THE PETROL PRICE HIKE - AN OCCASSION TO CELEBRATE OUR GREED

For political parties the petrol price hike will definitely provide an added excuse to agitate the people of this country. Nine price hikes in nine months is something that may hit the eye and evoke strong public reactions against the government. The timing of the price hike is an added cause for the opposition to scream foul. But it is said, "You will reap what you sow ." No matter how badly the public will be hit, the truth is something our MBA, NRI and IT generation will never comprehend. Hamara Bharat's ever growing tribe of NRIs, techies and management personnel that can only contribute to a revolution with candle light processions before the TV cameras will scream the most over the fuel price hike. This generation desperately needs their private vehicles to socialise and cannot bear the wait at a bus stand or the stench of sweat from the labourer travelling in public transport. This generation is more concerned in showing solidarity with Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar or India Gate to tame those in political office. But none of them have the time to battle for their rights to an efficient public transport system, footpaths and crossings for the pedestrians. For them the deficiencies in public transport is to be solved by the purchase of their own vehicle for travel and the footpaths and pedestrian crossings become a hindrance for the parking and uninterrupted driving of their vehicle. Their growing economic needs for a lavish life style is to be satiated by setting up more industries. The congestion on roads is to be rectified by road widening and expressways. The absence of parking is to be remedied by reducing the pavements.Solutions to our national problems is as simple as this. We will clog the cities with our private vehicles and after all this abuse once or twice in a year we will switch off our house lights for an hour as a tokenism in the battle to save the planet. Interestingly, those who abuse energy the most are in the forefront of the fight to Save the Earth. It can now be expected that this section will now join the political parties in a choral symphony against the petrol price hike.

The fuel price hike is a direct consequence of liberalisation and embracing of a consumeristic lifestyle. This generation wants to enjoy the comforts of liberalisation but screams foul when it comes to bearing the ill effects of a liberal economy. There can be no end of pacifying the physical comforts of humans. We are a huge nation and consumerism is bound to take a heavy toll in our bid to imitate the western economic model of development. If a one billion population is encouraged to possess their own motor vehicles and furnish their houses with airconditioners just because it helps a Government boost the GDP and demonstrate a rise in the per capita income of its citizens, the disturbing question is whether we have the resources to absorb this shock? If we have, then at what price will we afford it?This simple logic will never be understood by the modern generation of MBAs and Techies that are brainwashed into becoming slaves in a market era and neo-colonialism going under the name of globalisation or liberalisation. Our feet and hands are being replaced by wheels and gadgets. As a generation unable to even shop without their motor vehicles and disabled to communicate without a computer, these price hikes are more than justified. For in simple market economics, a greater demand and greater dependance on any product means an occassion for greater profit. So when we have no concern about where will our food be grown and are unmindful about the impact of our life style on the natural resources, we are bound to become victims of opportunistic market forces. The increased dependence of a population on their private motor vehicles offers an occasion for exploitation both by the capitalists and the Government which benefits from taxes. Greater the inflow to the public treachery means a greater opportunity for floating tenders and enough justification for a hike in the salaries of the politicians.

So let us not complain and fret about the negligible price hike of around Rs. 5/- per litre when we take pride in owning an imported vehicle of a crore and more. If we can dream of waging a war against Pakistan and cheer the imported armaments for our armed forces to kill the naxals in cold blood, we can definitely afford to shell out a price for our fuel. Let us empty our pockets with the same national pride that we demonstrate on the nuclear deal and the rabid industrialisation and the highway expansions at the expense of fertile lands belonging to the poor and marginalised. With our growing greed to possess bigger and more sophisticated vehicles, petrol prices at Rs. 100/- per litre will be justified. For just as there is a time to laugh there must come a time to weep. Bol de there is no problem. Bharat tum aage baddo, hum tumhare saat haim !
Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

-Soter D.