Goans, be the change you want to see!

The Bible tells us that we get the leaders we deserve. I cannot agree more with this idea when I look around and observe people’s behaviour and attitude towards their country and fellow man.

The elections come by and we vote hoping for progress, for a reprieve from economic and social woes. We expect transparency and accountability from the government. But do we display these attributes in our daily life?

At this point in time, finding out that your local MLA or MP has been embroiled in some scandal involving money, sex and a bid for power should not come as a shock at all.

It is all well and good when we sit in judgement of someone else, never introspecting as to how we could be contributing, maybe in the minutest way, to the corruption in Goa.

You learn a lot when you are the quintessential fly on the wall, the introvert who merely listens and blends with the furniture. On the topic of the 2016 debacle of demonetisation in India, a wealthy businessman was absolutely miffed about the whole situation. He bewailed the poor who had been subject to cheating, handed the 1000 and 500 rupee notes as payment, which were useless unless exchanged at a bank.

While there was general agreement on the matter, a friend later divulged that this businessman had his own stash of black money that was now worthless, hence the excessive sympathy towards the country’s downtrodden.

It should be noted that the man had not suffered from devastating poverty as a result of the demonetisation. He had never been a philanthropist, working to better the conditions of the underprivileged before the event, nor did he become one after it.

This is the majority of us, humans. When we care nothing for anybody but ourselves, if our perpetual stance is ‘It’s every man for himself’, how can we expect a different attitude directed at us? Especially in the case of our political leaders – most of us were instrumental in helping these individuals secure their position and maintain it.

A particular political strategy, which I have come to understand, works wonderfully to beguile those who prioritise themselves instead of considering the bigger picture and what might arise from their selfish intentions. This strategy involves going to extreme lengths to serve certain sections of the local community. This acts as an investment in a vast vote bank.

A maid, who in earnest considered me her psychotherapist (The woman could talk!), began telling me that a politician’s early demise had saddened her immensely.

Knowing what I knew of this undeniably intelligent, extremely charismatic and equally ruthless politician of questionable ethics, I listened as I could feel her genuine grief over a man who had secured for her children admission to a much sought after, exclusive English medium school in the area.

Such was the charm of this man, I was convinced for a few minutes that all I had known of him was inconsequential in the face of his generosity. Until I remembered, anybody could appear to be a ‘good person’ as long as it served an end.

Unfortunately when your concerns go no further than meeting your own needs, the fact that voting such a person into office could be detrimental to the majority and usher in an era of a downward spiral of Goa’s economy, culture, environment, etc. means nothing.

A friend once told me of the experience he’d had going to meet a well-known politician to ask a favour. He described the politician as the very embodiment of charm. Nearly everybody seemed to get the response they wanted. Few left unsatisfied. I’m assuming, the promises were followed through or else he would not still be in power.

My friend described a scenario that made this politician seem a king holding court. Somebody sent him a massive box full of sandwiches, which he ordered his minions to serve to the gathering there. Of course, he must be the most generous guy in the neighbourhood. In terms of loyalty, there’s a different story to tell.

These wily politicians have emerged from families much like our own. Let’s take a step back and question our values. How willing are we to bribe officials to get what we want? Do we question our morals when we take away a seat in an educational institution that should have gone to a more deserving student? Do we pay our taxes honestly without trying to weasel our way out using unscrupulous practices? Do we put ourselves first and our country, state, community and neighbour last?

It is an almost impossible development to achieve, that is certain. Until and unless we become self-aware and point the finger at ourselves, good governance and any kind of progress will remain pipe dreams for us and future Goans.