Demonetisation shows in times of crisis the common people of India come through
The citizens care, it is the politicians disappoint
Every once in a while somebody wonders how Indians live with the illegality, inequality and squalor that defines our country. The newest reports show that the wealthiest one per cent of Indians own 49 per cent of the wealth, while the top ten per cent own 74 per cent of the wealth, making India one of the most unequal countries in the world.
We have the largest number of poor people living in the world. They face malnutrition, health issues, and massive challenges in leading a life that could conceivably be considered dignified.
So every once in a while a wise man (and it is usually a man) wonders why India has not had a revolution, why the poor and marginalised have not risen to crucify their persecutors.
And then you will read how the people are "docilely" standing in line, depositing their money that the government has ordered to, like cows or buffalos, or sheep, at the command of others.
You can almost imagine the journalist writing the copy shaking their head in frustration, and saying under their breath, "Well, if poor Indians are so stupid as to believe the ridiculous promises of their lying leaders, then they deserve what they get."
The costs of revolution
This is an incredibly short-sighted view of the decision-making process of the poor and marginalised - and, in effect, is a form of blaming the victim. It is not that the poor and marginalised do not understand that the dice are loaded, and the game is fixed. They know. They live with this reality every day. But they also realise another thing - the Indian democratic system has worked for them, whereas revolutions are a mug's game.
The statistics are boring, but worth revisiting. Since Independence, Indian per capita literacy and life expectancy have both more than doubled. There are major differences depending on the state you live in, and quite often "literacy" does not mean ability to self-learn, and while life expectancy is longer, quite often a life with dignity remains beyond the reach of the most marginalised, nevertheless these are real improvements. People live in an increasingly safe state, where violent crime is less and less of a problem.
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| PM Narendra Modi. (Photo credit: PTI) |
On the other hand, the areas of the country that have seen violent revolution - whether Leftist revolutions or identity conflicts - there growth and prosperity have stalled.
It is possible to argue that the most marginalised democracy deprived areas are the ones that have created the factors for violent revolt - and in a country whose Constitution promises rights to the citizens, if those rights are compromised over decades, the social contract is broken, and there is justification for violent revolt.
But justifications aside, the end result of the areas that have seen revolution and social chaos has been the further immiseration of the most marginalised. It is not so much that violent revolution is wrong or right, but practically, for the poorest people, violent revolutions have only made things worse.
The only people empowered by the Marathi Manoos idiocy are the functionaries of the Shiv Sena. And it matters little to a tribal if he is killed by the Maoists or the state in Chhattisgarh - a corpse is a corpse at the end of the day.
The desire to change the status quo
And yet, while people pragmatically recognise that peace and stability are their best way forward, it is not that they welcome the status quo which is not just unequal, but also unjust. They will also act, will sacrifice, and will gamble to help propel a change.
When the Aam Aadmi Party tried its odd-even experiment, we were all told it would fail. Indians, Delhi residents in particular, were too selfish and too uncaring to give up their cars for every other day, even if they were choking to death on the fumes.
Surprise, surprise, it worked. People voluntarily abided by the rules, and compliance was at 99.6 per cent - a surprisingly high percentage. Unfortunately it did little for air pollution - but it showed, very clearly, that people were desperate to find a solution, and were willing to do something about it.
Today, as the lines at the ATMs continue to mock the country for its haphazard and dubious proposal of junking Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in an abrupt manner, it is still striking how many people comply, without complaints, without riots.
People are sick of corruption, of the status quo, they want a change, and are willing to sacrifice their time and endure discomfort to make that change. Unfortunately, given that this step will look only at hoarded money - the vast majority of which is perfectly legal, if unbanked - and will do nothing about the factors that lead to corruption (primarily the illegal generation of funds by political parties), the end result will be nothing but the suffering of the most poor, and more money in the banks. Corruption will continue unchecked, just as air pollution did after the odd-even scheme.
The privileged are failing in their duties
Those disparaging the poor and marginalised are disparaging the vast mass of people that have kept Indian democracy working. They are the ones that vote the most, and are the most clear-eyed about the costs of revolutions as well as the cost of status quo - they are the ones that pay the full cost, with no discount, no subsidy. They want change, desperately.
Unfortunately our politicians are still giving them half-baked ideas that do nothing to change the underlying problems.
If you are privileged - and you definitely are if you can read this online - do not mock the poor. They are doing what is best for them, and for the country.
The failure is among our leaders, and amongst us - the privileged. Demand accountability for the failed and foolish policies of our politicians, and, in the words of Gandhi, "Be the change that you want to see in the world."