Many excuses for not accepting God
My aged mother, living in one of the six states that went to the Assembly polls, was unsure whether she would cast her ballot this time because of poor health. Yet members of a certain party arranged her commute to the polling booth, where she was told she could not vote because she had misplaced her Aadhaar card. Strangely, she was not disappointed. In her words, “It doesn’t matter who comes to power. They are all the same.” Still, she and my late father had always shown allegiance to the Congress party and voted for the “hand”, regardless of the candidate. Their loyalty was less about ideology and more about history and habit.
For many people like me, national politics is not central to everyday life. It appears in fragments - television debates, newspaper headlines or snippets overheard in conversation. To those deeply invested in politics, this may seem like indifference towards democracy or a lack of strong views about governance. But that is not entirely true.
Many who consider themselves apolitical stay away from mainstream political discourse because of the confusion, disillusionment and fatigue it creates. It often brings to mind George Orwell’s Animal Farm, where ideals of equality and justice slowly collapse into hypocrisy and moral decay. Time and again, political systems appear trapped in this cycle. Even newer political entrants that promised reform and clean governance eventually seem vulnerable to the same compromises they once criticised. This raises an uncomfortable question: is genuine political change sustainable in a world quietly driven by self-interest behind public-good rhetoric? The repeated cycle of hope and disappointment reinforces the popular belief that “all are the same”, pushing many people away from the theatre of politics. Adding to this spectacle is the growing trend of celebrity politics, where film stars can become political heavyweights overnight, often because of public adoration rather than political credentials. Vijay continues Tamil Nadu’s long tradition of blending cinema with politics, turning elections into dramatic public events. Whether his entry will truly reshape the State’s political landscape remains uncertain.
For most ordinary citizens, however, politics is ultimately judged by stability and governance. People care less about who rules and more about whether governments improve daily life. Employment, safety, healthcare, education and economic relief matter more than ideological slogans. Political parties may champion grand principles, but unless citizens feel protected and supported, party names and leaders gradually lose significance.
Being ideologically neutral does not mean being ignorant or opinionless. For many, it is simply a refusal to be boxed into rigid political identities. Political parties demand loyalty and fixed alignment, while individuals often hold complex and even contradictory beliefs. A person can value secularism and equality simultaneously without subscribing entirely to one political camp. Yet modern political discourse increasingly pushes people to choose sides and follow strict ideological lines. As a result, many prefer distance - not from public issues themselves, but from the insistence that they must think in only one prescribed direction. They are not anti-political; they are merely quieter participants in democracy. Their silence should not be mistaken for apathy. Often, it reflects a belief that thoughtful engagement does not always need to be loud, partisan or confrontational.
The writer is a spiritual teacher and a popular columnist; Views presented are personal.
