DUB Speak

Apoliticality – A Conscious Choice

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Apoliticality is simply a state of being politically neutral, unbiased, non-aligned and free from party politics. It does not mean indifference and ignorance.

 If we were to go back to ages past our own, we could easily notice the most pervasive aspect of politics playing through them all. Politics as a subject has excited human intellect for eons; because of its direct correspondence with power. Where once Politics was a means to achieve power for the purpose of practising a change, it has today become the end. Power is sought for the privilege it fulfills, the prerogatives that it promises, and not because it gives a certain grasp on change. It is expected to see the political indifference of a lot of people in our country, for the similar realisation. The truth is in our face, clearer than ever, and while some flee away from the promising vanity of it, some choose to act. So then, what is the best course of action? Is escapism ever a choice? Is escapism synonymous to apoliticality? We can know these answers, for once if we ask ourselves.

In all forms of politics, a diametric opinion is formed. Despite a wide representation, there are only a couple of political parties that stand their ground in public opinion in India. We saw it in the recent DUSU elections – the youth’s response to student politics. After an actively effective campaigning, the results have arrived, and rightly, not to the best of everyone’s interests. This is what politics teaches us, in fact, asserting your ideas with conviction is the true sense of it. Voters cannot be forced into believing in an ideology by the use of force. This decision must form internally. But all of us witnessed the gifts of various political parties this election season to gain favors of students. Why do we need an incentive to vote, an upheaval that reminds us that we must vote? Apoliticality is not about my refusal to vote, it is my conscious choice that I decide the candidate whom I give my vote to, on the basis of his/her merit. My perspective is skewed because I mean to make it so, not because a candidate gave me a movie ticket.

It is mistaken that people who do not indulge directly in politics do not know a lot of it to comment or offer suggestions. It is not true. Politics is increasingly becoming administrative in nature, but in that, we seem to forget that politics is a faculty of the human mind; it mandates human intervention. But most of us do not participate actively in politics because it has been stigmatised. We keep forgetting that it is made up of people, and people at times can be fickle, can be biased and can be disappointing. It is the people who make politics, but sadly, we see the becoming of this statement otherwise.

Our disassociation with politics is a choice. And all choices are not in the best taste. Sometimes, even if you are the most apolitical person, you will be dragged into politics against your choice. Today, we cannot exist in seclusion. Hence, indifference is not a choice. Apoliticality must be. The state of being unbiased, a state that requires you to be yourself. And what’s better than being yourself?

 

Feature Image Credits: Harvard Divinity Bulletin

Kartik Chauhan
[email protected]

 

 

 

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