THE CORONA EFFECT- Remaining Apolitical Post-Lockdown

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THE CORONA EFFECT 

Remaining Apolitical Post-Lockdown

 

We nowadays await the Prime Minister's speech more than our amazon deliveries! Even though every one of us is sequestered in our homes, we are connected with the government more than ever before.  Social media, especially Twitter, is flooding with millennials expressing their discontent or appreciation of the government's actions to curb the spread of the virus. Somehow, even the most apolitical people among us are now scrolling down government notifications to find out whether their area is in the red or green zone, and the restrictions government will impose; and express their opinions on how the government is dealing with the pandemic. Now we can see millennials of the digital age discussing and criticising governance, something that was otherwise limited to very few people such as newspaper-readers, humanities students, and politicians. The sudden epiphany is because of the realisation of how government actions influence our daily lives during the lockdown; the government now dictates almost every aspect of our lives.

 

As Aristotle said, "man is a political animal". I rather think that man is often (not always) interested in those things which affect his life, which is fair enough. And in pre-lockdown days many of us failed to realise how the government affected us. The votes people cast-ed in elections months and years before corona was even classified as a pandemic, now decide our fate. 

But of course, one might ask, why should I bother about the government's agenda with respect to trade, or economy, or international relations, or national security, it does not affect me? Actually, it does (it’s another rabbit hole altogether). It matters because it is the same government which decides national security policy and international relations that will HAVE to protect YOU during a pandemic. The international relation the government has with other countries will decide if Indians will get the vaccine or not. The government's approach to industries and MSMEs will determine if you will get your favourite food products in the market during the lockdown. It will be the same government which protects the borders that will have to decide whether it is safe to reopen schools, whether online retailers should be allowed to operate, and when you can return to your offices.  


India has one of the youngest populations, and it is growing. The attitude of the so-called millennials will decide the attitude of the government. The government will form even without our votes, but then it might not represent us. Enrolling yourself in the voters' list is effectively being transformed from a ‘person’ to a ‘political sovereign’.


Winston Churchill Quote: “At the bottom of all the tributes paid ...


Most of the young adults do not vote because there is no impetus or incentive to vote; "how does it matter?” is the usual response. I am sure the corona pandemic has provided an answer to that question. 



See you at the polling booth in 2024.



Nikhil Erinjingat

 



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