Envision India

I know most of you reading this blog will predict what the theme of my blog will be about, but I wanted to start off this exercise by talking about something which stuck to my head, the current general elections taking place in India. As we know this week India voted in its third phase of its 5 phase election saga in states where issues from terrorism to development to demographic segregation ( or as we Indian love to call it CASTE) were important factors.

Days before this round of election, there were a lot of talks about one region in particular, Mumbai. After yet another deadly experience with growing global terrorism, Mumbaikars showed the apathy towards the government and our dear politicians in large numbers. Something which caught my eye in particular was, it was not the down trodden residents of Mumbai or the insipid party workers and supporters which were making the noise but the more affluent and vocal middle and upper middle class. One more interesting point was the percentage of youth driven protests and media exerts. This made me happy and saddened at the same time that me being an Indian was not able to do anything sitting two continents across, but there was a new wave of prospects to answer the traditional "chaltha hai" attitude.

A day after the voting day , I was eager to log on to my regular news network in India to listen to few of the analysis and post voting discussions. I was surprised, shocked and disappointed. India had seen the lowest percentage of voting this elections and the biggest question was where was Mumbai on voting day after 26/11. Some say long weekend drove them away, some say the heat drove them away and some say the politicians didn't not energize them sufficient enough to make them vote!! During India's display of democracy, somewhere in Bangalore and Delhi, two groups of young India with the help of some famous personalities of Indian cinema were taking out ad campaigns and literature's on our duty and right to vote. The responsibility to vote before we complain and the power to decide who runs OUR country. I personally believe this as one of the most effective initiatives I have seen in recent times after the OBC/SC/ST quota decision by the current government. I shower accolades to these two groups Janagraha and Jago Re India for putting all their efforts to make India vote. I believe a initiative driven by the youth, advertised displaying young India would have motivated many to step out from their comfortable A/C classrooms, cafes, meeting joints and also those glued to their LCD tv's, PlayStation's, laptops etc. I am pointing out the youth of India.

I have been fortunate enough to witness two contrasting government system elections. Here in the US which is mainly a Presidential System and India which adopted the British Parliamentary system. What I saw in the US was 2 years of hard fought elections right from the party nominations to the presidential elections on Nov 4th. I personally cannot comment much on the system as I am still learning the american political setup. But The reason I point out this 2008 Presidential elections is mainly because of two reasons. Firstly, Pres. Barack Obama and secondly the drive to pull college students and first time voters to express their views and vote.

Many of you who follow the news and read about last years elections will surely remember journalist talking about a tech savvy Obama team. Their methods to attract the youth and allowing them to express their views. Visits to universities, where most of the first time voters were initiating town hall style interactions with them. Setting up offices near universities, starting communities in popular social networks where the college crowd could voice their opinion and even reaching out to the mobile savvy crowd by texting their agenda. All this slowly transformed into a group of energized, enthusiastic, YES WE CAN voters. The day following Nov 4th, leading news papers showed a surge in youth voters between the age of 18-35. Most of them voted for their new young , dynamic president. I must confess, I am a Obama admirer also.

The reasons for pointing out the above section was to bring to light two factors which I believe are very important for India to emulate if it wants its voting records to improve and expect more participation from its citizens. The first part of this observation was the drive to reach out to the youth. As the current statistics project, India's national average age is between 28 to 35 years. This itself shows how vibrant , young and energetic India is and how we can make use of this energy to place India higher in the global platform. During the course of this election, I have never heard of any candidate reaching out to the youth in a method they relate to . Speaking in a language they can understand. I don't believe students and young working professionals will visit dusty grounds and crowded road shows to listen to politicians blame their rivals and blow the toot about their minimal achievements. We want to hear the the issues, issues which relate to progressive India, issues like employment, education infrastructure development, improving education standards, creation of jobs, reduction of corruption etc...and not communal derogation and maligning personalities. Visit colleges and universities, sit with students and acknowledge their concerns on education,infrastructure and job creation, make your case to us regarding our concerns. Go to companies and government offices, interact with people at the grass roots directly, understanding their concerns on job security, health care benefits,tax reforms etc. Mr. Politician , market yourself in a way where we can trust, you understand our requirements and will work towards developing a product which suits a broader frame work.

The second part of this observation, which I know is a hard bargain to make in the Indian political system is of a fixed/nominated PM candidate. There were in previous cases arguments made by communist parties in India to make elections based on fixed portfolios. I personally agree this would be a big leap, but starting of with knowing who our Prime Minister will be give citizen an idea what they are getting when they go press the bottom next to the symbol. Today under the current situation, we know Mr. L.K Advani is the leading PM candidate from the NDA and as the UPA(or Congress !) puts its across, Dr. Manmohan Singh will be given a second opportunity to lead this country forward. I have nothing but respect to both candidates, but the questions is, under the current multi-party government system India has embraced since mid 1990's, we really don't know who will finally take the oath to office from Ms. Prathiba Patil. Will it be the vetran hindutva leader or the acclaimed economist or will it be leaders from smaller parties who will decide the fate of the next formation. This uncertainty in our system doesnt drive enthusiasm to go vote of a particular personality. We have been seeing ads in India echoing "My vote is for congress - My vote is for Dr. Manmohan Singh", laid by the Congress party. Should we take that as a writing on a stone? Should we be sure that after May 14th, we will not be surprised by the UPA ( if it attains a majority) by announcing a second, third or even a forth candidate for India's top job, just because of political number balance? On Nov 4th , people in US voted for Barack Obama, they voted for him knowing he would be president and the democratic party will not ( and cannot ) change its nomination. They had confidence in him that we will pick a team which will work towards Americas problem. Should we as citizens of India ask or demand to know who would be the PM if their party came to power or should we just hope its a person who wont take Incredible India down!!

As we move to the last two stages of India's celebration towards democracy, we as Indians should think , do we want Change ( a word becoming very popular), do we want the system to be fixed? Do we want to be a part of this system? We should think, have I voted to be a part of this system? Have I done my duty which gives me the right to criticize my leader if he/she is not working towards change? Do I voice my opinion and make my feelings be heard?

I have not voted, I am not eligible to vote sitting in a different country. But I am an Indian and when given a chance I will VOTE , I will voice my opinion and dismay. Till then I use this as a source to put my views across and hope together we take one step at a time towards the right direction.