Reflections on a Republic

Happy Republic Day, everyone.

Every year, on the 26th of January, my country celebrates Republic Day. Most of us see it as a holiday, and an excuse for a bloated and unnesecary parade, which slows down life in Delhi, but as with many things, it started out meaning something.
In many ways it is more important than our very independance, because today marks the anniversary of the adoption of our constitution, that basically laid out what as a country we wished to do now that we were independant. In many ways, that constitution has been forgotten. In many ways, the consitution itself needs to be updated, adapted to our new world, but it's basic features are still sacrosanct, and ensure that we live on, despite our feudal politicians and corrupt beaurocracy.

The question is, and the question that must keep being asked is, do we have our fundamental freedoms intact? Do we have freedom of speech, of expression? Do we have equal opportunity? Do we even come close?
Lets take things one at a time.
Freedom of Speech
Well, yes and no. I'm writing this blog, you see, and on it I can openly abuse politicians, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Bajrang Dal, with no fear of retaliation, or censorship. Whereas the law can do little to restrict my freedom of speech, life however is not that easy. The constitution cannot change society, and a divide of generations is still struggling to figure out what is open and acceptable in our world, and what is not. Luckily, I myself don't hold too many views, or lead a lifestyle against too many of societal norms, but for everyone who does, India still poses a great risk of freedom.
The second problem to our freedom of Speech are the politicians, who see it wholly appropriate to decide for me and you what is acceptable, and what is not. It is my opinion that free market policy should reign even in society, and barriers and norms will set themselves in much the same way that demand and supply do, as per the wants of the people.
All said and done, we must be thankful that our basic freedom of speech and expression can simply not be curtailed, if we are loud and vociferous enough. What is needed thus is not a change in law or constitution, or even as I myself would so much enjoy, a mass genocide of Politicians and Religious Leaders, but a personality change amongst ourselves, from timid Indians, to sure and confident ones.

Equal Opportunity
Equal opportunity will always remain a Utopian concept. People, by nature, are not equal. A genius, no matter what his social background, is going to have more opportunity of educational success than I am, even though I may come from a better economic background. I cannot make it to IIT, I have limitations.
On the same front, I can however study abroad, which is an opportunity simply not availible to many people in this country.
I think what is important is not ensuring equal opportunity in this country, but ensuring opportunity itself. Quotas need to go, completely. They are anti-opportunity, as the only people who take advantage of them are those who have already got their breaks. Quotas still present after over fifteen years have simpy not worked, and need to be rethinked. However, all the Politicians seem to want to do is increase quotas, to increase their votes. But as I said, when there is freedom of opportunity in the country, when it's not a disadvantage to be a Hockey Player, or a Musician, or Plumber, it won't matter who goes to IIT, who goes to Medical College, and who goes to Delhi University.

Right to Say No
The right to say no, after a public interest litigation, again one of those things that proves that democracy and our freedoms are and will remain intact, is set to be passed in the country. When I become a voter, I will have the opportunity to cast a negative ballot, to put in democratic system what I put in writing, that none of the candidates brought before us are fit, that we wish none of them, no party to get our vote.
My question is this. If a situation arises in a constituency where the absolute majority lies with the negative vote, should any MLA be elected? Is it right to represent a constituency where the majority do not wish to be represented?
Allow them to rule themselves, I say, give the money grant alloted to the politicians to the people, and see what will come of it. Then our democracy will be complete. When we have the right to rule ourselves.

Well, as Gump says, That's all I've got to say about that.

PS: Bhavya's brilliant Observation for the day: If references are given by referees, who give Testimonials?