I have no idea on who said this, but whoever said it made a lot of sense with this witty one-liner. Lets flash our memories back to our reminiscences. Its been 51 yrs of independent India now and yet we cannot vouch confidently that we are indeed independent. During all these years, how many leaders or the so called “political stalwarts” can we think of as a difference maker ?. Someone who has been a showstopper, someone who has strived and thrived in doing that one selfless act, an act that was probably directed towards benefiting the million masses ?. These questions might possibly sound obscure but the harsh reality is that the leaders who have tried doing this have been lost in the oblivion. We always compare ourselves with the United States. We always keep cribbing on how better they are than us and keep yearning on what is the one mantra that we need to inculcate so that we can be as good as them, if not better. Well, being a grad student here and from what I have perceived all this time, the only place where the US stands apart is in their system. There is not one Indian here who would say that US is better than India but for their system. Its the efficiency with which they function. I have always believed and strongly adhere to my notion that a nation’s success is always the culmination of every citizen’s efforts put together and this realization would only arise if we have a strong education system. But for the IITs, IIMs, NITs and the IISCs, Indian education system needs to be shaken from its crust. It is only through this educational awareness, would people realize the importance of voting and elect someone whose vision is not parochial but universal. India definitely is one big pool budding with enormous talent but its only that we need to pick the right leader to groom and nuture it in the right direction.Therefore its our awareness that needs to spread among the masses and make them realize that every vote counts. It is not wrong to have an ambitious dream as long we can find a way to make it come true. So, Vote India !!

-Girish