Indian Politics

We live in a nation that is of the people, for the people and by the people. Post Independence day celebrations I mused that what is this hoopla about. Every year we celebrate Independence day with full enthusiasm and energy. Says Poltuda: our local chaiwala: "We must be energetic. After all, great leaders have given their lives so that we live in peace for this day." Every Republic day or Independence day, I get tons of SMSs from my friends in weird sms language wishing me so and so. I see our National Flag being sold all over the city. Small traders and street urchins make a quick buck on this great day. I see the proud armed forces display weapons of mass destruction and march smartly by on television making the girls whisper: " Ohh! I love the 'boys' of the army. They are so manly and well dressed." Our Netas and babu's take this occasion to hold some meeting where they will hoist the National Flag and address the audience, starting from tiny tots to aged people, about our country and how we should take it to greater heights. Irrespective of the fact that the very same Neta has been charge-sheeted by the administration on charges ranging from corruption to murder.
So what is the thing that I should be proud of?
Tricolour, the heritage, politics, democracy...what??
Terrorists attack are always imminent before Republic day and Independence days. The News channels always carry the news of some encounter that took place where ferocious terrorists have been gunned down by brave officers after a long gun-battle just on the eve of the Day. What a load of crap!
Why should I be proud of these killers, rapists, corrupted people? The Neta's who are willing to sell their grandmothers to get a ticket for contesting elections are running the Government. Terrorists attack wantonly, kill leave quietly. The fake encounters are done by police who do not have enough stamina to run fast for 2 minutes. So innocents are killed everyday. They are mauled and crushed under the juggernaut called 'system'. Even though you might have been a politician once but once you are out of the lime light your situation are reduced to this.
What we lack is 'political will'. My Japanese friend Mr. Saito had once told me, " why would anyone attack me on the street. I have my respect and even though one might attack, I will hit back and use all my strength to make sure such things never occur again." Why cant the same be true for our nation. Our politicians will go over to the world stage and create another melodrama that its the victim to countless terrorist attacks and plans. They will never take strong action that would end the problem once and for all. So much for Gandhigiri.
To conclude, I can only be proud of the fact that we live in a nation that allows us to live. I respect those martyrs who had given their lives so that we could live in a free country. Even though our country and its top people are flawed but that's just life. In Poltuda's wise comment: " No nation is perfect, we have to make it a perfect nation." (Urgh! I guess that's the line from Rang de Basanti movie)