I don’t give much importance to assigned events like the New Year day. But, then, the starting of 2014 marks the coincidence of a new starting, the culmination of what I call as the ‘first phase of empowerment’ in independent India, that started in 1995.
1995? So late? Nothing before?
The political manifestation of the undercurrent of unity in diversity, in our country occurred overwhelmingly only once, in 1977 with Janata alliance getting whopping 47% of the votes polled, which is the highest till date, against the tide of congress since independence. It was hailed as the upsurge against the emergency imposed in 1976.
The experiment on a new type of democracy, the coalition, appeared to be short lived, with the congress coming back to power in 1980, with a 43% vote share, as if the voters recoiled back from their adventure!
With literacy rate of less than 3/4, and with a larger share of voting from the rural less-literate population, combined with the substantial influence of money and muscle power in the elections, the correlation between the election results and the political understanding & empowerment of the citizens of India was questioned by many till the late 90s.
In 1995, both internet and mobile phones came to India, heralding the information and communication revolution, both being the pillars of empowerment. The revolution would come of age in the next decade, thus giving the average Indian a sense of empowerment in the new millennium.
The new-found empowerment was explicit in the choice of our food, lifestyle and even movies. It had to reveal itself in the politics too, and thus it emerged as a movement (IAC), riding on the urban populace, empowered by the internet and mobile phone.
Unlike the anti-emergency plank that died soon, IAC would refuse to die, morphing into AAP in November 2012.
Close on its heels, the horror of 16th December would come as the tipping point. It was not just another barbaric crime. It was more than that. It was the culmination of years of misgovernance by the state, and apathy of the public.
I remember writing, “It was neither an isolated incident involving a psychopath, nor it happened for a vengeance. It happened so casually, with an audacity which still doesn't allow me to sleep. It is a slap on the face of all of us, who are privileged to have a voice in this society.”
This fueled the empowerment movement of the citizens. The angered citizens are no more sporadic and disconnected. They are now strong; informed and connected, thanks to the internet and mobile phones. From Rajpath to the innocuous TV rooms, they waited for the moment of expression.
And it came in December, thru the elections. Wherever there was an option to vote against the old order and give life to the new order, the people did. Delhi gave that option clearly. With the coronation of Arvind Kejriwal, the ‘first phase of empowerment’ in India came to a head.
The second phase starts from 2014, which is going to be more noisy, difficult and prolonged, where individual expressions and ideas will clash with each other for space and primacy.
Being a heterogeneous country, divided by language, caste and creed, we will settle for local equilibrium and coalitions. The final benefit will go to the citizen, who will emerge stronger, with the most powerful weapon of our times, the mobile phone.
With this in our hand, let’s welcome 2014! I am sure most of us are already doing so! Now, let the smile in your lips be there for the whole year!
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