Anna, India is with you in your fast-unto-death-of-corruption! And we love your Annagiri!

Today I feel proud as an Indian. Because today I believe that we Indians can stand up, stand up for ourselves. It’s always frustrating and annoying to see India hugely comfortable with everything corroding the very foundations of our great nation – corruption being the most corrosive of all malaise. But today I am sensing an assurance about the scent of change having reached our shores, finally, and that we will see the Change we want.

And the credit is Anna Hazare’s! It is immensely satisfying to see Indians, young Indians especially, respond to Anna’s call of fight against corruption and be with him, in real space and time and in the virtual domain as well. From Jantar Mantar in Delhi to Facebook, Twitter and Blogs in the social media, Indian youth is pledging support to this modern day Mahatma. And whoever said Gandhigiri was dead and ineffective in today’s times should see Anna reinvent it for India once again as Annagiri!

Only a couple of months back, 27^th Jan’11 to be precise, I had expressed my views on “India Poised for Revolution??? It is High Time …”. It was upon seeing India’s and Indian Media’s shocking indifference to the then ongoing movement in Tunisia and Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle-East.

Without repeating my views, I simply put the link here in case you want to read my point of view.

http://anjuchandel.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/india-poised-for-revolution-its-high-time/

Nevertheless, I would like to enumerate a few important points.

First, the current activism against corruption in India is direct fallout of the success of Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions. I am happy that the unfolding events in the Middle East could succeed in inspiring us Indians - finally. And we are indebted to “India Against Corruption” campaign coupled with Anna Hazare’s peaceful protest in form of fast.

It was the success of people’s revolution in Egypt and Tunisia and the revolt in Libya besides in Bahrain, Yemen and elsewhere that ignited minds of a few credible social activists like Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi and the germination of the “idea of revolution” in form of a forum called “India Against Corruption”. The support to this initiative was huge and immediate – on Facebook especially, which, frankly, was a bit surprising to me as I had always believed that Indians lacked the spine to stand for themselves and their country.

Second, the role of Indian Media has to be given its due credit. The fact that Anna Hazare’s “fast-unto-death” protest has become such a hit and has created such a sensation and furor in the political and public arena is because the Indian media – television in particular – took it up wholeheartedly. Through their non-stop coverage, Media is once again reiterating its own campaign against cancerous corruption.

Do not forget that the real crusade against the chronic gangrene called corruption was in effect initiated by Time Now’s shocking exposes about monumental levels of wrongdoings in the Commonwealth Games preparations which had the maximum impact. The channel sustained its relentless and fearless coverage in spite of immense pressure from all “concerned” to stop it from doing the same. The actual credit at Times Now – rather in the Media – of course, is of Arnab Goswami’s who has been the real crusader who spearheaded the media movement against corruption with his sheer courage. His forceful ways led the other Media houses to adopt his ways of news reporting which started a viral in “nail the corrupt” campaigns on various news channels. I greatly admire his guts to take the all powerful systems head on and put enough pressure on the government to ACT through his relevant and strong debates.

And to all those courage-less cynics who are maliciously labeling the increasing uproar as "media created" drama, that I am proud of my Media as they are doing just what they are supposed to do: act as the 4th Estate of our functional Democracy!

Thus, to tell truthfully, I have full faith in the fact that Anna’s movement will continue to gain momentum and will become so big and inclusive and encompassing that the otherwise deliberately deaf-dumb government will feel its serious heat soon. In fact it has already started being felt. Sharad Pawar had to step down from the GoM on corruption. However, it is just an eyewash but not insignificant, to say the least. He should, as Anna said, resign from the ministry as well because only a few cabinet members can match him in managing corruption to suit his personal gains! And not only him; all politicians – ministers or not a minister yet – are utterly corrupt and, therefore, do not have the moral right to be on the panel. The forum has to have credible civil society members from all walks of life.

But what is perplexing is the foolish attitude of the government of India towards handling this issue. Their defiance is going to further and seriously erode whatever credibility they are left with. In stead of sounding and acting arrogant, the GOI should have immediately called a cabinet meeting and would have constituted a special committee inviting Anna Hazare – rather met him at the Jantar Mantar – and his fellow revolutionaries for sincere and honest discussions, leading to final drafting of the Lokpal Bill. Special session of the Parliament should have been called and the Bill should have been passed. Because, one thing is written on the wall: there is no going back now; Lokpal Bill has to be finalized in the required manner and passed ASAP.

Finally, to repeat myself, I feel proud of my India today because finally we have woken up against the gangrene of corruption. And we have Anna Hazare to thank for waking up a historically and perennially sleeping India from its comfort-cocoon as far as corruption is concerned. From being labeled as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, we have to demonstrate that we are capable of cleansing the systems including our physical system – remember, it is infamously said that corruption has got embedded in the DNA of Indians!

I am 100% sure that Anna's crusade will become watershed in rewriting India's destiny. And Jantar Mantar, as is being said, has already become India's Tahrir Square. We just have to sustain our steam and free India of all its ills. Its time ...

It’s time the GOI also woke up to the harsh political and social realities and listen to the growing chorus of India against corruption and forgo its inability coupled with unwillingness to handle this situation with integrity and honesty. Otherwise, they will repent soon because India is not going to take their corruption-tainted autocratic and arrogant ways anymore. We will take this crusade against corruption to its final conclusion. After all, we have the fundamental right to a corruption-free life!

It’s time for Change, Change towards a corruption-free India! … From being an “Invertebrate India” we have to reclaim being an “Incredible India”!

It’s Time …

Anna, carry on your fast-unto-death-of-corruption! India is with you, Anna J

India Poised for Revolution??? It's High Time ...

I was flying back to Delhi on 25^th evening and was looking out of window as the aircraft was on its descent. The approaching land of Delhi looked beautiful. It was a great relief from the feeling of suffocation I was experiencing as a result of having to sit in a ‘window’ seat sandwiched between the aircraft body on one side and a human’s body on the other side (in the middle seat)!

(It was the second time in a row that I couldn’t manage an aisle seat on my way back to the city. I can’t even remember the last time I had flown sitting at a window. I have to remember to Net check-in from next time onwards…)

My mind was engrossed in numerous thoughts which were taking me far and wide: from earth to moon and back to earth! I imagined myself as an alien about to touch down on the planet earth! And also about Neil Armstrong’s landing on the Moon! Humanity at large also crossed my mind. And the feeling I got was similar to what I get whenever I see a cute little child: what kind of a human he/she will grow to be? (Why do people behave the way they do???) Simultaneously I was trying to make out the popular landmarks on Delhi’s beautifully lit landmass. Suddenly I remembered and wondered how spectacular the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium would have looked from up above the sky so high on the day of the inauguration and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games. And then all those unearthed scams and scamsters came flooding to my mind! The city which looked so tranquil from thousands of miles in the sky suddenly seemed ugly. And I became aware of the presence of corrupt and cruel people – politicians and bureaucrats and police and mafias and criminals – walking the earth below.

I thought about India and the Indians. And also about the Republic Day the next day and the Padma awards and if Arnab Goswami had made to the final list (I had no time to abreast myself with the News throughout the day in Bombay). I was also very keen to know if Dr. Binayak Sen had been granted bail. Then my thoughts took me thousands of miles away to Tunisia. From Arnab to Media to Tunisia and back to India, my mind was racing fast! India’s struggle for independence and its leaders and freedom fighters came flashing. And then a thought solidified – being there on my mind since a few days, since the Tunisian revolution – that why is India not witnessing any revolution anymore? Because the prevailing state of affairs in India is immensely ugly and brutal for majority and which can be corrected only by a revolution. How long can India act deaf and dumb?

A “slap” saw Tunisia get into a revolutionary mode, ousting its dictator with sheer show of public anger and power. Tunisia’s uprising inspired similar protests in neighboring African and Middle-Eastern states. It could turn out to be a watershed moment – movement – when the world looks at it a few years from now.

India has a lot to learn from Tunisia. In spite of the so-called story about India being “poised”, our country needs major reforms in all walks of life. Democracy is often the most confused position; democracy is abused by many to manipulate systems to suit personal gains. In India, ordinary citizens – famously called as aam-aadmi - are put under illusory state of being powerful and free whereas the reality is mostly opposite. The “ballot power” is the most exaggerated form of public power.

2010 saw the Indian Media emerge as a strong crusader with its relentless and impactful activism. The Indian establishment, which is otherwise immune to public pressure or public anger, was forced to act in many cases relentlessly pursued by the Indian Media. India saw its Media acting as the “fourth” pillar in the real sense of the term. A Media in its “Change Agent” avatar could have easily started a mutiny if same level of reportage had happened in any other country. But not in India.

India kept its “poise” even in an environment intense with exposes about utter levels of corruption and blatant use of office and power - and public money! We did not see even a single protest by Indian public against the exposed scams and scamsters. Indians seemed to be least affected by billions of country’s money being looted by corrupt politicians and bureaucrats and officials. Rather we found many advocating against the Media for bringing to light monumental corruption in many areas. This was especially witnessed just before the start of the Common Wealth Games. “Corruption is nothing new; let the Games carry on!” was how majority reacted initially. Instead of feeling let down by the sheer scale of scam, Indians targeted the Media. It was crazy!

CWG scam led to strings of bigger scams but India kept sleeping. How long are we going to behave like ostriches and believe that “all is well”? Till the sting of corruption hurts us directly and individually? When will we come together and protest against the gross and grotesque manipulations by the Indian establishment – government and everybody else in power? When are we Indians going to start a revolt and free India from the corrupt tentacles of its hugely tainted politicians and bureaucrats and police? We see people – public – coming out in streets protesting trivial issues – again politically motivated suiting narrow gains – but never ever do we witness Indians coming out together and demonstrating for the right to a manipulation & corruption free life.

India is an incredible country – no doubt. But it has an equally incredible legacy of remaining under “foreign” rule for several centuries. If Mahatma Gandhi hadn’t happened to India, we would probably have remained under British rule for many more decades.

Today, India is supposed to be “poised” - for bigger things on the global stage. It is an emerging economy and has created wealth for many. There is a sense of overall prosperity all around – but restricted to cities only. In addition, as more than 70% of Indians are under the age of 35, thus, India can claim to be a “young nation”. But where is exuberance and enthusiasm of a typical youth? Where is confidence and rebellion so characteristic of youth? Why our youths do not revolt against wrongs and injustices and discriminations witnessed so often in our country and which have the potential to wreck havoc with life? Why is our youth comfortable with corruption gnawing at the country’s foundation? Why do Indians – fortunate ones in cities – have this “I-don’t-care-as-long-as-it-doesn’t-affect-me-directly”??? … Or, is our youth busy enjoying bliss by playing with amazing “apps” available on a cell phone?

Tunisia started the fire which has spread to its neighbouring countries and where the mantle of revolution has been taken up by their youths. Indian youth needs to wake up to shake up the corrupt Indian establishment and bring about radical political and social upheaval and reclaim our India of yesteryears when it was hailed as “Sone ki Chidiya” and where Ram-Rajya prevailed! …

Are we too waiting to be “slapped” out of our slumber??? … It is high time India saw a revolution … Remember, we have a fundamental right to revolt!

……………………………….

The aircraft landed with a slight jerk and I landed in my real India. …

Happy Republic Day J , belatedly!