Vote Do?

It has become a ritual now. After every single blast or terrorist attack, we have:

1. Politicians commending the amazing strength and spirit of a Mumbai or a Delhi or Malegaon
   
2. News channels creating a 30 second video of the horrors with special effects and playing it over and over again
3. News channels again having these discussions with elite panels including Page 3 celebrities, ex-cops, journalists etc. etc. gluing people to their television sets while they quietly sell all the ad space at a premium
4. Candle Light Vigils, Wear a white t-shirt to show your support, prayer meetings, yada yada yada

And all is forgotten in two weeks..

Unless, there is a another blast or a fidayeen attack.. The playback show begins!

What is the point of all this? Does this take us anywhere? What are we supposed to do with this anger pent up inside us? Isn't there any constructive way we can convert this anger into actions?

I know there is a lot to understand, how did this happen? how did they enter and attack so easily? what were the coast guard doing?

But how will it matter? It will go into the hands of the same old politicians albeit one who was either a coal minister or a enivornment minister who is suddenly taking care of the Home ministry or the Defense ministry. What are the credentials required to run a ministry? I don't see any reason why Shivraj Patil was chosen Home Minister in the first place. Here is a guy,  who his own constituency did not want to re-elect after seven sucessive terms. He lost the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 and still landed the second most important post in the Cabinet. According to this article  India was second only to Iraq in terms of people killed in terrorist strikes last year. I have a feeling we are surely title contenders this year.

Another interesting fact is that the NSG, set up in 1985 as a counter-terrorist rapid response unit modelled on the SAS (Special Forces part of the British Army), mainly provides security cover to our politicians! 

Getting back to my earlier point, will it make any difference if the same people are at the helm? The answer is NO it won't. We keep saying that the system is rotten and we need to overhaul it. 

How do we do that? By changing ourselves. But let's not get into that.

I am looking at it in another direction for the first time. How about setting up a political party? Obviously, there is a need for a change in the system, why not look at getting into politics and changing the system?

Here is what me and my friend thought about. Mind you, this is just a preliminary thought, a lot more needs to go into it before anything constructive comes out of it.

1. Create a party which anyone can join and air their views. Mission is to make India a better, safer place to live in. 
2. Learn the current system. I have no idea how everything works and I am sure not many do, so educate the population. Once we are in the process of understanding it, start creating a strategy to improve the system ( Long and hard procedure).  This can be done by constructive discussions, voting etc.
3. Once we grow in confidence about our own ability about making changes, get the movement going. Spread the thought.
4. Identify the right people. Every job has a specialist requirment, be it a clerk or a finance minster. The right person could be anyone, it could be a person from the opposition party or someone from inside. What I am trying to say is that if the party believes Chidambaram is the ideal man for the finance minister's post, support him. Don't compete against him as you know he is the best bet for India.  
5. Start small, think big.  We start with the local muncipal elections. If we succeed, build on it. Make the necessary changes. Never let the people lose belief in you. Once we grow in confidence, start moving upwards towards state and national politics. Create a system where there is an active redressal system where the public can air their views and the officers are held accountable if the disccussed approved changes aren't brought about.

Obviously, to do something like this, we need selfless, motivated people. People who are not interested in power, only making India a better place. This ofcourse is an idealistic view. But if we achieve even 50% of what I have mentioned in here. It could lead to a new India in my point of view. 

As always, your views are welcome. 

Ashwin