Enough is enough. We have had more than enough of the Covid positive phenomenon. In the midst of blame games, we have watched with trepidation our near and dear ones packed in plastic bags and taken out of treatment centres to unknown destinations. We were denied even a last look at them. Some of them were reported to have been floating in the waters of the Ganga Mata. The burial shrouds of some were removed by the order of the powers that are. This India, ‘Mera Bharat Mahan!’

The menace of Covid snatched away with cruel hands people from all strata of life, from all classes and castes, priests and pundits not spared! It struck in homes and hospitals, at work places and prayer meetings, in office premises and market places, et al.  It left many as orphans, widows or partner-less.  

The terror of Covid made us panicky and we ran for cover. We were quarantined under lockouts so as not to become contaminating agents. That caused the number of jobless people soaring and poverty skyrocketing. The once clanging kitchen utensils, patronised by political windbags for street drama, remained silent and empty, wondering what all that nonsense was about.  The bellowing political fraternity that shouted ‘Corona go, corona go’ later presided over deaths in millions. The heartless and remorseless political leaders looked the other way when the Covid-claimed dead were consigned to watery graves as floating carcasses. 

Where do we the survivors go from here? From the world of the wild gyrations of Covid positive, we need to go forward to a new India positive. From a hopeless world we need to move with hope to a brave new world. From Covid and the fiddling politicians who chose to let us see no flicker of light at the end of the tunnel, we need to step out of the tunnel to say no to the dark forces of a world of arrogant and power-hungry leadership. 

It is time to say enough is enough. We have been fooled too much. Lying politicians with hoodwinking promises of a Midas touch have trampled on our lives as if our lives were dirt cheap.  Our nation’s integrity has been reduced to trash by megalomaniac leaders who strutted in the international arena with stage-managed muscle-flexing.  When their ballooned muscles burst at the prick of a needle of integrity, back home they turned sales representatives of digital toolkits.   

Too much of tomfoolery! Too much of mismanagement of the nation’s wealth and public assets! The nation’s public resources and assets were converted into the private property of the ruling class and handed over to its friends and benefactors on a platter.  While a good many cronies were allowed to melt into thin air by political benevolence with the loot of national wealth from the banks. 

Our mouths were gagged. Those stood with the poor for justice and freedom were spirited away by the dragon claws of the Big brother and dumped into prison cells. Those who raised concerns about the way the nation was being dragged into an authoritarian fiefdom were pricked, booked and shelved. The Fourth Pillar of Democracy showed signs of cracks as the hammer blows of ‘shut up or shape up’ threats were administered to the media world. 

Shall we tolerate this Big Brother phenomenon of George Orwell’s totalitarian state Oceania wherein the ruling party Ingsoc wields total power for its own sake over the inhabitants?   Did our founding fathers envision this nation to turn into a politico-religious totalitarian state to be ruled by cunning puppeteers or hoodwinking magicians with mumbo-jumbo? Is it not time that we marginalise such cynical forces and reclaim our space of freedom, equality, social justice, economic empowerment of the masses and a mentally balanced leadership? Such is the positive India we need to aspire for. 

Should we allow our India positive to be dragged down to the dark ages of superstition and unscientific quagmire? Aren’t we making a fool of ourselves before the world when we use all our scientific worth to scout the planets while, at home base, we peddle bovine faecal matter and bovine urethral discharge as panacea for all ills? Is this India positive we want to live in? 

People need to put their thinking cap on. In fact many are doing it. More should do so. And garner courage too. A woman clad in a six hundred rupee sari and two hundred rupee Hawaii slippers as footwear is showing a lioness’ courage to speak up and even to shout full throated at the Prime Minister of the nation to suggest to him a lesson or two in good governance for ‘Achhe Din.’ 

Mamata Banerjee, Bengal Chief Minister was qualified to do it because she knew at ground level the pangs and pains of human beings.  A photo capture that went viral on social media said it all. The Bengal Chief Minister studying the flood situation with her feet touching the flood waters while the Prime Minister of India surveying the flood through a helicopter window.

So, what type of Achhe Din we want in India positive? A governing political outfit that has its ear to the ground? A leadership that vibrates with people with genuine empathy rather than with stage-managed crocodile tears? A leader who has the humility to admit mistakes and thus deserves to stand tall, warts and all, before the nation? 

Or, a group of capitalist cronies flourishing as billionaires and millionaires, while unemployment, economic deprivation and loot of national resources go unabated? 
Rather, shall we not rebuild India into a nation with economic and social justice, an honest and judicious judiciary, clean bureaucracy, noncriminal and service-minded legislators and parliamentarians, and above all, a knowledgeable captain of integrity atop? 

Let us not remain like meek lambs bleating in fright.  India is ours. Let us be proud of being Indian nationals who uphold fellowship beyond religious barriers and caste deformities. Let us say no to the men and women who want to barter India with religious fundamentalism and narrow nationalism. Let us say yes to all that is noble and valuable in our sacred constitution gifted by our founding fathers. Let us believe that India positive is possible!