Donkey and I

I share the cynicism of George Orwell’s donkey, Benjamin, in Animal Farm.  When the revolution took place on the farm, Benjamin with his asinine stubbornness refused to be enthused. “Life would go on as it had always gone on,” he said, “that is, badly.”  The animals were so much overjoyed by the revolution that they did not bother to label him antinational.  Eventually, Benjamin was proved right.  The original motto, “All animals are equal”, changed into “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal.”

I congratulate Mr Narendra Modi and his Sancho Panza Amit Shah on BJP’s sweeping victory in UP and impressive performance in the other states. Though impulsive actions like demonetisation bring to my mind the images of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, Orwell’s Animal Farm may be a more apt metaphor. Dreams are galore.  Promises abound. In the end, however, some chosen animals remain more equal.

I love the dreams, however.  I am a dreamer myself.  I would love to see Swachh Bharat a reality.  At least the money collected for that in the form of cess could be utilised effectively.  My dreams about a corruption-free Bharat still remains a dream.  I continue to pay more service charges and get the same old shoddy services.  I wish I didn’t have to pay so many service charges at least for taking out my own money from my savings. I wish development reached every citizen, irrespective of religious affiliations.  I wish, at least, starving children didn't have to produce aadhar cards for getting their midday meals...

But I am more Benjamin than Sancho.  I know that life will go on as it always has.