Jai Ho!

... Jai Ho seems to be the flavour of the country since it made it to the Oscars and won an award. Many may feel that it was not definitely the best from AR Rahman. While that may be so, no one can take away the credit that was due to this genious from Mera Bharat Mahan.

The song has been used by the Congress to showcase what it seems to think that it has done for the country.(. high hopes!).. in response , the BJP lost no time in bringing out Bai Ho and indicated the failures on many counts giving raise to a sense of insecurity and desolation. Only the elections will tell us as to whether these adoptations of the Oscar winning songs had any impact on the voters.

At another level, the movie that won so many oscars has borne the brunt of criticism by many Indians who felt that the west has not gotten out of the way to look at India as poverty stricken and through the prism of a developed country with scorn and contempt. Well, the fact that Dharavi exists can not be taken away, it also is true that many in our country still livebelow the poverty line( BPL). The health,hygiene and sanitation have always been casualities at the hands of the municipalities, inept governance and public apathy. So all those who criticise the movie would do well to introspect a little more and see what can be done to get the corporations, municipal bodies and panchayats to do their job. More importantly we all need to subject to close scrutiny our own actions or lack of them in being part of a civilised society.

That even after sixty two years of freedom, we still do not have access to clean water, clean roads,primary health care and even today, there is manual scavenging in many places should open our eyes to the sad state of affairs. The rich and pompous live at one level in the same country where the poor live a miserable life. Empty promises by the politicians, inefficient bureacracy, corrupt officials and a very tolerant (couldnt care less) population have brought us to this pitiful stage.

There can not be much hope even with the forthcoming elections. It would be the story of old wine in new bottle. How can any one expect the Government (read kichadi of self serving parties) to function when despite their idealogical and other differences they join hands just to grab power. This happens even when there is such hatred between the parties and personalities before the elections. Just after the elections, they dont mind joining hands with any one just to be in power.

Unless there is electoral reforms, we will continue to see convicts and those with greed for power coming back to rule us elections after elections.

Jai Ho!