Reaping fruit of democracy

When all of a sudden light disappears for half an hour or so in the evening children watching a TV programme of their choice protest loudly as people's representatives in national and provincial assemblies do. The jilted 'leaders' of tomorrow jolt their elders/ parents involved in discussing the term 'interest' in context with city consumers' problems and the current socio-economic and commercial situation.

Children served with special 'samosa' and ice cream, parents restart discussion. Financial experts among them say the word 'interest' means the extra money that we pay back when we borrow money from someone, that is, we pay interest on a loan.

How much 'interest' in billions have we paid to foreign lenders so far and how much we've yet to pay to loan sharks is a big question lurking in the old citizens' mind.

Elders tell each other interest also means benefit, for instance, to look after one's interests, or use one's interest with any institution or any person or group of persons in power.

A notable example of such an activity has been set by people of self-interest over the years. Who suffers socially and economically from such a practice?

Obviously, sufferers are the masses who have no voice at any forum. Does any democratic assembly bounce back like a brawny assembly of people's representatives to solve the social and economic problems of the common man? If something happens in such a positive direction that will be considered in the national interest.

"What have we gained and what have we lost over the years? Where will such deeds lead us to? Who will free our motherland from the conspiratorial cobweb woven around it by any foreign countries by way of striking our socio-economic and defence capabilities?" These are some of the questions perturbing the youth and elder citizens.

The city olds say there are educated young men who appear frustrated because of joblessness. The Statistics Division told the National Assembly the other day that more than 500,000 graduates are unemployed in the country.

By the way, a rickshaw or taxi-cab driver or a bus conductor, a shopkeeper or a tea vendor, whoever it may be, blames his chosen representative for not doing anything concrete in common people's interest.

"He is selfish, he's silent over my children's educational and health problems." says the common man hit by rising cost of living.

City elders emphasise "if we want to make our homeland happy and prosperous we should concentrate on the well-being of the common man; we'll have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of democracy, social and economic justice and equality in our ranks."

-- zasarwar@hotmail.com