Amit Sharma
It is an interesting year so far as expression of interest regarding changing dynamics of public life is concerned. Firstly, the general elections which were held in in early 2014 which showed a result wherein public voted for a major overhauling, as has not happened in the recent past. This was expression of national sentiment towards a complete changeover in Government holding center-stage in India. This change was inevitable as public wanted to give a chance to opposition benches so as to give them desired sops, as was being promised throughout before general elections. But one thing became a reality in these general elections that voters have become very intelligent and focused. They want to realize worth of their voting power these days whenever they venture out to vote.
Similar is the case which happened during state assembly elections which were held at different places in this year 2014. People mostly voted for change as they now want deliverance and not showing them unrealistic dreams. Actually, it seems that public have got fed up by mere political promises which turn out to be gimmicks in the long run. Whenever the political parties are voted to power, they hardly find the chosen public representatives fulfilling even few amongst their commitments and manifesto announcements.
This change in voter psychology has also forced the politicians to become serious and it has started resulting into weeding out of non-serious candidates as well as corrupt elements in public life. Another thing which has happened off-late is the huge jump in the number of people who come out to vote. High voter turnout is also playing a major role in changing the results of elections. Now, it has already started happening that mere impressive speeches, high-end promises or luring voters with petty things does not result into their contribution towards their vote-banks but now, everyone realizes that one is sealing fate for next five or six years into EVMs by pressing a button on it. So, this kind of voter awareness has become an excellent addition in raising the standards of democracy and overall public life.
During yesteryears, lot of typical dynamics such as sentimental grounds, dynasty rule, caste based politics, religious card playing, usage of money power or muscle power, etc. used to prevail and most of the elections were fought with such tools. Over the time, people started realizing that these people win elections using our weaknesses for these things but the resultant of it is even worst. As a consequence, public kept on stagnating for long and their issues used to remain unresolved. After sometime, another strange phenomenon took-over when the suppliers of muscle or money power themselves found it appropriate to take the bastion of fighting elections in their hands and rather than backing their political bosses, these goons or notorious lots themselves used to come in forefront and started fighting elections directly. Surprisingly, they also began to win elections and even sometimes, they used to win sitting behind the bars. This led to further deterioration in public life and politics in India undoubtedly, touched its lowest ebb.
Off-late, the voters or public in general found themselves landing in no-man’s land and gripped in the vicious webs of scams, corrupt practices, lack of development, social unrest, rise in violence, etc. Even another worst thing started happening as a resultant of it. Younger generations started become aimless, directionless and an anomie-like state started coming up. There was a trend towards two extremities. Either the youth who could attain top slots used to leave present system and move out of nation to build their personal safe and secure future or the worst lot of society used to take the reins of public life in their hands to rule the roost.
It was rightly pointed out by someone that those who are true achievers or cream of society become bureaucrats like, IAS, KAS, PCS, etc, next who fall short of it become technocrats like Doctors, Engineers, etc., next who fall short of it become Teachers, Technicians, etc. and even those who further fall short of it become contractors, business class, etc. but the worst amongst all, who cannot reach anywhere near to all above categories become public figures or leaders and enter Parliament and Legislatures so as to rule all the above-mentioned classes.
One major impressive phenomenon which has been trending these days is that the thinking minds have started pondering over the disastrous fall-out of these above-kind of equations and now, we find healthy number of literate people taking keen interest in public life on full-time basis and they want to themselves join public life and ultimately become law-makers. With few important initiatives in this behalf and cleansing exercises happening within political parties themselves, a new hope has come and at present, we find most of the people focused to elect right candidates for the betterment and improvement in their living standards.
The tolerance and patience of public has been tested for long period of time since independence and numerous false hopes and promises has indeed forced all determined persons to draw towards taking a lead in public life and proved their mettle whenever a chance is given to them. This dynamic turnaround has open a great outlet for all potential holders to try themselves towards serving the masses, whether they belong to any of the above-said category and not necessarily, the bottom-most crest of society, as it used to happen mostly in the past.
Hope, these elliptical changes in public psychology towards bringing about a paradigm shift in public life will go a long way in realizing the true potential which a democratic nation like India deserves which could not be attained due to vested interests and few bunch of ruffians snatching the power of voters for attaining personal gains. To be realistic, if not too optimistic, the youth of nation, now onwards, will never tolerate public nuisance creators to be their torch-bearers in future.
{The writer is a Senior KAS Officer of J&K Government and a specialist in e-Governance who can be reached at his blog: amit1kas.blogspot.com or amit1kas (facebook id) or amit1kas@gmail.com for comments/suggestions}
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