As we step into 2013, we can all take a moment to hope for a better year ahead, writes S Nandakumar
Hope. Here in India, we need that commodity to survive as surely as a human needs oxygen to live. What can we hope for every time an old year disappears around the corner and a new one comes chugging in, except hope itself? We live in cities, towns and villages that are worlds in themselves, nothing seemingly common that binds all our lives together except for the clichéd tangibles such as television and mobile communication devices. Yet, recent events have shown that Indians are desperately craving change, desperate for fresh winds to come in and clear away the tangled cobwebs that continuously trap enthusiasm and optimism. Look at the massive outpouring of emotion and grief that followed the brave young girl's gang rape in Delhi, and the spontaneous expression of despair and anger when the news of her death broke, not just on various television channels across the country, but in many homes all over India.
I think some tipping point has been reached — or at least that is what I would like to hope — beyond which our people cannot be pushed.
I would like to believe that in the coming year, it would not be so easy to show disrespect to women and get away with it. I hope that every person in every corner of the country thinks of going to a police station as the first option, and not the last choice after one has exhausted all other means of getting justice.
I would like to believe, like to hope, that this year would see politicians wary of abusing power or being so blatant about corrupt deals. Look at the crowds that came out when Anna Hazare spoke out against corruption. True, the differences amongst Team Anna helped the politicians heave a collective sigh of relief, but I am asking you to look at the massive number of people who came out thinking that corruption could be kicked out of the system.
Hope. That's what I am talking about. That clean people would inhabit the corridors of power, that decisions would be taken for the true development of the country rather than murky underhand deals to please various lobbies.
On the day-to-day level of hopes, I think the citizens would love to be able to travel around their cities or towns with ease — unlike today when it is a real battle to commute daily. And such a waste of time — we spend hours on the roads everyday, regardless of what mode of transport we use. Forget about the luxuries of catching up with friends and families or a film.
Of course, I am a Bangalorean, so that is on top of my 'hope' list, but I am sure other cities and towns are no different. (And, as a Bangalorean, I amstill hoping that the Metro Rail will be completed in my lifetime.) That we learn to deal with the garbage that we mindlessly generate.
Or that prices of 'essential commodities' — that archaic term that we have given toeveryday staple food — stop skyrocketing. Today the ordinary man cannot have that ordinary meal of rice and dhal — toor dhal has become so costly that one has to carefully apportion it and pad it up with lesser dhals — not that they are much cheaper. Sometimes, just looking at the dipping level of dhal in the storage jar is enough to give you anxiety attacks. You can't pad up the dhal with too many vegetables, since you know what has happened to the prices of those. What is the fun of a watery dhal or a watery sambhaar and hunting for tiny pieces of vegetables?
Wish list
Or that a visit to a Regional Transport Office (RTO) would be a pleasant exercise, rather than a need to wear an armour of fear and outrage when your turn comes in front of the counter. Or that 'police verification' for passports are realistic and boringly routine rather than the nightmare it is today when you're not at home when the police come calling to check your bona fides — leaving the neighbours anxious (and curious) and oneself feeling like a common criminal when you go the police station to explain why you were out working and not waiting at the doorstep for the constable to turn up.
How about getting some water when one opens the tap, and taking electricity for granted at home? That's another day-to-day hope for the coming year (like it has been for so many years now) — that one can't just plan on, say, grinding some coconut chutney or fresh masalas — the whole simple plan can go up in smoke, because the electricity board has shut down power. Nor can you dare think of a casual bath. Water. Of course, the whole gas cylinder confusion over subsidy, no subsidy, the limit on the number of cylinders per year also means that switching on the gas stove needs as much thought as a Union Budget. But then you could use the new induction choolas — but wait — these run on electricity... so it's a nice little game we play everyday juggling around with water, gas, and electricity, when you should be simply living a life and taking these things a little for granted — and I don't mean it in the wasteful way. So, this is also a 'please add' to the list of smaller hopes and dreams.
But, who knows? This year might be the one where we are all kind and civil to one another, where we see more gentleness to other humans and animals — like I said, we can hope. Didn't someone once say that you are never given a wish without being given the power to make it come true?
Hope. Here in India, we need that commodity to survive as surely as a human needs oxygen to live. What can we hope for every time an old year disappears around the corner and a new one comes chugging in, except hope itself? We live in cities, towns and villages that are worlds in themselves, nothing seemingly common that binds all our lives together except for the clichéd tangibles such as television and mobile communication devices. Yet, recent events have shown that Indians are desperately craving change, desperate for fresh winds to come in and clear away the tangled cobwebs that continuously trap enthusiasm and optimism. Look at the massive outpouring of emotion and grief that followed the brave young girl's gang rape in Delhi, and the spontaneous expression of despair and anger when the news of her death broke, not just on various television channels across the country, but in many homes all over India.
I think some tipping point has been reached — or at least that is what I would like to hope — beyond which our people cannot be pushed.
I would like to believe that in the coming year, it would not be so easy to show disrespect to women and get away with it. I hope that every person in every corner of the country thinks of going to a police station as the first option, and not the last choice after one has exhausted all other means of getting justice.
I would like to believe, like to hope, that this year would see politicians wary of abusing power or being so blatant about corrupt deals. Look at the crowds that came out when Anna Hazare spoke out against corruption. True, the differences amongst Team Anna helped the politicians heave a collective sigh of relief, but I am asking you to look at the massive number of people who came out thinking that corruption could be kicked out of the system.
Hope. That's what I am talking about. That clean people would inhabit the corridors of power, that decisions would be taken for the true development of the country rather than murky underhand deals to please various lobbies.
On the day-to-day level of hopes, I think the citizens would love to be able to travel around their cities or towns with ease — unlike today when it is a real battle to commute daily. And such a waste of time — we spend hours on the roads everyday, regardless of what mode of transport we use. Forget about the luxuries of catching up with friends and families or a film.
Of course, I am a Bangalorean, so that is on top of my 'hope' list, but I am sure other cities and towns are no different. (And, as a Bangalorean, I amstill hoping that the Metro Rail will be completed in my lifetime.) That we learn to deal with the garbage that we mindlessly generate.
Or that prices of 'essential commodities' — that archaic term that we have given toeveryday staple food — stop skyrocketing. Today the ordinary man cannot have that ordinary meal of rice and dhal — toor dhal has become so costly that one has to carefully apportion it and pad it up with lesser dhals — not that they are much cheaper. Sometimes, just looking at the dipping level of dhal in the storage jar is enough to give you anxiety attacks. You can't pad up the dhal with too many vegetables, since you know what has happened to the prices of those. What is the fun of a watery dhal or a watery sambhaar and hunting for tiny pieces of vegetables?
Wish list
Or that a visit to a Regional Transport Office (RTO) would be a pleasant exercise, rather than a need to wear an armour of fear and outrage when your turn comes in front of the counter. Or that 'police verification' for passports are realistic and boringly routine rather than the nightmare it is today when you're not at home when the police come calling to check your bona fides — leaving the neighbours anxious (and curious) and oneself feeling like a common criminal when you go the police station to explain why you were out working and not waiting at the doorstep for the constable to turn up.
How about getting some water when one opens the tap, and taking electricity for granted at home? That's another day-to-day hope for the coming year (like it has been for so many years now) — that one can't just plan on, say, grinding some coconut chutney or fresh masalas — the whole simple plan can go up in smoke, because the electricity board has shut down power. Nor can you dare think of a casual bath. Water. Of course, the whole gas cylinder confusion over subsidy, no subsidy, the limit on the number of cylinders per year also means that switching on the gas stove needs as much thought as a Union Budget. But then you could use the new induction choolas — but wait — these run on electricity... so it's a nice little game we play everyday juggling around with water, gas, and electricity, when you should be simply living a life and taking these things a little for granted — and I don't mean it in the wasteful way. So, this is also a 'please add' to the list of smaller hopes and dreams.
But, who knows? This year might be the one where we are all kind and civil to one another, where we see more gentleness to other humans and animals — like I said, we can hope. Didn't someone once say that you are never given a wish without being given the power to make it come true?