The Scottish Independence Vote: A wake up call for India

It is official. The average Scotsman is intelligent enough to see beyond empty rhetoric and false patriotic bravado. As Scotland chooses to remain part of the United Kingdom, it is interesting to draw parallels with things back home.
India, while having its fair share of bad governance and bilateral tense relationships with some of its neighbours, also seems to have this false idea of the unity of the nation. Every Independence and Republic Day, we hoist our national flag and sing songs of national unity, while our behavior otherwise is far from the virtues these songs inspire.

We look upon our Muslim countrymen as terrorists and criminals. We look upon our North-Eastern countrymen as outsiders with loose morals. We look upon our Christian countrymen as lazy freeloaders. We look upon Maharashtrians and Bengalis as lazy, Biharis as uncouth, Gujarathis and Marwaris as cheats, Delhites as conmen, Tamilians as pompous puritans, Keralites as Marxist drunks, Kashmiris as Pakistani supporters... the list of our prejudices go on and on. Prejudices that keep our tolerance paper thin and make us easy preys to manipulation by unscrupulous elements, sadly our own countrymen.

So when I look at Scotland's arguably narrow escape from political and economic anarchy, I wonder if all these factions in our diverse country begin to lobby for independence from India. The myriad reasons for which we create new states is a grim reminder of the inherent danger that our nation faces. Its time we let economic logic temper our decision making, rather that emotional biases make our decisions for us as a nation.

Will YOU vote???!!! My Audacity of Hope ....

Mumbai will go to the polls on 30th April 2009. And a long list of issues are pending with my city, the latest being terror!!

But will Mumbai wake up?? It still won't surprise me if apathy rules again.... Am I a cynic?? Read on:

1. Last week I overheard a co-worker say, "Arre, there's a holiday on election day. Do you realize that that makes Thursday, Friday [which is May 1st], Saturday and Sunday off?? Amazing, man... I'm planning a big vacation". I HOPE HE VOTES.
2. A man in the local train said, "Kya fayda?? [what's the use?]. Have you seen the candidates this time?? All chors or starry eyed independents". I HOPE HE VOTES.
3. The bus conductor said "They've put us on election duty. Just because they cannot find enough volunteers. They never are serious about it anyway." I HOPE HE VOTES.
4. A girl told me," I hate that ink they put on my finger. Really messes up my hands, man". I HOPE SHE VOTES.
5. Two youths outside an elite Business School "Did you see the Lead India campaign? Those men and women who went on that elated intellectual rampwalk. Never heard of them since. That's the kind of leader-wannabes we have to chose from" I HOPE THEY VOTE
6. On a Facebook discussion "This is no democracy. This is DEMO-CRAZY... Ha ha ha!" I HOPE THEY VOTE

You've heard this all everytime. Aamir Khan and Association for Democratic Reform making a statement about "Voting for Democracy". Janaagraha making its stand using the Jaago Re campaign. Everyone who's anyone keeps saying "vote vote vote" like its in fashion!!!

But ask yourself......... Will you get up out of bed on Thursday morning?? Will you take that short walk to your voting booth? Will you go through the lists to find your name? If you find it, will you queue up?? Will you get yourself inked? WILL YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT???

WILL YOU VOTE??? FOR YOURSELF??

I will.........

But I'm skeptical about you. About your committment to my country. Because whether you decide to vote or not, someone will get elected. To decide about your life for the next five years. And you won't have a recourse to do anything else after that, other than complain and curse this country.

After all, its a democracy. And its your life!! Best of luck with it!!