The Wish of Gods

The temple has been made and as the sevaks spoke it, it has been made right here. This was one of the main promises made by the men who sought power, capturing the minds of millions. With the mandate of the people, the dome has been climbed; but somewhere it feels like the people have been left at the base. There is a separate VIP queue that the fortunate use to evade the less-fortunate. Cars can drive right up to the main dwar, at which location devotees on foot are not allowed to wear slippers. You can throw a garland in seva of the upholder of righteousness, but the next second, the priest will hand it off to the neta ahead of you.

The temple has been made, but what of the people?

Thousands line up in front of the lord each day. A thousand more line up outside of the temple if they do not have a "pass." Though it is free to obtain, in India, rare things are rarely free - and more commonly peddled for a fee. They come here to seek a cure for their miseries. I do not question beliefs. I have my own. Even Kapil Sibal prays to lordship. But I have to question: if you can unite for a common cause, my fellow citizens of this state, why not let that cause be an improvement in human development - education, universal basic income, employee rights, sanitation, waste management, pollution, and medical care?

At the sanctum, I usually pray very selfishly. Today, I am led to express concern on social welfare items.