Brahmastra in common hands

Hari Krishan Chaudhary

I AM a common man, the man in the street toiling to earn his bread through labour. I follow debates on television, where burning issues like demonetisation, Rafale deal, corruption, women empowerment, petrol prices and GST are discussed. Weighty pros and cons are put forth on each issue, but the conclusions leave me more confused. It disturbs me. I am restless; feeling like a rudderless soul, failing to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is dark everywhere. 

No news is good news for me. No news channel communicates any news or views worth listening to or ruminating. It sensationalises trivial news, ad nauseam, and fails to give any heartening news its due. For such news it perhaps reserves a special slot, which is eventually pushed back forever by some more interesting and compelling news.

I miss the good old news readers on Doordarshan, who did not dramatise, and yet, were able to communicate the happenings of the day. 

I wake up to see the first page of newspapers. A huge advertisement greets me, of a product that has no relevance to me. To get to the headlines, I have to turn to the second page. But before that, I have to deal with pizzas, burgers, home tuitions and sales pamphlets, falling from the inner precincts of my newspaper.

The headlines stare at me. They are familiar and disturbing. They were part of the late-evening debate yesterday on television. For fresh air, I go out for morning walk. I hear several voices in the park. The discussion of senior citizens, remarks of shopkeeper, the prophecy of the milkman.

Surprisingly, all these voices speak and articulate what I feel deeply. They talk of adulteration of milk and food products, vote-bank politics, civic mess, jobs for children and crime control. These voices are so different from those of television debates, or of netas promising free power, Rs 2 per kg rice and atta, and loan waivers. 

I wonder whether waivers are important, or is empowering farmers to prevent them taking a loan! Is free power important than a good remuneration to them for their produce? But free power to all is a better option, since it is for all big and small farmers and for politicians,  too.

Similarly, promising cheap food to the poor is better than building storage capacity for grains. 

Elections are fast approaching. We will gear up to listen to fresh promises of good times. We will be pampered with goodies. We will eagerly go through many manifestos to decide the best one for us, or NOTA if none suits us.

But I am a common man. I may see through it all. I may suddenly feel empowered. I am underestimated. It is delightful to see them confused when they realise my power. I may upset all calculations. I may have the last laugh. I have the Brahmastra in my hands.