And We Celebrate Republic Day.

I wonder if our country is becoming a joke, really. Religion of course has no meaning, in its true sense in this country anymore, and outrageous, inhumane acts seem to have become the norm.
I wonder if I even wish to care anymore, because most times the whole cause seems just so hopeless and helpless. I did not post yesterday, because I did not want to spread my cynicism around on Republic Day, and I had nothing nice to think or say either. My header is a simple way of saying, that India is looking like a sham now. Yes, you can abuse me, and throw sticks at me, but that is exactly what I feel at this point of time.

Just over two months ago, the financial capital of the country was held hostage by a few petty terrorists, people screamed and cried about it.There were protest marches held, candle light vigils, loads of media coverage, which turned the terrorist(Kassab) into a celebrity of sorts, posts in the blog world, and in a couple of months it is all over. When was the last time we wrote or thought about it. What steps has the government taken to ensure that we do not face a situation like that ever again? What happened to the 'Do Not Forget' bits? We are all back to normal, Bombay functions just as it did, and we live in the false notion of all is well. Does not feel good, trust me. How do we do this to ourselves, why??

India would do well to do away with religion completely, become an atheist nation, if it wants to really survive. Nothing but gruesome, and dastardly acts are carried out in the name of religion in this country. When was the last time we did something good in the name of religion. The names of the Gods' are tainted by the abominable acts carried out in their names. Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and now Shri Ram Sena. There is that feeling of revulsion attached to these names now. How dare these men(??) insult my Gods? I really wish that in a very cinematic form, the Gods would really appear and punish these evil evil men. My blood boils in abhorrence and outrage when I read of incidents like these. We are a free country they say, and we allow such things to happen? It would be right to say the country is in a state of anarchy and complete lawlessness, and nothing less. We let goon gangs like these remain and flourish, without even contemplating banning them. How sad are we? Women are abused and molested in the name of God and morality? And of course all the outrage will die out soon enough, not only because we have become desensitised, but also because there will be something worse to infuriate us for the moment.

We know no one will be severely punished, we know our impotent government and legal system, are making a show of arrests, and the accused would be set free as soon as the furore dies down. No one would dare to punish them like they should be, to set an example that would induce fear in the hearts of those who even contemplate such terrible acts of inhuman proportions. There would be money changing hands, pressure from the men in positions of power, and all would be done with and forgotten. That is the glorious country we live in, and the truth we have all taken for granted. Murderers roam free, because they have political clout supporting them. Goons and mobs dominate the lives of citizens, because the police is incompetent and absolutely worthless.

Shame on me for standing and bearing this, for not doing anything and living this gruesome truth.

India has become a country of contradictions.

A democracy, where monarchy is followed.

A free country where the citizens are not free to do what they want to.

A secular country, where religion causes strife.

A country whose constitution gives equal rights to its citizens, but where each citizen is discriminated against at some level or the other, for what they are.

A country which has formidable defence forces, but is constantly plagued by terrorist attacks.

A country which claims to have laws for everyone, but they are implemented only on the weak and poor.

A country which claims to be an economy to be reckoned with, but where half the country is yet to have regular supply of electricity and drinking water.

We live in denial, we live in the glossy world woven by film makers, and in the jazzy new malls, and conveniently push under the carpet the things that really matter, like our real freedom, respect as a citizen and foremost our safety and security. The country lives in a state of anarchy people, and we do not even accept the truth. We should hang our heads in shame.