Some of the questions which media is asking for last couple of days is
• Who can be India’s Obama?
• Will India get an Obama?
I think these are irrelevant questions. The question that we should be asking is does India deserve an Obama?
How Obama will turn out is a different Q, but what he symbolizes is hope, unity, a sense of purpose, a belief. America has united like never before and kept aside its prejudices to vote an African American in power. This unity is probably the biggest strength which US has.
Contrast this with our situation. At the same time when US is uniting we are finding new excuses to divide ourselves. Today’s web is carrying reports about vandal activities in a theatre in Pune for showing Kannada movies. Maharashtra Karnataka border issue is still not resolve even after 50 years. I fail to understand what is so difficult for the people in this area to stay in Karnataka, unless the state purposefully acts against them just because they speak marathi. There is also news which says Shiv Sena may ask all kanadiga’s in state to leave. If that happens surely, Kannada Rakshan Vedike will reciprocate.
In a population which is divided along all possible lines and not ready to move beyond them, I ask myself can an Obama rise?
• Who can be India’s Obama?
• Will India get an Obama?
I think these are irrelevant questions. The question that we should be asking is does India deserve an Obama?
How Obama will turn out is a different Q, but what he symbolizes is hope, unity, a sense of purpose, a belief. America has united like never before and kept aside its prejudices to vote an African American in power. This unity is probably the biggest strength which US has.
Contrast this with our situation. At the same time when US is uniting we are finding new excuses to divide ourselves. Today’s web is carrying reports about vandal activities in a theatre in Pune for showing Kannada movies. Maharashtra Karnataka border issue is still not resolve even after 50 years. I fail to understand what is so difficult for the people in this area to stay in Karnataka, unless the state purposefully acts against them just because they speak marathi. There is also news which says Shiv Sena may ask all kanadiga’s in state to leave. If that happens surely, Kannada Rakshan Vedike will reciprocate.
In a population which is divided along all possible lines and not ready to move beyond them, I ask myself can an Obama rise?
The answer to me is “No”, after all “in a democracy people get the government they deserve”
