As we have
such a social media savvy PM, I went to the PMO website as I wanted to write to
the Prime Minister. The website does impress, a few boxes to click and the one
on the top right has 'Interact with Hon'ble PM'.
Exactly what
I wanted, a dialogue with our PM and I imaged that, as two giant intellects
conversed in cyberspace, our mail would enter the archives of history. I felt
he was just waiting for someone to talk to him, a human being, not another
politician or a bureaucrat. I clicked on 'Interact with...' and find I have a
choice of subjects. Ahh, knowing how loquacious we Indians are there is, not a
word limit, but a character limit. One thousand characters, max.
I click on 'Subject'
and discover there are 16, ranging from 'Agriculture' through 'Education' to 'Social
Injustice'. I believe this makes it easier for the PM, a very busy man, so that
he is immediately prepared to respond and converse on the subject. There can be
nothing more confusing when opening a mail on 'Agriculture', and turning one's
mind in preparation to discuss the price of onions, to find the letter is on 'Women's' Issues' or 'Defence'.
I dither
over such a wide choice. I have to think carefully as I don't want to confuse
my PM. I hover over 'Social Injustice'. It isn't quite right - I haven't been
beaten/raped/imprisoned by our cops. Yet. I wish there was one more category 'Other
Important Issues'. It takes a good ten minutes of such dithering to decide
which subject my letter comes under.
I choose
'Law & Order'. I click on it, fill in my name, address (correctly), and
then compose my 1,000 characters. I don't want to dazzle him with my examples,
I just want to discuss the subject with him and expect him to keep within the
1,000 character format when he replies to my letter.
When I
finish my abbreviated note to the PM, I copy the 'Verification Code' and hit
'Submit'. The site responds immediately, a complaint about commas. It does not
like too many of them, so, despite a great reluctance, I delete a few of them
to keep the site happy. Once more, I copy the code and hit submit.
There is a
pause. I imagine my letter instantly appearing on the PM's screen and him
leaning forward to read it carefully. His hand hovers over 'Reply' even as he
composes his response to my letter. A moment letter, a line pops up on the
screen. 'Thank you for writing to the PM. Your letter has been forwarded to the
department concerned'.
Whatdoyumean?
I wrote to the PM, not to a department. I expect him to read it and to reply. I
want to have a discourse. That's the
whole point of 'Interact with the Hon'ble PM' at the top of the website.
I don't want
to interact with a minor babu, somewhere in labyrinth of the Minister of Home
Affairs, now staring at my letter on his screen. Is he thinking :Should I print
it and rush over to show it to the PM, and wait for him to read, cogitate and
reply? Or should I just hit the 'Delete' button and return to sleep?
Dear Prime Minister,
Congratulations on your astonishing victory and I am
confident you will lead India to a great future. As a writer/filmmaker, I am
very concerned with the extreme right wing Hindu elements, who have taken it on
themselves to censor and intimidate writers, artists and filmmakers with their
narrow interpretation of our ancient religion. We hope they are not encouraged
to further extremism due to the BJP victory. This is a law & order problem
when they physically attack artists, filmmakers or publishers. As a democracy,
we must respect the opinions of others, even if we do not agree with them. As
Prime Minister, you have spoken of the inclusiveness of all Indians, and this
must include those who hold different views to the extremists. I hope you will
discourage their activities. With my best wishes for your leadership. Timeri N.
Murari.
.
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