the taps. The rivers aren't going to overflow with pure water. Manna ( parotta and chicken curry /beef fry,and bottles of foreign liquor )will not fall from the skies if VS or Pinarayi assumes charge of Kerala.
In the Third World, implementation is the key problem.Political parties or coalitions have very nice manifestos. Nobody takes them seriously because the election promises àre not going to be implemented.Some programmes may be implemented as window-dressing, but key issues remain unresolved.
Ideology is a mask for corruption and empty rhetoric, as proved by the plight of the poor in South Africa. The country is ruled by
the ANC -communist party alliance. Almost every day, violent service delivery protests erupt in the country. The poor people go on the rampage demanding tarred roads, water,sanitation ,houses etc. Sometimes, municipal councillors ' houses are set on fire,alleging corruption.
No matter whoever is in power, the ordinary people get a raw deal because their problems don't receive immediate attention at the grassroots level. In the 1990s,a young man committed suicide because his application for an identity document was not attended to for a long time. He could not get a job without an
ID book.
On another occasion, a man opened a bag full of snakes in a bank because his application for a loan was not attended to.
Last month, in Thiruvananthapuram District, a man set fire to the village office because the officials refused to register his 18-cent property.
These incidents reflect the terrible frustration experiencedo by ordinary people in getting their problems solved.
Not much can be expected in Kerala after the elections, because the emphasis is on empty rhetoric and false promises.
Take for example, if the LDF comes to power with a landslide, there will be wild celebrations and fireworks, and when the euphoria dies down,they will immediately start the blame game for lack of any change. Firstly, they will blame the previous government for all the ills plaguing Kerala. Second, they will blame the Modi Government for everything. They will most likely start "rule and agitation " as in the 1967 -1969 period. We can expect some Government -sponsored Hartals against the Modi Government.
An outbreak of violence is on the cards under an LDF Government. Even during the campaign period, bombs were made, and one person died while making bombs. Perhaps, bombs are already hoarded for use after the elections.
Nothing is going to change in Kerala because the real issues of the people are not addressed. Take for example, the lack of safety of women and children ,which has taken a backseat . The mishandling of the Jisha murder case is an example. After the elections, this case is most likely to be shelved. Now there's much hue and cry about the case,only to score political points.
As for the UDF, the people's verdict is unpredictable. The UDF Government did many good things,but all the gains were wiped out by blunders. The Congress 's alliance with the CPM in Bengal has weakened the Congress's position. This has provided the BJP a tool to attack both the Congress and the CPM.
While there's much condemnation of corruption at the higher levels, nobody condemns bribery and corruption at the lower level, which affects the ordinary people. For example, various bribes are to be paid when an ordinary person struggles to build a house. It's accepted as a Kerala custom.
Hero -worship is a stumbling block to democracy in the Third World. Nelson Mandela discouraged hero worship. He was a true democrat who stepped down as President of South Africa after one term. (1994-1999 ).He could have continued as President for a second term if he wished, but he stepped down.
Hero worship runs parallel to the belief that Gods, Goddesses or saints would solve people's problems. To please the deities, the devotees sing their praises, and offer gold, money and other things. There's no harm in this. But, in a democracy, when the people expect miracles from a popular leader, frustration will be the outcome in the long run. In Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha is regarded as a Goddess by the majority of the people. Everything is centred around Amma. Senior leaders fall down before her to touch her feet.While condemning hero worship and dictatorship, Cassius, in Shakespeare 's play, 'Julius Caesar' says, "You and I have the falling sickness. "
In Kerala, the people generally don't follow the hero worship tendencies of the Tamil people, but such trends are being encouraged in Kerala during the election campaign. It's naive to believe that a particular leader will perform miracles. No matter who wins on 19 May, clean drinking water isn't going to flow from the taps. The rivers aren't going to overflow with pure water. Manna ( parotta and chicken curry /beef fry,and bottles of foreign liquor )will not fall from the skies if VS or Pinarayi assumes charge of Kerala.
In the Third World, implementation is the key problem.Political parties or coalitions have very nice manifestos. Nobody takes them seriously because the election promises àre not going to be implemented.Some programmes may be implemented as window-dressing, but key issues remain unresolved.
Ideology is a mask for corruption and empty rhetoric, as proved by the plight of the poor in South Africa. The country is ruled by
the ANC -communist party alliance. Almost every day, violent service delivery protests erupt in the country. The poor people go on the rampage demanding tarred roads, water,sanitation ,houses etc. Sometimes, municipal councillors ' houses are set on fire,alleging corruption.
No matter whoever is in power, the ordinary people get a raw deal because their problems don't receive immediate attention at the grassroots level. In the 1990s,a young man committed suicide because his application for an identity document was not attended to for a long time. He could not get a job without an
ID book.
On another occasion, a man opened a bag full of snakes in a bank because his application for a loan was not attended to.
Last month, in Thiruvananthapuram District, a man set fire to the village office because the officials refused to register his 18-cent property.
These incidents reflect the terrible frustration experiencedo by ordinary people in getting their problems solved.
Not much can be expected in Kerala after the elections, because the emphasis is on empty rhetoric and false promises.
Mohammed Rafi at St Thomas College, Pala,in1967
ReplyDelete