Discourse on freedom

I can’t remember the last time I read something so singularly infuriating and astonishingly puerile. Here Aakar Patel in Mint -

The British left in 1947, and they left too soon. We celebrate Independence Day, but another six decades of dependence as Great Britain’s colony would have been good for us. We could have learnt how to run cities. No harm in admitting what is obvious for all to see: We cannot even manage traffic.

I don’t mind satire, in fact, I relish it, but this is such mindless expression. There are so many things wrong with this post – the equation of the long, painful history of colonisation with the concerns peculiar to a merely vehicle-owning class. There’s more to follow -

Delhi would have more bits like the ones the British built, the only elegant parts of the city, just as British South Bombay is the only elegant part. Cities such as Surat and Ahmedabad and Hyderabad and Indore would have become civilized.

I can understand that Patel never read Fanon, by the above extract. But here’s another gem – the colonial economy destroyed indigenous scholarship, but Patel clearly thinks we could done with a bit more of Macaulay.

The great German tradition of Indology continues through men such as Heinrich von Stietencron, but a sustained engagement through colonial government would have resulted in more attention to Indian studies…What else would be better? Education, through the Macaulay plan.

This is irresponsible journalism at its worst. I agree that being politically engaging isn’t a priority for Mint Lounge, yet we could do without this tripe.

Hungry, and without a vote

It is early morning in Chandni Chowk, and the poll booths do not show encouraging signs of activity. The only people at work are the pavement barbers, trimming with mechanical ease. In a small alley off Nai Sarak, kids have never found playing cricket on the street so smooth and uninterrupted as all the shops are closed. This scenario of deserted streets and uncharacteristic calm replicates itself everywhere else in the walled city on this sluggish morning. The enthusiastic voting that will eventually push up the turnout to 50 percent is a story for the latter part of the day.

However, this day is no different from any other for Mohammad Ali, a 45-year-old daily labourer from Murshidabad in West Bengal. He is one among hundreds of men that squat outside the numerous food stalls in Matia Mahal waiting for his first morsel of bread. “Some wealthy man usually comes from Jama Masjid after the morning prayers to feed us, especially after some wish has been fulfilled. On a few lucky days, we are able to eat. Otherwise, we have no option but to go hungry.” On being asked whether he had voted, he replied, “I am homeless, therefore I cannot vote. I have no passport, no ration card to prove my existence.”

Sonu, who migrated to Delhi a decade ago still hadn’t got his vote. He said, “I tried to contact the authorities but they say that you have no residential address. Does it mean that I cannot vote?”

This was a problem in the slums opposite Meena Bazaar as well, where most people had no voter ID cards. Residents of the colony told The Indian Express that no one from the Election Commission had contacted them and helped them register as voters. Surprisingly, most people who had not been able to register seemed eager and enthusiastic to vote.

Ashok Kumar Rawat, 43, had been able to secure breakfast but was still looking for work near the Dojana House polling booth in Matia Mahal. He said, “Of course, I would love to vote if I get the chance. Maybe it can make some difference.”

I wrote this story while covering the 2009 general elections for The Indian Express.