Why does no one care about my suffering while media publishes long stories on front pages if a politician fasts only for a few hours?
In recent days, I, a common man in India, have been totally confused. (Since, 27 crore people of Indians still live in abject poverty, the common man is a poor man). Every day a new ‘why’ arises in my mind. Why do I have to stay hungry? Why can’t I have two meals a day even after working hard year after year? Why do people who have a lot of money sit on hunger strikes? Why does no one care about my suffering while media publishes long stories on front pages if a politician fasts only for a few hours? While I compete every day to afford two-square- meals, our leaders compete to sit on hunger strikes.
In my mind, various such ‘whys’ arise. Till now I used to think that there is an intimate connection between hunger and poverty, but now I don’t know if that is true. My simple logical question is why do our rich politicians, who have more than enough means to satisfy their hunger, choose to sit on a hunger strike?
Suddenly, I recall the hunger strike by ‘Bapuji’, the one which shook the roots of British Empire, and which could instill peace during riots … such is the power of a hunger strike. So much the better, just for one reason, one person could sacrifice his most basic want. However, I can only see the power behind the fasting of politicians, the reason for their recent string of hunger strikes remains elusive.
One other thing I don’t understand is how media can give so much publicity to hunger strikes of these politicians while they turn a blind eye to the hunger and misery faced by us every day? So many of our generations have died due to hunger and so many of our kids suffer from stunting and malnutrition.
But, say what you please, this game of hunger strikes started by politicians is something unique. The climax of ending the strike by drinking orange juice is classic. When someone puts the glass of orange juice to the lips of a fasting politician, I become increasingly thirsty. And then drink a glass of water to fill my stomach.
With such huge bellies when politicians sit on fasting for a day … I think even for one day, it is good for them. At least they will get some dieting done. But when the day ends, a thought occurs to me, they are forgoing only food for the day? What about other things? It is better for those truths to remain behind a curtain.
P.S. – Other things could be defined in terms of bribes, commissions, contracts, properties, position, votes, power, etc. etc.
Read this story in Marathi – यांचे सत्तेसाठीचे प्रयोग!