I still remember when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade. During heavy rainfall, the water in our streets would rise so much that a 6-foot-tall person could easily get submerged halfway. Cycles would vanish, bikes would be hidden under water, and only the roofs of cars would remain visible. I used to think, "When I grow up, things will improve." But now, after 9 years since my graduation — nothing has changed. The same waterlogged streets, the same broken roads, and the same empty promises. Every election brings new politicians with new slogans — “We will bring development”, “We will improve infrastructure” — but once elected, they eat away the system like termites. And when asked questions, they simply blame the previous governments. One blames the other, and the cycle continues. And the media? The one that should be the voice of the people — now seems more like a bodyguard of those politicians who pay them off. We were taught in school that media is the fourth pillar of democracy. But in reality, the media has become a shield for corrupt powers. Some people even say — "India has suffered a lot in the past, that’s why we are still struggling." Really?Germany was destroyed by Hitler. Japan was nuked in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yet today, they are among the most developed nations in the world.Did India face something even worse?If not, then why are we still lagging behind? Are we really developing? Or just living in the illusion of development?

Mujhe yaad hai jab main 2nd ya 3rd class me tha, aur jab tez barish hoti thi, to hamari galiyo me itna pani bhar jaata tha ki ek 6-foot ka aadmi bhi usme aadha dhoob jaaye. Cycle to gayab ho jaati thi, bikes pani me chhup jaati thi, aur cars ka sirf upar ka hissa dikhai deta tha. Tab socha tha — bade hoke sab thik ho jaayega. Par aaj, jab meri graduation ko 9 saal ho gaye hain, tab bhi wahi haal hai. Kya badla? Har election me naye-naye politician aate hain, naye promises ke saath — "Hum vikas layenge", "Nayi sadke banayenge", "Pani ka system sudhaarenge" — lekin hota kya hai? Voh log jeet jaate hain, aur fir deemak ki tarah system ko andar se kha jaate hain. Aur jab unse sawal kiya jaata hai, to kehte hain, "Yeh purani sarkar ka kaam tha." Har koi doosre pe ilzaam daal raha hota hai. Aur media? Jisey public ka awaaz hona chahiye tha, wo to sirf unka hi awaaz ban chuki hai jinhone unhe kharid liya hai. School me padha tha ki media democracy ka fourth pillar hai — par asal me yeh pillar politician ke bungalow ka security guard ban chuka hai. Fir kuch log milte hain jo kehte hain — "India ne bhut jhela hai, isiliye abhi hum puri tarah developed nahi hue." Bhai sahab, Germany ko Hitler ne barbaad kar diya tha, Japan ke Hiroshima aur Nagasaki pe atom bomb gir gaya tha — lekin aaj woh dono duniya ke top developed countries me hain. Kya India ne unse bada kuch jhela hai?To fir hamara desh aaj bhi kyu garibi, berozgaari, corruption, aur development ke naam pe slogans me atka hua hai? Kya hum sach me progress kar rahe hain ya sirf illusion me jee rahe hain?