Indian electors must be actively weighing their options for electing their representatives to Parliament. How smartly the electors exercise their franchise, will decide if we will have a performing, sincere Parliament that discharges its obligations, or if it has fallen on our fate to bear with a nonfunctional Parliament made of a motley crowd of disparate members.
We are made to believe that Indian democracy has matured over the years. Apparently yes, if its mere survival during the last 67 years is any measure. Also that the voters have at times tried out alternative options in hand particularly after 1977. But looking at the character and content of our elected members, and the way polity has been moving of late, there’s a question mark on the elector’s wisdom. If we have been forced to bear with unbecoming conduct of our elected representatives, then it is primarily because we have been mindlessly exercising our franchise. Otherwise, proven criminals and schemers would not have continued to find their place. And we would not have encouraged money-power progressively firming up its root in the electoral process.
The truth of life is that the present political breed has understood the emotional volatility of the common masses, which they exploit to their advantage in the name of religion, caste, regional pride and what not, as it suits them contextually. Consequently, the divide is ever expanding, weakening our roots day by day. If we allow the ground to slip day by day, the fate of a multilingual, multicultural, and multi-religious massive country as ours becomes obvious. The track record of our traditional political class so far, very clearly shows that their general intent has been shady. They have been just playing vote bank politics with a wish to grab power one way or the other, even if means playing divisive cards.
At this hour of judgment, it is high time we woke up and exercised our rights wisely rather than being swayed emotionally by the schemers. So, should we not become alert about our concerns, and fail to weigh our options well before making our choice, I am afraid, we are laying the ground for the next Mahabharata war. The question now is: Who would qualify as a leader suited to the Indian demographic pattern with all its diversity and enormityIJ
Ancient India’s learned masters have outlined the measure of a true leader through the symbolism of lord Shiva seated on an ox, and his court comprising of all varied creatures such humans, godly bodies, animals, goblins. There remains inherent incommunicability amongst all of them and all with their individual limitations. Yet, lord Shiva remains in accord with one and all ignoring their individual shortcomings. He absolves them of their sins and absorbs them in the form of snake venom round his neck. For, he knows that if each creature has its own limitations, it is simultaneously endowed with some assigned virtue as would be necessary for essential sustenance of the living order. Even a trivial creature like termite spoils our wooden materials and paper, it also creates a hole deep in the soil structure facilitating the entry of oxygen so as to activate soil fertility. Remember, the living world is set into an interdependent mechanism, wherein but for one, the very existence would be at stake. And so he wishes to have the best out of all his courtiers so as to ensure a smooth run of the existential order as exemplified by being mounted on an ox. Those having exposure to village life would know that the oxen pulling a bullock-cart keeps moving unprovoked at a fixed pace till it reaches its destination. On top of all that, lord Shiva is one deity who is perceived bare bodied to mean that he selflessly discharges his duties and obligations without expecting anything in return. He enjoys the confidence of one and all.
It may be difficult to find a leader exactly framed in Shiva’s mould. But we must be particular about picking up the one who is committed to harmonious co-existence and also works for inclusive growth. Midway through the election process, it will be unfair to discuss astrological charts of individual leaders. But if an alert mass looks at the choices in hand dispassionately, they are capable of making the right judgment, as they have shown on few occasions earlier.
The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Write to him at G-5, Basement, Jungpura Extension, New Delhi 14 Tel:9818037273/ 24310031 Email: pioneerqueries@bharatastro.co
Website: www.bharatastro.com