Like probably everyone else, I watched the inauguration on Tuesday night on TV, and after I long time in recent times, I felt jealous of America – that they have elected a person like Obama, who in turn has put a ‘dream team’ in place to lead and is bringing in a new attitude and mindset to governance. And here we are in India, where our politicians cannot articulate a vision to bring back the greatness that once was ours, cannot put the most competent people to lead the nation, cannot put in place the right policies. I feel sad because the problems in India are our own making, and we cannot seem to figure out a way to get out of the mess.
The next elections offer us a way out. It is a moment in India’s history where we the voters need to think hard about the kind of people we elect, the kind of party we put in the centre, and the kind of policies we want. We have to be part of our own future. We need a government for the people. And for that, we cannot remain silent anymore — we need to use technology tools to organise and make ourselves heard.
Obama has ignited hope not just in Americans but many globally — a hope that a government may actually be able to do good. We need to turn the hope that lies within us to reality. We cannot afford to lose another five years. We deserve a better future. And, we have to be part of the writing of our own history.
