In Praise of Politicians & Voters
He is a master politician: he has no conscience. He can do without this terrible burden. He goes to sleep at night and snores like a baby, and much louder. Some people think it is the train or sound of helicopters. And, in the morning, he wakes up looking fresher than a glass of early morning toddy; that is the nature of the beast. The Goa State elections are on their way and there soon will be a lot of entertainment on the menu, more than Christmas, Diwali and all other festivals together. It is Party time and every politician will challenge every other. People who have household reputations for corruption and a history of rags-to-riches will speak against it, proving they have skins harder than elephants and maybe even the coconut tree bark which everyone nowadays knows is no longer a tree. What it is exactly will be known to future generations. Who knows it might become a part of our mythology like the wonderful story of the birth of Goa. Why be scientific when we can have pseudo-science, a cocktail of science and mythology? Politicians everywhere make promises. And these promises are not to be taken seriously by anyone, including voters. After all, politicians themselves don't take the promises they make to the voters seriously. So, why do you, Mr Voter? In Goa the voter is suffering from a serious case of maya, and needs to see a doctor to prescribe some miracle medicine to cure his or her illusions and delusions. It is a joke, a sad joke on the voter who unfortunately has no sense of humor. Forget about it. Go have a drink or go see a soccer match or …. Anything to cure you of your false expectations and belief in the promises made by our politicians prior to the state or national elections. Luckily for Mr Voter our state is full of attractions and there is something for everyone, no shortage so you need not worry. Your cure is guaranteed. You don't have to listen to me, an overseas worker who returns to Goa every year but cannot vote, not as yet, anyway. Some day, maybe. Besides, I don't go to church or believe in God. Most of the voters and politicians in Goa are church-temple-mosque going people who believe but apparently do not fear God. I have nothing of value to offer them. Anyway, who is an Indian? That is the question. I mean, the real thing. Debates will begin and continue around the clock. Are you a real Goan is no doubt the sub text. Are your roots deep enough or are you a banana tree? If you are not then don't try be a coconut tree as it is no longer a tree. Sorry, but you have a problem, a serious identity problem. Who are you, really? What is your place in this great and old society of ours, the envy of the whole world. Americans who are proud of Abe Lincoln who made it all the way from a log cabin to the White House or Obama, the first United States President of color who wants to rename it the Black House are nothing compared to us. We are greater as our Prime Minister's father was the owner of a chai shop and he is known the world over as the Brahmin's chai boy. In India, our country, a chai boy can become the Prime Minister. Who can outdo this? As an Indian, are your roots deep enough and your caste high enough for you to have the right to express your opinion? If not, you don't know a thing, a single thing worth a coconut so be eloquent and keep silent. As we all know, our great, old and complex country is held together by a unique spiritual power and so we Indians have the right to use the phrase - unity in diversity. Some people are Hindus, others Christians, Muslims, Jains and so on - diversity - as you will not see anywhere else on our planet! And - unity - …? We are all corrupt. It is what binds us and unites us all, forever. Cana it get any better?