Unchecked

How good is our public conduct? The question comes across the minds of many in the light of recent developments in country. Right from the start of the day there are thousand reasons for every one of us to be unhappy than not. We being taught with infinite patience and forbearance for ages try to gulp the unpalatable or prefer a selective ignorance to the inhospitable surroundings which are delivered on regular daily doses.

But a glance at the incidents that happen offer us deep insights into the nature of our buried emotions which erupt like collective violence . We fail to respond as an individual but collectively we can create havoc. It is the byproduct of our perception of poetic justice meted out to an unjust oppressor or aggressor. Our movies have nurtured the idea of revolting on a mass scale against long forborne perceived injustice. We as the people have evidently have not developed great respect for our justice delivery system. The enforcement which is detested to be ineffective to this point, is now viewed as culpable evil incapable of delivering goods. There is a large scale collapse of faith in our system. Establishments and agencies vested with the duty of safeguarding people's interests have developed functional paralysis due to increased interference of the political interests rather than administrative considerations . The only way one can make it work is only by manipulating it than by straight dealing.

The systemic cracks evident to the naked eye turned as loopholes vulnerable to the public attack. Suppressing a genuine revolt was often handled with success in the past but failure to tackle the fake revolts is fraught with it's inherent weaknesses. Ambitious plans of pleasing political bosses, shying flare up of caste and communal sentiments and resultant apathy towards a solution seemed to be tenants of present day law and order administration.

Years of misrule, outrageous corruption and dominant role of money power made a huge impact on the mindset of the people. Very few are able to see the things in the right sense. Burning buses can yield some fare reduction, hysterical slogan shouting can dethrone a Governor, playing Kho Kho on the freeways can disrupt the entire road transport system, smashing the train could result in national catastrophe. Veiled threats and open challenges and abuses also do not attract any kind of reprimand, hence can sustain. People here are convinced that protesting even for unreasonable demands could yield a positive results. They are made to believe that display of manipulative wrath camouflaging the ulterior can arm twist the authorities or Governments. Thus we are made to believe that a toddler sitting on his potty could warn the President or prime Minister with dire consequences if not heeded.

Strikes by the Hockey players, dharnas by the pilgrims to disrupt the peace of the temple town, indiscipline displayed by the elected public representatives, are only few of the many examples to follow. Stepping out of the norms is the new thriller which is tickling many. No need to say clearly we are heading towards chaos. People are set to explode either for their legitimate or illegitimate demands. Either way it is far from being constitutional or democratic. Total collapse of the grievance redress system, administration, and peacekeeping results in anarchy. We are playing with dangerous weapons of disruptive tendencies like provocation and vandalism.

It is high time that we restore our faith in legitimate constitutional methods of venting our grievances. The amount of displeasure shown towards dysfunction could as well be used for choosing a right system. A stitch in time save nine. There is no place for blackmail politics in well constituted democracies. Malfunctions are the off shoots of misjudgments and callousness on the part of the non vigilant citizens. Our numbers are dangerously swelling exerting extreme pressure on our resources distribution. Extreme caution is required in dealing with the situation. Exploding with anger by using extra constitutional methods is only making way for the antisocial elements to creep in. Increasing number of caste and regional cards in the play will not only undermine the overall growth but also usher self destruction.

We reap as we sow. Sow the right seed.