Young India beckons us...are we listening?

It's been a while since I put up something on my blog, except for the poem on sleep - a result of my revisit to childhood.

Today, I saw a short documentary titled 'America: Down and Out'. It focussed on the increasing level of homelessness in America, a country which has long boasted of being 'the land of opportunities'. However, let alone opportunities, the land doesn't even let the homeless lay their bodies on it; instead, they are arrested for 'loitering'. And this isn't rural India or Africa we're talking about. America belongs to the elite group of nations, the ones that consider themselves 'developed'. Yet, what really constitutes development? When employed people need to visit charity centers for a meal, it is a sign of imminent bad times.

When unemployment and homelessness is affecting such countries, I shudder to think about the situation in India. Here, our politicians unlawfully obtain MHADA flats, which are meant for the economically backward. They relentlessly siphon public money. They're public servants but amass wealth like medieval kings. To what extent will we bear the tyranny of such politicians? We are a democracy. Yet, we behave like we are under the dictatorship of these morally-deprived, power-hungry babus. There might be many honest politicians out there, but they're helpless since the majority are sick.

It's up to us - the younger generation - to really make a difference. We need to get together and demand cleaner politicians, better governance and stricter laws. After all, India is ours. And if not us, then who? And if not now, then when?

Sleep

SOme sleep to refresh,

Some sleep to revive,

Some sleep out of stress,

Some sleep to feel alive


I sleep to connect with the force within,

I sleep to energise my soul,

I sleep for peace, it doesn't matter when

I sleep to fill the empty hole


Why can't my sleep be just mine,

Where No one decides how much I need,

In my slumber, why do I whine?

To my lack of sleep, who pays heed?


I wish to escape this curse on my bed,

Everyone's after my sleep,

When I sleep less, my eyes get red

But who cares if in despair I weep!


Goodbye sleep, I'll miss you my love

Until we unite again, at death time,

I'll see you someday at the heavens above,

Where no one bothers us - you'll be all mine!