Young India Says Yes to Military Rule, No to Inter-Religious Mingling. Are we reflecting the dark times? Are the dark times reflecting us? How does one react to this? Shock? Despair? Disbelief? Resignation? My first response was to be angry and dismissive about the survey and its methodology. But, a sample size of 10,000 is several times more than the size for electoral surveys right now, predicting seats and vote shares! Add to that the fact that this sample is across a single demographic - students in mid/late teens - which makes it a monstrous sample size. That it is across 11 cities would eliminate the possibility of geography-induced distortions and point to an all-India trend. Since we dont know about the kind of schools & colleges the surveyors went to - perhaps there is a class-bias there - but even if these were institutions dominated by the elite/ middle class, this survey should have alarm bells ringing for anyone who believes in Democracy. The 2014 polls had 120 million first time voters. Add another 140 million - those who were under-30 : the BJP swept this block of 260 million voters of the so-called Aspirational India. In 2019, we will have another 130-140 million first time voters - this will be a decisive block of approx 400 million voters, approx 40% of our electorate! As per this survey, half of young India prefers a military rule, a dictatorship by another name. About 2/3rd believe there should be no inter-religious mingling. About half those surveyed believe that women must reconcile to violence! They blame the women for dressing provocatively!! No wonder India elected a Supreme Leader... Winds of change seem to be sweeping the country, propelling it backwards. Are Gandhi-Patel-Nehru or Bhagat Singh now shrinking back in horror somewhere up above, stunned at the entrenchment of intolerance, ignorance and bigotry? Is this the India you want for yourself and your children? If not, the time to act is now. Speak up, in your homes, housing societies, PTA meetings, offices and at social gatherings etc, for silence is not an option for anyone who believes in a plural, harmonious, just and equitable India. (Courtesy: My friends and commiserators, Vistasp and Rakesh)
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 10:30:41 +0000
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