THE DIPLOMATS OF TODAY
-
Sreelekha Chatterjee (India)
As the polling starts in parts of the
country,
I notice excitement among all the
voters.
While purchasing vegetables the
greengrocer asks,
“Have you voted?” I nod in affirmation.
He chitchats about his area where
the red flags are being swayed.
We do not go into details,
manifest as if unaffected by the swift
currents of the contemporary waves,
devote our attention sparingly
to the organization of democracy,
avoid comments on our favorite
political parties,
or the ones we detest.
While harboring the noblest of thoughts
and minds full of splendid purposes,
we speculate about the weather, curse
the rain that never occurred
but damaged the harvest-ready crops.
“This time the regional party will
win.” An auto driver says
when I board his vehicle.
I pretend not to hear, draping the robe
of an incompetent listener.
He repeats impatiently.
Heedless to his remark, I mouth
concerns
about the high fuel and food item
prices,
blame the transport system for its
slow, irresponsible modes.
At the market, people bring up the topic
again.
Devoting entirely to self-culture,
I speak about the doorstep vendor
who hasn’t appeared in days together,
forcing me to venture outside.
On the WhatsApp groups, people post
videos of electoral politics
openly stating the pros and cons of choosing
the candidates.
The admins delete those messages.
We resort to our confabulation about
the flowers
that bloomed in the vernal season.
Always looking for ways to escape
fruitful deliberation,
engaging ourselves in the eternal
debate without action,
keeping ourselves unoccupied with
political,
social, and religious questions.
After all, we are the real diplomats.