No eras to look forward to?

There's something about the era gone by, about people who are no more and their immortal works, about ideals that no one has reached out to achieve... Something that fascinates mystifies and attracts us. Is it because this has passed beyond the boundaries of the tangible? Is it because that intangibility also gives it a sacrosanct status? Perhaps. Although many of us would like to critique its elevated status for whatever reasons, some would still salute it.

Gandhi and his ideals is one example. He has been applauded by admirers and denounced by critics. He has won as many accolades as brickbats. But, there's something to be said of the way he drew large crowds to participate in the freedom struggle, non-violently. He gave our call for liberation an international standing and much more. There's an interesting site, which shows how Gandhi would have communicated in this day of technology boom. http://streams.gandhiserve.org/ti.html

Dwelling further on this topic of eras gone by and of people, who created legendary masterpieces, is Sahir Ludhianvi. His poetry gave depth and meaning to musical compositions in the Hindi film industry. He coloured romantic themes with his delicate, poetic brush. More importantly, he also laid bare India's social and economic poverty with such force that it could rouse even the most hardened, indifferent being on earth.

My favourite is Sahir's composition for SD Burman's music in Guru Dutt's 'Pyasa'.

Yeh kooche, yeh neelaam ghar dilkashi ke.

Yeh lut te hue caravan zindagi ke.

Kahaan hai kahaan hai muhaafiz khudi ke.

Jinhe naaz hai hind par woh kahaan hai?

Kahaan hai, kahaan hai, kahaan hai?.....

.....Zaraa is mulk ke rahbaron ko bulaao,
Yeh kooche, yeh galiyaan, yeh manzar dikhaao.
Jinhe naaz hai hind par unko bulaao.
Jinhe naaz hai hind par woh kahaan hai?
Kahaan hai, kahaan hai, kahaan hai?

Even after 50 years of Sahir's cry of despair, things haven't changed much in our country. Why, oh why cannot our policy makers, our bureaucrats, our "representatives of the people" hear this cry that comes out of every Indian's heart? Why have they closed their eyes and ears and stifled their conscience? Why has power blinded them? Why cannot they see people's suffering? Their need for gainful employment? Their need for education? Their need for food? Their need for good roads, drinking water and power supply? Their need for accountability?

Perhaps we are to blame for electing them. But, who does vote today? None of the so-called educated, informed and 'thinking' citizens of India. None of the intelligentia either. So, who does?

Of course the anti-social elements of our society. They are bought by the scheming power mongers, who have them capture as many polling booths and rig as many ballot papers as possible, in return for some money and food. Their economic position and illiteracy (or lack of awareness) has made them vulnerabe.

When will this change? When will we get an era, which is tangible in its goodness and fullness? Which is not transcient, but sustaining? Which is not in the past, but here and forever? Which we can breathe and live in?