In a democracy, one of the most fundamental things a citizen like you or me
can do is ask questions. Not just plain questions but the right questions.
Questions that hit hard, questions that deconstruct the matter weâre talking
about, questions that force people to answer, in one way or another.
How does one define a ârightâ question, you might ask and for that I have an
answer. For me, keeping in mind the socio-political context, a ârightâ
question is a question that challenges the status quo, deconstructs
what’s presented in a fundamental manner and makes our voice clear
in a direct and uncompromising way, where our words or inquisitions
arenât diluted or swayed by sweet nothings.
Yet, it seems that in todayâs India, this is seldom seen. People have
adopted this attitude of passiveness, unbothered about the things
happening within the country or even in their state. Some of it stems from
ignorance and not wanting to burden oneself with matters as trivial as
politics or social issues but mostly, it is avoidance. And such attitudes can
dilute the very social fabric that holds us together, leading to inaction, or
worse, apathy. And in apathy, we might turn our heads away from
something that directly affects us.
Keeping that in mind, it is troubling that rather than seeing the
inquisitiveness that should drive a nation forward, we bear witness to
almost dogmatic blind compliance. The attitude of âDonât ask too many
questions, know whatâs best for youâ permeates every aspect of life. Iâm
sure youâve heard this exact statement verbatim. But, have you ever
wondered why? Why should we not ask questions? Why should we
not hold our officials accountable when matters affect our lives and
everything around us? Who decides whatâs best for us?
These are heavy questions, some of them rhetorical and literal. These
demonstrate the impact such questions can have. It shifts the focus to what matters to us, affects us and determines various aspects of
our life. It forces us to think, to analyze, to weigh these things. It
brings light to these issues in a manner thatâs constructive, heavy
hitting and not easy to ignore.
And within these questions lies the spirit of Democracy. The very thread
woven around us, that binds us and guides our every step. By asking the
right questions, we can bring about change thatâs meaningful to us because
like it or not, politics and by extension, everything influenced by it, has an
impact on our lives. Whether you choose to engage with it and see it or
ignore it, it will not go away. It will stay there till it becomes impossible to
ignore.
And this is why itâs important for us to become active participants in this
socio-political context because the world of politics is dynamic and through
inquiry, we ensure that matters like social/societal issues, state level issues,
locality issues and many more get the attention and scrutiny they deserve.
This is not just me saying this, this very idea is ingrained within our
legislature through the RTI (Right to Information) Act of 2005. And Iâd like to
use RTI as an example to showcase just how empowering asking
questions can be. Having such a tool in our hand makes it so that every
citizen of India, from the educated to the uneducated, from the urban to the
rural, is allowed to showcase their voice on a national stage and directly
ask the government, âWhatâs going on?â
RTI has been useful in numerous contexts, for example, RTIs obtained by
activists were used to uncover discrepancies and inconsistencies in
MGNREGA audits relating to West Bengal in 2023, leading to more back
and forth between the Central Government and West Bengalâs Government
and prompted further investigations to be conducted regarding the
allocation of funds.
And RTI stands as an example and an extension of the very power we hold
through inquisition as citizens of India. While politics might seek to divide
us, might incite us against each other, asking the right questions can
ensure that the focus stays on the matters most important to us and not on diversions meant to dilute it. Questions are a tool, and a weapon that we
wield, that can unite and bring people together. Just look at protests as an
example. They begin with dissatisfaction that leads to questions being
raised and this acts as a binder for people to come together and share
these ideas.
Let us not forget that this is just not an exercise of our rights as citizens, but
a fundamental duty that we all hold.
Lastly, Iâd like to quote Abraham Lincoln for this,
âA house divided against itself cannot stand.â
