Modi's campaign, Congress reaction "political gimmick", won't improve chowkidaars' lives

By Sheshu Babu*
"Dekh raha hai kya kya sapna raat ko sone waala /Ho sone waala/ Yeh na jaane aankh khule to kya hai hone waala/ Haa hone waala

-- 'Yeh duniya nahi jagir kisi ki...' by Rajender Kishan in 'Chowkidaar' (1974).

(What dreams the person sleeping might have been dreaming/ O! That sleeping person/ It is unknown what would happen when eyes are open/ Yes! What would happen)
While one person is using 'chowkidaar' as a political tool to increase his popularity, other one is branding 'chowkidaar' as thief. But no one seems to be interested in knowing the plight of watchmen (chowkidaar) and their hard- work. When the world sleeps these brave watchmen wake up not only to life and freedom but also save and protect many lives and property.

The daily life of watchmen is riddled with frustration and lack of security. According to a recent report, "For many watchmen, who are among the millions in India's vast informal economy where workers are often poorly paid and barely protected by labour laws, Modi's campaign is a political gimmick that is unlikely to improve their lives. A 37 -year old watchman from Utter Pradesh does not know why they started the campaign. He said that they have done nothing since the past four years.”
The media mostly debated on the campaign and Congress counter. An analysis of the subject indicates most channels deviated from the actual sufferings of watchmen. Only some programs like prime time with Ravish Kumar on NDTV India exposed the problems of watchmen and exploitation by employers and many instances of watchmen being paid very low wages.

Need for improving lives

Most 'chowkidars' come from poor families and migrate from villages. Many of them are from neighbouring countries like Nepal. The economic as well as social condition of these watchmen is precarious and vulnerable with lack of healthy living. They are often forced to perform duty for twenty four hours.

Their difficulties can be estimated from various interviews conducted by media and journals in the country. In a recent article, watchmen interviewed expressed the futility of such campaign and how they are forced to work in order to support their parents and family. Many are skeptical about any change in their lives.
Mere political gimmicks have do not have great impact on the welfare of watchmen. The need of the hour is providing them with safety and security, decent wages, concern for their health, protection to their families and providing education facilities to their children. Proactive measures for their empowerment are essential but praising their courage without doing any substantial assistance may not serve any purpose.

All the political parties should be made to hear their grievances and work for solution but the mainstream parties are using them as a ' political capital'. Real lives of chowkidaars are very tough and loaded with risks which the leaders have failed to address so far with sincere commitment.
---
*The writer is from anywhere and everywhere

Comments

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Covishield controversy: How India ignored a warning voice during the pandemic

Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD * It is a matter of pride for us that a person of Indian origin, presently Director of National Institute of Health, USA, is poised to take over one of the most powerful roles in public health. Professor Jay Bhattacharya, an Indian origin physician and a health economist, from Stanford University, USA, will be assuming the appointment of acting head of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. Bhattacharya would be leading two apex institutions in the field of public health which not only shape American health policies but act as bellwether globally.

The 'glass cliff' at Galgotias: How a university’s AI crisis became a gendered blame game

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* “She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information.” These were the words used in the official press release by Galgotias University following the controversy at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The statement came across as defensive, petty, and deeply insensitive.

Farewell to Saleem Samad: A life devoted to fearless journalism

By Nava Thakuria* Heartbreaking news arrived from Dhaka as the vibrant city lost one of its most active and committed citizens with the passing of journalist, author and progressive Bangladeshi national Saleem Samad. A gentleman who always had issues to discuss with anyone, anywhere and at any time, he passed away on 22 February 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was 74.

Growth without justice: The politics of wealth and the economics of hunger

By Vikas Meshram* In modern history, few periods have displayed such a grotesque and contradictory picture of wealth as the present. On one side, a handful of individuals accumulate in a single year more wealth than the annual income of entire nations. On the other, nearly every fourth person in the world goes to bed hungry or half-fed.

From ancient wisdom to modern nationhood: The Indian story

By Syed Osman Sher South of the Himalayas lies a triangular stretch of land, spreading about 2,000 miles in each direction—a world of rare magic. It has fired the imagination of wanderers, settlers, raiders, traders, conquerors, and colonizers. They entered this country bringing with them new ethnicities, cultures, customs, religions, and languages.

Thali, COVID and academic credibility: All about the 2020 'pseudoscientific' Galgotias paper

By Jag Jivan The first page image of the paper "Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis" published in the Journal of Molecular Pharmaceuticals and Regulatory Affairs , Vol. 2, Issue 2 (2020), has gone viral on social media in the wake of the controversy surrounding a Chinese robot presented by the Galgotias University as its original product at the just-concluded AI summit in Delhi . The resurfacing of the 2020 publication, authored by Dharmendra Kumar , Galgotias University, has reignited debate over academic standards and scientific credibility.

Conversion laws and national identity: A Jesuit response response to the Hindutva narrative

By Rajiv Shah A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

'Serious violation of international law': US pressure on Mexico to stop oil shipments to Cuba

By Vijay Prashad In January 2026, US President Donald Trump declared Cuba to be an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US security—a designation that allows the United States government to use sweeping economic restrictions traditionally reserved for national security adversaries. The US blockade against Cuba began in the 1960s, right after the Cuban Revolution of 1959 but has tightened over the years. Without any mandate from the United Nations Security Council—which permits sanctions under strict conditions—the United States has operated an illegal, unilateral blockade that tries to force countries from around the world to stop doing basic commerce with Cuba. The new restrictions focus on oil. The United States government has threatened tariffs and sanctions on any country that sells or transports oil to Cuba.

Search This Blog