Undulations

The evolution, of man as a being and humans as a society, has been about one thing more than anything else - a perpetually growing pile of ordeals cumulating upon our selves. As we grow and move, these ordeals; the tidbits of etiquettes, rules, laws, clichés, orders, advises and duties; circle us in a vicious loop, even while we don’t realize it and proclaim ourselves to be free men.

The state assembly elections were here; after a couple of weeks of stampede by trumpeting campaign-bandwagons; and like the past time, I chose not to vote. As for why, I had a clear reason - firstly, it was a cycle-democracy, except for an exception in a blue-moon, the fronts ceaselessly alternated for their shot at the podium. Secondly, the choice was between sand and sawdust. Finally, all candidates had personalities as plain as the attire they were clad in, white, with no distinguishing colours or patterns that set them apart from another. Thus, at least until one of the three factors negates itself (the third being obviously the most likely, the other two bordering on total impossibility), I found no real reason to vote.

Like expected, this decision would garner more rebuke than praise. When I rather proudly told a friend that I skipped this elections, she responded:

I disagree. It’s true that politicians never do their part, but we have certain duties as a part of the democracy, so at least we should do that. (…) Not being a part of democracy is a failure from our side, and we can’t forget our duties towards the nation like that.

Yet again, here we are, where a duty should take precedence over choice or reason. Nobody really disagrees the fact that democracy in India, as it stands, is a total failure. Everyone just wants to play their parts simply as it is their duty towards the nation, because we are all part of a plan, our souls bound down for life to a hundred ordeals written down in ink.

As for me, quite simply, I don’t give a damn, my duty is something that makes sense to me and makes me want to do it; and I don’t believe that choosing sand over sawdust is one of them - it would be my duty to vote, if one day comes a sensible politician that really demands my attention and vote; but until then, no, I’m not buying. And to all the duty-loving crowd, a quick reminder - if voting is your duty, so is keeping your surroundings clean and protecting the public-property like your own - the constitution writes that down too.

What do you think? Do I make sense or am I the complete moron?