Over the years, of learning the ABC’s of politics from the age
of 5 . My memory down the lane takes me back to the mourning days of Rajiv’s
assassination in the hot humid may summer days of 1991 on Doordarshan. And
later thin memories of Iran Iraq gulf war , the conversations of mom & dad
on the fuel prices. My childhood more or less started with listening to All
India Radio and Doordarshan English news with my parents. As time passed,
learnt about Mr.P.V.Narashimha Rao for reviving the economic situation of our
country. When I turn back and see a person who won with highest majority in the
history of general elections that time, the jewel and pride of Andhra
Pradesh was ill treated during his last
years with scams, I still don’t know , whether the allegations were proved.
The other two great leaders whom I remember are Madhavrao
Scindia and Rajesh Pilot , who lost their lives in peak of their political
careers. I was more pulled towards the
national politics may be the main influence was NDTV and I hardly admired very
few in AP state assembly. Growing up watching Prannoy Roy , Bharkha and Rajdeep was amazing and other side Nikhil
Chinnappa on Mtv moulded a new young girl of 21st century. Thanks to
the wonderful school at St. Ann’s which gave a great peer group , where we had discussion on
national topics. One of the elections I remember was between Sonia and Sushma
in Bellary. I was moderate among my friends not disclosing my political views
and the ideologies that are growing up in me.
Whereas my friends were vocal and they brought in the views from the
family dinners as well. As I pen down here the discussion, I should not forget
the 1st time I have entered a polling booth walking with my
grandfather as 5 year old kid and the words he told me , vote for the national
party who got us freedom (hope you got ). Now in this age , is there anyone -
still so loyal who look into the legacy of past and forget the present &
future before casting the vote. Before
the final exams of 9th standard our former principal Sister Rachel
had come for our school visit. She was
our favourite for her simplicity and punctuality. She asked us what you want to become , I was
the only one in my whole batch standing and telling “Journalist” (Still that
passion is there inside me and makes me to focus on PR side) this journalism
was over shadowed by the Wheat Rust disease lines in Geography from ICSE Part 1
making me to choose the path of agricultural university.
Later after school, I lost the best buddies who were the best
critics on politics , movies and of course external affairs. As days passed ,
great leaders emerged who shaped new India. Only thing that disturbed me was
politics of religion. One person at home who shaped up my ideologies was my
dad. Few of the qualities I inherited are storing the speeches of political
leaders literally in my heart. Be it great speeches of Mr. Vajpayee, Mr. Naidu
talking ill of agriculture, P. Janardhan Reddy as opposition leader in AP state
assembly, the Pada yatra by Dr.YSR in hot
summer of Andhra Pradesh through length & breath of the state.
One marvelous habit which I admired & thanked my dad was he
collected the newspaper and magazine cuttings right from his secondary school
till my early school. Those pictorial albums gave me great respect to
Democratic India. So before the option
of search on internet gave me the best pictures of 1970’s & 80’s politics
and sport. In school I knew internet as Yahoo and it was a synonym of chatting.
It is hilarious, but it is the truth I got to admit.
Meanwhile the collation governments formed and dismantled at the
center, the trips of Ms.Jaya Lalitha with huge luggage always got the attention
of media and even me. The scientist look
of Mr. I .K.Gujaral , Sleeping prime minister Devegowda could not find stand
the fire of 3rd front unity. Mr.Chandra Babu’s stand and on the
power price increase and how his govt responded on revolters.
By the time I reached my eleventh and twelfth , I was bitten by Sachin Pilot bug , it would be big joke if I tell any of
my friends that I admire a politician , where the later looked at film stars
and sports personalities. After many years came to know, he was married in the
year 2004 itself. But a smile always appears on my lips whenever I see him on
my television screen.
The time I entered my agricultural college in 2004 have seen Vajpayee losing the election being a
former prime minister and Manmohan Singh
looses in Assam and becomes prime minister this talks of the uncertainty that
Indian Politics can offers. By the mid of 17 years I came to know about my caste,
religion thanks to the reservations. The admission to the university teaches
you all in India. The day you entered college you are met with your caste and religion groups. With my religion and
caste combination, there was no one in the university. Coming from converted
family of higher Hindu caste to Christian as a teenager, there were many a times,
I was in dilemma that did a great battle in my heart. Till today, I still don’t
know the caste of my best friend and I did not dare to ask.
2004 beginning of my college and confessions saw few of the best
political turn around in center & state. Sonia turning out the prime
ministerial post , now I just feel that , she had great political acumen and
many must have realised it now. The expelling of Sharad Pawar from INC and
Dr.YSR forming the govt at Hyderabad were remarkable memories I have. Other
side by that time , I read a lot about our prime minister Manmohan Singh an
eminent economist , the most learnt politician ever in the world , who was
instrumental in bringing out India from the economic crisis in early 1990’s.
Watching Somanth Chaterjee and Sitaram Yechury interviews or speeches, they
never attracted me for their ideologies but their fluency in English was the
best among the politicians. Sometime I feel communists are the most learnt so
they have become socialist.
After 10 years, now
Dr. Manmohan Singh no more contests in general election, Sharad Pawar moves
to upper elderly house, may be Advani’s
last election but has to work under his student, Sonia passed on the power to
her son , the loyal congress man Pranab Mukerjee made president , Dr.YSR is no more and 5 years
of his death lead to the chaotic years of the state and ultimately resulted in
bifurcation of the state, Akhilesh seeing a mirage of his father Mulayam Singh
becoming PM and the sibling war between Alagiri and Stalin of already cremated
DMK.
With 1 billion plus unique identies and
trillion plus Ideologies ....... marks the end of an era. For May 2014, many
gourmet chefs are coming for battle for 1st time and for many it
would be the last one, who would be remembered by my generation - on side of “Twilight”.
