Aurangabad, 21 Oct (The Press Watch) – “The worst illiterate is a political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in the political events. He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions, ” Said Bertolt Brecht.
Some people around us usually say with proud that, they are not at all into politics, they dont understand Or not interested in it and these type of people can be called as political illiterate. May be a political illiterate has never thought about, how bad politics and politicians into it affect the healthy democracy. May be due to this ignorance bad politicians, corruption and so many social issues arise.
Where in this democratic nation, we say that government works for us and it is a part of us. Yes, it is! But what if you are not sure about how your government works? What policies they have for your benefit and welfare? At the same point you are not at all aware of the fact that you are blind folded with some fake promises by politicians. Isn’t it scary? When we go in depth of the topic ‘political illiteracy’ we might find that due to this illiteracy, people around us are unaware of the rights they carry in a democratic country.
Political literacy cannot be measured directly, but we presume that if people are politically literate, they understand party differences and know basic political concepts and facts. Other names for this concept include political expertise, political awareness, and civic competence. But is it so? Well, the political Illiterate is the most harmful individual for nation as they are fanatic about their opinion. They put their opinion without having a firm, reliable source or proof. Why this fanaticism even exist in political world?
Fanaticism or a fanatic person can be defined as extreme devotion or zeal. An example of fanaticism is following a set of rules even to the extent of killing other individuals. Fanaticism can be called as a poison for democratic nation.
Some politicians play the game of politics on the equation of castes and religion. Whereas, voters should be also blamed for over fanaticism as they vote politicians on the basis of their same caste or religion. This game of religious fanaticism should stop, otherwise no progress will take place and these politicians will keep development in a dark corner.
Shameful concept of fanaticism leads this leaders gain more power as they have understood what is the basic strategy for winning votes. By denying the factor of caste or religion and going out for voting as a citizen of this nation who wants equality, development, employment, education and progress in country will be more beneficial for killing political illiteracy. Fanatic way of thinking can lead an individual to think in a single point of view. The Haynals write: “The dictionary defines a fanatic as someone with excessive and single minded zeal. Synonyms include extremist, radical, chauvinist, militant, bigot, sectarian, diehard, and dogmatist.” Well, this could be the best derived definition for fanatic individual. A fanatic person can be a leader or a follower who impose their ideology on everyone so strongly.
After all poison named ‘fanaticism’ leads thousands of people think in the similar point of view may be for life time period. This condition can be called as self affirming condition. Where they dont need any confirmation of truth or they have built a wall between their ideology and the truth. Fanaticism is a drug. Let loose on society it’s like crack cocaine or alcohol only worse. Fanatics drive through life like alcoholics driving under the influence. They think they’re perfectly fine driving. They kill innocent bystanders, sometimes by the thousands or millions.
According to me, when political illiteracy and fanaticism get along with each other they make it as equal to hell. As we discussed that, due to political illiteracy people cannot get straight into the government’s work or we can say they cannot judge . Political literacy is important for every citizen as they can participate in a society’s government. It includes an understanding of how government works and of the important issues facing society, as well as the critical thinking skills to evaluate different points of view.
Political illiteracy further relates with fanaticism so closely. As mentioned, a political illiterate doesn’t hear or speak much well. So on he becomes so fanatic for the political party or the ideology they follow or may be any religion. Have you ever thought of one fact, on the grounds of elections these political leaders play really well being religious fanatic. Religious fanaticism is according to me a very usual and common term we experienced by our politicians.
Shamefully, they gather citizens by mentioning god, religion, religious places through their speeches and promises rather than talking on development, education, literacy and what country really needs.
Why this really happens? This happens specially in the term of politics, because society trust them so much that even they vote politicians on the basis of their castes and religion and what their ideology about religious value is. Religion is a practice and which the fundamental right of every citizen but shouldn’t it kept as a practice only? Why these political leaders are continuously hammering us with their religious ideologies and not talking about employment. Due to the mixture of these two terms political illiteracy and fanaticism people keep on voting illiterate leaders for just self affirming.
Simply they are making us fool and grabbing votes. But dear citizens, your single vote is so worthy. It can change the nation. It can bring development. So lets not get into too much fanatic situation at the time of elections and be honest about the leader who will seriously bring development. Afterll at the end of the day, no religion brings bread and butter in your shelter. You are the only one who fights for living and for which literacy is the weapon.
Don’t just be a literate, be a political literate! It changes our life because these leaders and parties control it. Be a democratic nation’s citizen not a forced voter!
-Mahima P. Sambre
