Democracy- Apathy is thy name!
--------------------------------
Last week,I did an important thing in my life. I mustered up all my enthusiasm to get some documents like passbooks photocopied and approach the nearest revenue office in Jaynagar.Why? to get my name enlisted in the voter list for the upcoming general elections. Had no idea that I had a typical 'sarkari' welcome in store for me!
The babu sitting there looked very bored to see me, when I told him in english about the purpose of my visit, he replies in impeccable english that he doesnt speak english! Then he asks me in kannada if I speak kannada, I understood that much and replied in hindi 'No'. Then he gave a wicked smile and says to some chamcha nearby that "these ppl stay in bangalore for 3 yrs and doo not speak kannada" I understood the meaning from few words I heard and then started a flurry of choicest abuses in Marathi, my mother toungue. I fired him and gave a sound lecture to him on importance of learning hindi as a govt official, he was quite aghast at that (looks like no one had fired him that much inhis entire life). But by that time the ass* had thought of some clever means to fend me off. he asked me what address proof I had brought when I told him about bank passbook, he gave a triumphant smile and said that it cannot be accepted as proof of address and only gas and telephone bills will do.I didnt have it and it was the last day to get enlisted:-( Though times of india had given a news for public convenience that bank passbook also will do as address proof...
(Note that now all the conversation was in english!) So finally the rascal had won and Indian democarcy lost a responsible citizens crucial vote!
So much for democracy....

~Amit