The “Natak” of Karnataka

                In the recent times, after blast of information technology and mammoth increase in software exports from India Bangalore attained the status of an IT hub and the entire state came to be known as a progressive state. It became a magnet for professions and righty deserves to be so. It is not just rich in the mind resource but also blessed with abundant natural resource. Thankfully the mind resource not infected by politicians has maintained to be sterile but natural resource is ravished and plundered. Amidst this contrast, the most painful contrast is between the civilized, docile and accommodative people being led by selfish, self preserving uncivilized politicians as evidence by the drama of Karnataka State Legislature.

The event may have already been seized by the rival parties for mud-slinging on each other but in the process no one appears to have realized that it is the political face of the country which has been defaced. The situation shows the democratic process has remained merely an “institutionalized anarchy”. The actions of factions depict anarchy but they are doing it in a purported democratic setup thereby institutionalizing it. The legislators have stretched the definition of freedom in democracy, to far, to use any and every mean to attain the sole aim of seizure of power.

The most shocking portion is that we have given recognition to roudism in democracy. Political parties are openly abdicating representatives of people and the representatives of people seem to be enjoying the lap of the most lucrative offerer. Such a naked struggle to snatch power at any cost is definitely not practiced in any democracy, except those which are pathetically sham democracies and still in crude form. We do not appear to have really understood the meaning of democracy and democratic process inspite of so many years. Abdicating a Member of Legislative Assembly is abdicating the people whom he represents and if the representative is behaving like this he shall be declared to have lost the faith of the people and disqualified. Indeed politics is a dirty game but not as dirty as it is made in this country and it is akin to one of the worst despotically ruled countries.

For many, this may not be a shock because right from college politics it is a practice to kidnap all the voters in election wherever there is representative voting or kidnap other student leaders having strong control over votes. The repeated practice has recognized this and made us apprehend that democracy means muscle power and money power. It gets most depressing when the so called educated class turns a blind eye and decides not even to criticize. Criticism may not change this evil practice but it will keep the thought of resistance alive so that at the opportune moment when a leader emerges for us we can rally behind him. It will be unfortunate if we get a leader and we would have killed even the thought of resistance.