‘Hey CAB is a law now!’ read the WhatsApp message popping up on my phone screen. My brother has this nagging habit of discussing politics at night, while sleep knocks hard on my eyelids. I rubbed my eyes to read and confirm why is this guy discussing Ola and Uber at midnight, but CAB being a law? Well, that didn’t make sense!
I didn’t want to sound illiterate then and I googled ahead of answering him what’s this law of CAB he mentioned about. And that’s when Google threw some light on the fact that CAB has nothing to do with Ola or Uber but a full form of CAB read as ‘Citizenship Amendment Bill’. I read and left it at that. And answered in all aplomb ‘yaaaa CAB’ and turned back to grab my beauty sleep.
I belong to that 80% of people who proudly claim that ‘Politics is not my cup of tea or coffee for that matter’. Politics to me was that black ink mark I envied on Ammis forefinger while I was a kid. And I used my black sketch pen to apparently inscribe one such on mine. And my attempt used to be in vain when the inscription faded away in a single wash and on asking Abba would say, you can earn a similar one when you’ll be 18 years old. And I happily settled down with my sketch pen marks. Another version of politics for us use to be Abba watching all the political happenings in news and we missed upon our fav ‘Shaktiman’ and ‘Mowgli’ shows. Kids might not relate to these shows now, well this was a good 30-year-old case. So basically this was my take on politics. As I grew up and now at the age of 40 it still remains a black ink mark which takes a handsome amount of time to fade away which often got me irritated nevertheless, I make sure I never miss a single election. Blame it on my sketch pens who were not able to give me the desired results.
Managing a house for a homemaker is nothing less than managing a whole country. Still, I am sure every single homemaker or should I say ‘Housewife’ ends up thinking, who would want my perspective on any political matter whatsoever!
But as my brother announced it that day that CAB is a law now. It entered right into my area of jurisdiction, my home! Hubby was panic-struck and brimming with anxiety rushing through all documents like never before. I for once never glance at my documents for those horrible Adhaar cards, voter ID pictures of mine I have to put up with. But then this thought was unsettling that I would need to provide documents to prove that my motherland which has provided me with the safest lap ever is my own. The thought indeed was disturbing but law being law laid down by the Government was to be abided by. I was fine with it, a matter of a few documents is fine!
We humans are quite self-absorbed that way, we made a check of all our documents and I was back to my ‘not my cup of tea’ business. It was when my domestic help expressed her worry about not having the required documents did the reality started sinking in that this is not just about the black ink mark I try inscribing. I started noticing a lot of posts and protests happening. ‘Khaala’ (domestic help) also narrated incidents of a few Muslim families been asked to vacate their houses. And a few were denied houses on rent owing to their being Muslims.
The attacks on Student protestors at JNU and Jamiya were disturbing. Our leaders whom we choose to rule us owe us a better way of execution of laws.
When a nation protests especially when it’s a democratic one it just means that it’s seeking a few answers.
Simple, unharmful protests were given an obnoxious face altogether for no reason. Why were the questions left unanswered? , Why would a democratic country make laws based on religious grounds? Why would anyone jeopardize the very fabric which India proudly wears ‘Secularism’?!
Though the questions were haunting and the fabric of my area of jurisdiction is still in titter tatter!
I have undying faith in the people of my country.
There are multiple times we fight among ourselves like cats and dogs. But waiting for that silver lining has been one habit inculcated in me by Abba. And I had my silver lining shining at me when India came out on the Streets, in gatherings all together with slogans which read ‘You try dividing us and we will multiply!’
As we celebrate our 71st year of formation of our constitution. This cloud of questions looms large which indeed is highly upsetting and unsettling!
But then this realization had taken a deep-rooted place in my mind that politics and the Constitution of my country, be it not tea or coffee but it for sure is my cup and I better take good care of it. As a citizen if not anything I’ve the right of opinion and by all means voice the discomfort, the threat the tons of questions which pop up every now and then.
Nevertheless, you had been one of the world’s largest Democracy my dear motherland and I forever will feel immensely proud to say ‘I’m an Indian!’ and pin-up that little flag on to my chest which puts my fears to rest seeing how the green and the saffron coexist in the peaceful white.
Happy 73rd Republic India!
And a happy India to all my fellow Indians!!
