All of a sudden, it seems, India has come out of the myriad problems
that were proving to be its socio-political nemesis.
That you can construe given the kind of political discourse that has
swept the vocal cords of this nation's political conscience, an obligation that
is supposed to maintain our social patterns in a texture of harmony.
Even if ten states in the country have officially declared drought. More
are in line. Some more have many districts facing a huge water crunch.
Thousands of farmers have committed suicide as the third consecutive
year of drought continues to afflict India. Almost reservoirs of the worst
drought affected regions like Bundelkhand, Marathwada and Vidarbha have dried.
Internal migration has become a chronic issue, making villages ghost localities
and burdening cities to feed many more, the migrants who are forced to leave
their homes to earn that elusive meal that has become a luxury for his family.
That is a human crisis that we all are entrapped in and until a better
than expected Monsoon happens, as has been predicted for this year, it is going
to drag us down, as a society, as a nation.
But why we are not talking about that.
At least that is not in the national discourse.
Drought distress is forcing thousands to leave their houses, their
cattle, their families, their villages, their cities daily. And it is not just
in one state. It is a pandemic that has gripped many Indian states.
How can an AgustaWestland Scam or a controversy on the educational
degree of our prime minister be more important when we are in the midst of such
a harrowing human crisis?
But if political escapism has become a hallmark of Indian politics of
the day, these two incidents are its live and prime examples.
Yes, the so-called AWScam or Choppers Scam is important and must be
taken to a logical conclusion to send out stern message against the corrupt
practices that corrode our governance, but it must not take out the whole time
of our Parliament as has been happening. Yes, aiming for political mileage and
settling political scores is an established political norm the world over but
what if it becomes the sole issue, as if nothing else is happening, even if the
horrors of drought are still here.
And what about this degree issue of Narendra Modi?
A non-issue has engulfed out political conscious to the extent that it
is conveniently making the whole lot blind, from BJP to Congress to AAP, to the
human crisis deepening every moment.
But, a glance tells - as if India has no other pressing issues to cater
to than these!