Will this movement eradicate corruption? Is Anna, the second Gandhi? Just because I don’t support Anna, does it mean I am lesser Indian? the answer is NO but yet there are reasons we need to back this movement
A Day Lost in History
It was a few days after 26/11('08), we received a SMS of a protest rally at the Gateway. We reached there and saw a small crowd building into a colossal sea of humanity. The wounded city was out there expressing its angst – no media really covered and no organization really organized it. My senior ex-colleague quipped – “This is the beginning”, the army was ready and the writing was on the wall – Anna was waiting to Happen.
Miracle or Madness on the Streets?
Cut to the present – there are toddlers piggy backing their parents, children breaking their piggy banks to donate, youngsters running riot - galvanizing, organizing, volunteering and energizing , senior citizens with wobbly steps and stern resolve - everyone is out there braving rains and muck. ANNA is not the purpose or the reason – he is the rallying point.(This nation needs Heroes that unify – none in the political class). The Miracle – is the way this battle is fought, bloodless but intense, non violent but engrossing. The entertaining slogans (ek chai, do khari, anna pad gaya sab pe bhari) bordering on insanity reflects our melodramatic DNA and in Mass movements like these – pagalpanthi bhi zaroori hai.
The Ganges of Revolution
We are part of the corruption, how can we blame the political class ? Yesterday, my friend who took part in the protests earlier was caught by a traffic cop. He for the first time in his life asked for the legal procedure for the fine. He was ready to pay the fine but didn’t want to handover the license so payed the bribe, but his narration had a regretful tone(his battle with his conscious has begun). When we partake in revolution, it’s like bathing in Ganges, or taking holy communion or offering namaz- we face our conscious and strengthen our resolve to fight our evils and we realize that this fight (as a friend put it) is not US vs Them – its US vs US. Politicians are not aliens they are one among us
The Method in the Madness
The Anna team – most critics seem to be questioning their credentials etc – To take this argument forward, I am going to agree to the supposition that they may have ulterior motives. But the crux is , what is exactly wrong with what they are demanding and how will they benefit if the Bill is passed. FYI – the bill in whichever version was possible only coz of this old man.
Below are some points :
- Govt’s Lokpal will only cover class 1 officers (some 600-700) at the central level. So the adarsh scam, and CWG will be out of the purview while the Jan Lokpal insists on state level Lokayuktas
- The corruption at the base level . i.e if u go for ration card – within 14 days if u don’t get it – the office will pay u 250 per day – this is as per the citizen’s charter already existing in every government office - The Janlokpal will ensure this . GOVT AS OF NOW DOESNT WANT THIS.
- Raja has pocketed 300 crores in the 1 .5 lakh he has cheated the country with. As per Government Lokpal , he will be jailed etc but the money won’t be recovered. The Janlokpal has provisions to recover the money.
Anti Virus - Yes , Vaccine - No
This Bill will not eradicate corruption. It’s like creating an effective Anti-virus not a vaccine. And this movement does not seek to circumvent democracy- but it wants to reminds the political class that you can’t take parliamentary democracy for granted. Politicians are just manipulating the atmosphere and trying to make this a agitation against the Parliament RATHER than discuss the specifics of the bill. We need the above clauses in the bill - you can call it Jan Lokpal or Man(Manmohan) Lokpal or Rajiv Gandhi Lokpal Bill. THE CLAUSES - DEBATE THAT - not the ego centric RHETORIC
The Great Indian Dream
As I write, the74 year old man with ulterior motives has lost 6 kilos in 10 days but refuses to take drips – and his health on the verge of collapse. Hence, instead of questioning his credentials and funding, let’s focus on the issues in the bill. Debate each of them and strengthen the bill. You can disagree and suggest changes. THIS IS NOT CALL TO SUPPORT – THIS IS A CALL TO PARTICIPATE. Young India (7- 22 yrs) believes that they are designing a change – don’t let them down and kill the belief that they can change things. From a cynical "kuich nahi ho sakta hai" , we are moving to a "we can do something" tone.
THIS is NOT TEHREER square or Arab SPRING, we have evolved much more and this is “churning” and “tuning” for a better tomorrow , Indians have begun to assert themselves and unknowingly drafting – ‘The Great Indian Dream’. (defining "kamyab" in "hum honge kamyab").We are nearing the end of this battle but the war is long-drawn. More Annas will rise – the dream will stay on .
(Please join www.indiagaisntcorruption.org or any organization and raise your voice. Agree OR DISAGREE but participate)
