How India’s Everyday Struggles Reflect Political Instability

I still remember one rainy evening while returning from work. The downpour lasted hardly an hour, but the entire road turned into a swimming pool. Cars broke down in the middle, bikers dragged their vehicles, and people like me stood helpless in knee-deep water. It wasn’t just water; it was frustration, anger, and helplessness flooding every corner of the city.

The scene wasn’t new. It happens every monsoon in almost every city. Promises of “smart cities” and “world-class infrastructure” look nice on paper, but when the clouds burst, reality shows itself in potholes and clogged drains.

Standing there, drenched and angry, one thought hit me hard: if we, as ordinary employees, are held accountable for every minute of our work, why aren’t our leaders held accountable for every rupee of tax money they collect from us?

This everyday frustration is more than just an inconvenience. It is a reflection of political instability, not the kind that leads to governments collapsing overnight, but rather the silent instability where citizens slowly lose faith in their leaders, institutions, and the very idea of democracy.

What Do We Mean by Political Instability?

Political instability is not always about coups, wars, or revolutions. Sometimes, it’s about the slow erosion of trust. It happens when:

• Governments are inconsistent in action.
• Leaders make promises but don’t deliver.
• Citizens feel exploited rather than valued.
• Systems fail again and again in daily life.

When people stop believing that the government is capable, responsible, or accountable, instability begins to grow. It doesn’t show up in breaking news headlines every day, but it lives in conversations at tea stalls, in WhatsApp groups, and in the silent decision of thousands of young people who choose to leave the country each year.

1. The Burden of Increasing Work Hours

Let me start with what most of us face: work hours.

Ask any young professional today. Ten-hour workdays are normal. Twelve to fourteen-hour shifts are common. Even government employees, who once had the comfort of fixed timings, now see increasing workloads.

But here’s the harsh truth: wages have not risen in the same proportion. Productivity has increased, but respect and compensation have not.

In developed countries, efficiency is valued. Employees are encouraged to work smart, rest well, and live balanced lives. But in India, long hours are treated like badges of honor, as if time spent proves loyalty. In reality, it’s exploitation disguised as dedication.

Citizens feel like machines. Their lives shrink to offices, traffic, and fatigue. And when the government sees this imbalance but remains silent, it signals one thing: indifference. This indifference plants seeds of instability because it convinces citizens that no one is truly protecting their rights.

2. Taxes Everywhere, But Transparency Nowhere

Every Indian contributes to the government’s pocket.

• Income tax from salaries.
• GST on daily purchases.
• Excise duties on fuel.
• Toll charges on roads.
• Hidden taxes wrapped in “service fees.”

We pay. But what do we see in return? Roads that break within months. Hospitals without enough doctors. Schools without enough teachers.

As employees, we are asked to report our work daily or monthly. If we don’t, we are questioned, even punished. But leaders? They collect crores in taxes every year, yet never provide a detailed, accessible report to citizens about where that money went.

This lack of transparency is not a small issue. It erodes trust at the root. People start believing taxes are wasted, misused, or pocketed. And when taxpayers lose faith, political stability is shaken.

Imagine a system where the government openly declared: “This year, we collected X amount. Here’s how it was spent: hospitals got this much, roads this much, education this much.” Wouldn’t citizens feel more respected, more willing to contribute? Accountability builds trust. Its absence builds instability.

3. Infrastructure: Broken Promises on Broken Roads

Every monsoon proves one fact: India’s infrastructure is fragile.

A few hours of rain and:

• Roads get clogged.
• Traffic becomes unbearable.
• Drainage systems collapse.
• Floods disrupt lives and businesses.

Excuses are given, “the area is low-lying” or “the terrain is difficult.” But governance is about planning for reality, not hiding behind excuses. If low-lying areas flood every year, why hasn’t a proper drainage system been built yet after all these years of loss? If hilly roads collapse, why aren’t better reinforcements used?

Infrastructure is the face of governance. When it fails repeatedly, it tells citizens their political leaders don’t care. This fuels anger and hopelessness, two powerful ingredients of instability.

4. Politicians: From Common People to Power Holders

The irony is hard to miss. Many politicians once lived like us, ordinary people, managing monthly salaries, paying bills, and worrying about household budgets. But once in power, the transformation is swift. Suddenly, life changes big cars, security, wealth, and influence.

Politics, ideally, should be service. But, in practice, it often becomes a pursuit of seats and money. Elections are fought like wars, but promises made in manifestos vanish once votes are counted.

This disconnect between words and actions breaks credibility. Citizens feel betrayed. And betrayal is a dangerous fuel for instability. When leaders forget their roots, when they no longer represent the struggles of the people, democracy becomes hollow.

5. Media: The Silent Partner of Instability

A free and responsible media is supposed to be the watchdog of democracy. It should expose corruption, highlight mismanagement, and give citizens the information they need to demand change.

But in India, media often prioritizes sensationalism over substance. Instead of asking why cities flood every year, it debates trivial distractions. Instead of exposing tax mismanagement, it runs endless celebrity gossip.

Worse, many media houses are tied to political or corporate interests. When money controls coverage, truth suffers. And when truth suffers, accountability dies.

Without reliable media, citizens cannot make informed decisions. And without informed citizens, democracy weakens. This silence of the media is not neutral; it is part of the machinery that sustains instability.

6. Migration: Citizens Leaving Their Own Land

Why are so many Indians leaving for other countries? It’s not just about money. It’s about respect.

In countries like Canada, Germany, or Australia:

• Work hours are fixed and respected.
• Salaries reflect productivity.
• Taxes are high, but citizens know exactly how they are spent.
• Infrastructure is reliable.

Indians go there not only for higher pay but for dignity. They are valued as professionals, not treated as labourers.

Meanwhile, in India, people are overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated. The government knows about the migration wave but does little to stop it. This brain drain further weakens the nation and deepens instability, as the very people who could drive change are choosing to leave.

How Instability Shows Itself?

The results of these issues are visible all around us:

• Loss of Trust: Citizens stop believing in leaders or institutions.
• Protests and Frustration: People express anger in streets, workplaces, and online.
• Apathy: Many stop voting, convinced it won’t matter.
• Polarization: Communities blame each other instead of leaders.
• Corruption Normalization: Misuse of funds becomes accepted as “that’s just how things work.”

This is instability in slow motion. Not dramatic like coups, but equally destructive over time.

Why does it matter to us?

Some may ask, so what if people are frustrated? Life goes on, doesn’t it?

Yes, life goes on, but at a cost:

• Economic growth slows when investors lose confidence in governance.
• Citizens lose motivation, impacting productivity.
• Inequality widens as the rich escape problems while the poor suffer more.
• Democracy becomes weaker because people stop believing their voice matters.

Political instability is not just about governments falling. It is about hope falling. And when hope falls, nations crumble from within.

The Way Forward: Building Accountability

The solution is not impossible. In fact, it is simple accountability and transparency.

1. Public Tax Reports: Governments should release annual, citizen-friendly reports on how much tax was collected and how it was spent.
2. Budget Breakdown: Instead of complex documents that only economists understand, create simplified versions for citizens. Show exactly how much goes to health, education, infrastructure, etc.
3. Independent Oversight: Establish independent watchdog bodies to review government spending and performance.
4. Workplace Protection: Enforce maximum working hours and ensure fair wages in both public and private sectors.
5. Infrastructure Planning Plan cities and towns realistically, with durable drainage, reliable roads, and effective flood control.
6. The Political Accountability: Track promises made in manifestos and create public dashboards to show what was delivered and what wasn’t.
7. Media Responsibility: Support independent journalism and reduce corporate-political influence over news.
8. Citizen Empowerment: Educate citizens about rights, taxation, and governance. Encourage questioning, not blind acceptance.

Until Citizens Demand, Nothing Will Change

One thing is clear: politicians will not become accountable by themselves. The media will not suddenly transform. Unless people demand change, nothing will shift.

As citizens, we must ask:

• Why are we paying endless taxes and still not seeing results?
• Why are work hours increasing while pay stagnates?
• Why do our cities collapse every monsoon?
• Why aren’t leaders required to report how they spend our money?

If these questions are asked loudly and consistently, politicians will be forced to answer. If not, the cycle of neglect will continue.

A Call for True Accountability

India has everything it needs: talent, energy, and hard-working citizens. But, without accountable political leadership, all this potential gets wasted.

Just as employees are accountable for their work, leaders must be accountable for their spending. Just as workers fear losing jobs for negligence, leaders must fear losing power for corruption or misuse.

Respect begins with responsibility. Until leaders show responsibility, citizens will continue to feel like labourers in their own country. Until transparency becomes real, the youth will continue to leave.

Political instability is not only about governments falling. It’s about people losing faith. And right now, faith is exactly what India is losing.

The solution is in our hands: demand accountability, demand transparency, demand respect. Only then will India’s democracy truly live up to its promise.