Is this change something we can rely on?

Of late, everybody has started talking about "change". From political candidates to people from every walk of life. As if we have suddenly woken up from a deep slumber, and "change" is the only thing that can save our lives. Come to think of it, we have survived a “wretched political system” that should have been changed a very long time ago. 

I remember old folks narrating about the early days. How different and simpler the assembly elections used to be in those days. They say villagers would go to the extent of contributing whatever they could- pigs, rice, and the like- to the candidate, so he can host his supporters when elections come by. How united people were then in raising a capable leader of their own! No fights. No enmity. No grudges. No demands- personal or otherwise. No promises for contract works, jobs, or financial assistance. But simple and pure honesty-a straight-from-the-heart vote without expecting anything in return. And I thought to myself how beautiful is that! Leaving so much room for development afterwards.

But that spirit of elections is long gone now. Today, the candidate has to fill countless pockets of many people wrought with greed and selfishness. People who decide their votes on the number of things they either gained or can gain in the near future. How does that leave any room for development of any kind at all? We have seen, felt and experienced the very system that is slowly destroying us as a society, as a tribe, as members of a certain constituency, and sadly, even as human beings.

And yet again, we stand at the brink of elections that propagates change in literally every aspect. Frankly speaking, I am tired of the refrain “vote for change”. Is this change any good? Is this change the change we want in life? Is this change something that is good for our society? Is this change going to transform the life of a citizen? Is this change going to help us grow as a community? Is this change going to bring peace in our land? Is this change going to wipe away corruption? Is this change going to bring equality? Is this change going to make a difference in the existing system of health, education, and employment? Is this change going to make the lives of our people at the grassroots level any better or easier? Is this change something we can rely on?

Politicians have come and gone. Some of them continue to fight the battle. New faces have joined too, and very fresh, young ones at that! They all talk about change. But I am really wary about change. Because we have talked about it for too long. Over and over again. For decades and decades. And especially during assembly elections only to realize at the end of the day that nothing much has changed. So, do we continue to discuss ‘vote for change’ or each one become the change we want to see? Because clearly, talking about it alone hasn’t helped much.