THE GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS

India is a country where a political circus unfolds every five years. Being the biggest democracy, India has got its own advantages and disadvantages. Advantages are running scarce but there is no dearth of disadvantages. The biggest hiccup is the number of political parties that leave a voter confused and amused. When the elections approach, a battery of political leaders is seen visiting their constituencies. New promises are made only to be broken, ignored or forgotten. They dig believable/unbelievable facts against their opponents and raise issues which can provoke fatal repercussions. But who cares when these parties go to the extent of bribing voters, entertaining with money and implementing every trick to keep people from their constituencies tempted to vote. Months of planning go into trading of trust, loyalty and dedication. Phenomenal money is spent on the hara-kiri. News channels leave no stone unturned to rope in analysts to foresee the invincible.

The Lok Sabha Elections are being held for the 15th time across India. On April 30, 2009 Mumbai voted in full strength but still fell short of numbers. Performers of this great Indian circus were dressed in white, orange, green and blue to fight the odds, balance the evens. The results will be declared on May 16, 2009. Till then as spectators, we would be subjected to visual and oral torture. Worth mentioning also the sound waves which would keep knocking our eardrums. As the day of results would start approaching, due to desperation the jokers of the circus would start doing funny things. They would play their trump cards. They would mount horses to be traded in the open market. Sting operations would suddenly tarnish images. So till the circus is on, lets see and discover for ourselves who wins the bet.

The hand in support of the common Indian – Will it pat or push?
The elephant leading the unknowns – Will it salute or thump on millions of hearts?
The flower in the pond – Will it spread fragrance or emit a foul smell?
The bicycle of simplified transportation – Will it peddle its way smoothly?
The alarm clock – Will it keep ticking at the right hour or go dead?
The sickle and hammer – Will they cut or thrash?
The arrow in the bow – Will it hit the bull’s eye or break midway?
The lantern – Will it spread light or set fire to millions of dreams?

The curtains are expected to go up soon. The jokers are everywhere. The trapeze artists are warming up. The ringmaster is blazing his whip to take control of the show.
And we as spectators wait with oodles of expectation in our eyes to see The Great Indian Circus unfold.

- vociferous