Why some of us see demonetization as demonization because they see nothing but own ‘true face’

Some political parties are ruthlessly and heartlessly attacking the demonetization of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 done our beloved Modiji, Honorable Prime Minister of our country. All those who oppose demonetization have one thing in common i.e., their sincere love for poor man.

Way back in 1989 I met a small farmer from a deep village in Tamil Nadu who had come to Friday bazaar in the near by town to buy food grains, bulls and other house hold items. He had brought a small bundle of money latched onto his hip. He found an extra pair of bulls for sale at an attractive price as the seller was in immediate need for some money. Unfortunately the farmer did not have sufficient money with him at that point of time although he has the money at home. The farmer also could not find anyone known person to borrow money nor could he go back to his village as it was located several kilometers away. Why he did not bring more money to bazaar because he was worried that it might be stolen. The farmer does not know of any others means of money transaction so he could not do his business. Today the village in my narration is a big town in Tamil Nadu, well developed, have sufficient banking system and most of the people follow bank based transaction than currency.

When some leaders from West Bengal shed tears and blood for the poor people who have to suffer by standing long in the banks to exchange the old currency. The banking system is not well developed states they claim. The irony is that the same political leaders were/are the rulers of the state of West Bengal for more than 3 decades. Does that not mean these rulers have not developed the state despite being in the government for more than three decade?

When some leaders of an age old political party argue the fact that the poor villager never carry cheque book or debit/credit card in his valet….. they were in fact ruling or ruining the country since independence as they were the rulers of our country for about 50 years.

Today when online booking of LPG cooking gas was introduced, misuse and mal use has comedown. Earlier when we book the gas cylinder, the dealer may release the cylinder but the delivery person used to sell it to some person for higher rate. After sometime the poor customers have to book the gas cylinder again. Sometime the dealer also would engage in such skirmish. But today, once we book the gas cylinder, the date of delivery, the date invoice, the bill amount etc., get reflected much before the cylinder is being delivered. I know pretty well, several villagers in Tamil Nadu book railway tickets through online facility than going to the Railway station.

Who should have improved the life of people who live in rural India? Who should have improved the banking system in rural India? Should it be done by the Prime Minister Modiji or the state Government? Who was running all those states whose leaders are suddenly shedding tears for poor people?

The poor man has to be encouraged to open bank account, must be encouraged to read news papers or watch TV to update news, encouraged to learn about various schemes of Government, how to avail them etc., are the responsibility of the state Government. But Modiji indeed has done it. If the political leasers from the Government that run all those states oppose the crusade against black and bribe money by stating poor people do not have access to banking system and the poor people do not know how to operate through banks etc., all those political leaders are exposing nothing to the world but their inefficient Governance.

It is true that many of our political leaders could neither weep nor sleep due to demonetization.

Indeed many poor people are suffering. But most of them will make their suffering as an opportunity to adapt and evolve. They are never going to live rest of their life blaming or yelling.

When Reliance introduced cellular phone some 15 years ago, every Indian fell for it and today mobile phone has reached every village in India. When people could learn the importance of ease of communication through mobile phone also will certainly learn quickly how to do net banking and core banking.

Necessity is mother of invention. Hardship has taught man better lessons than red carpet paths.

We do agree how the Government is going to deal the hard earnings common man not as black money. Many Indians do save and accumulate their hard earned money at home for marriage of their daughter or other unexpected expenses like how honey bees accumulate honey. When the quantum of money increases, they do convert them into Rs, 500 and Rs.1000 so that counting and saving at home become easy. When such money is deposited in their bank account, how the IT department is going to treat such credits not as black money and how such genuine people are not be harassed etc., we need to see.

Modiji has asked all Government officials repeatedly to ‘perform, reform and transform’. Even the political parties have to do the above otherwise they become vestigial politically in the next election. The above mantra is applicable not only to Government officials, Government or political parties but to every citizens as well. People in rural India has shown great tendency to reform and transform. Today the Indian farmers use tractor, tiller, motor pump etc., in his or her farmland and not the age old practices.

If we cry at the sufferings of poor man, we must reflect the fact the state Governments were the primary cause for the above and not demonetization or our beloved Modiji.

The world famous management teacher Mr.CK Prahalad has rightly said “fortune at the bottom of pyramid”. The people who are poor and below the poverty line do have great aspirations. They never want to live poor and ignorant. They could graduate to newness much faster than many so called elite and urbanite. But the question is have we provided such opportunity to them? Have the political parties who were/are ruling those states for several decades improved the banking sector in those states and helped the poor farmer to graduate to banking mode of safe saving practices?

Today the poor villager knows about Garnier, Head & Shoulder, Pantene Shampoo that are sold in the market. What does that indicate? The penetration of the big brand tooth pastes of MNC’s in villages are quite high and not some traditional tooth paste brands rule the roost in villages.

The problem is not about poor people or their sufferings but many wants them to be poor and must suffer continuously so that they can use them at their convenience for the political mileage.

Why some see demonetization as demonization is because they are seeing nothing but own face which they might not have seen until our beloved Modiji demonetize the currency Rs. 500 and Rs.1000. Let us unite and develop India scientifically. Let us see our country first than our political goal and self gratification. This is what every citizen of India wish from their leader.

S Ranganathan