Hysteria of Hope

We are a country run by sentiments, with a continual hope that things will change for the better. In 2014, when the Messiah of hope launched himself, people saw a faint light of belief that he would lead the paradigm shift the previous government has been incompetent to for decades. We subscribed to this hysteria of hope in majorities, regardless of their obstinate right-wing ideologies and religion being an agenda throughout.

Now, when the system that has been continually broken stands exposed and people are in dire of help from a man-made pandemic, who should they turn to for seeking refuge?

Is it the dichotomic Messiah and his ‘Chowkidar’ peers, who have exhorted the general public with their ‘Chai’ stories during elections but have been the ‘Suit-boot ki Sarkar’ oblivion to people’s problems otherwise? Obviously, they refuse to accept that, but their actions have spoken for them when they gainsaid the prospect of increasing corporate taxes in the budget that affects 3% of the population, and instead let the duties on petroleum rise beyond proportions, something that affects each and every individual of the economy. Or not retracting the farmer bills which were passed for the ‘betterment of them’ after protests of months. And then finally coming on the wire to tell us, “You are on your own.”

It has to be the rich then, people who have been busy pumping stocks of oxygen related companies to vaunt on their portfolio returns while we suffocate. The influencers and celebrities? People who have advised us to stay home while having already fled the country, or living in bio-bubbles, having more availability of medical services under their helm than they would require in a lifetime, while the poor scuffle to get a place in the crematorium.

Then who? People like us going through the same set of dilemmas and having similar struggles, who, after cent per cent efforts from their end, are still unable to make ends meet. The last resort? It has to be the eternal force that has the potency to create, sustain and destroy the human race. The one who populated the world in the first place, the Almighty. But where does one go when temples have become the biggest containment zones in themselves.

The dystopia has gotten as real as it could, while we will still like to believe there is hope at the end of this. And perhaps for humankind, there is. We have survived bigger calamities in our strides, after all. But on the other hand, the power man has bestowed upon himself that has the mettle to wipe out its own creed is appalling and terrifying.

And for the Messiah and his chowkidars who have played with our sentiments and hope, all I can see in the road ahead is complete tenebrosity. If you are still able to park your expectations in their shade while all the paradigm shift they have led to in the seven years has been towards the worse, maybe you are just one of them, oblivious to the hardships of others while you sit at home and watch Netflix. Don’t you worry. Your turn will come when your Messiah will turn his head on you. Or, as you IPL enthusiasts would like to hear, “Bowl a bouncer to your unguarded head, right from the Adani End!”