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

MSY: Mulayam Seeti Yadav

I had just settled down to get my daily staple of Newshour on Times Now that Mulayam S. Yadav’s remark shook me in my sofa! He was referring to the recently cleared Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha. His words – in Hindi – were something like this:

“… Dekh lena, ab udyog-patiyon aur afsaron ki ladkiyan parliament mein ayengi, jinhen dekh kar ladke seeti bajaenge! …”

When translated into English:
“… Mark my words. Henceforth, you will see daughters of industrialists and bureaucrats come in the parliament, and watching whom men will whistle…” … So what if he is perennially surrounded by – and surviving because of - industrialists and bureaucrats, their daughters and daughter-in-laws included (Tina Ambani, Jaya Bachchan, et al.).

Can you believe it?!

I couldn’t for a moment. But then I did. Because, I understood. Thereafter, I did not feel any outrage or astonishment towards Mulayam S. Yadav’s otherwise outrageous outburst.

Just take a look at MSY’s background and you too will share my sentiments about the whole issue. MSY is an OBC. (OBC: “Other Backward Classes” got twisted by politicians like MSY to suit their aspirations to “Other Backward Castes”!).

Just recall that amongst the “factors” attributed for certain “castes” to be classified as an OBC – Yadavs included – their historic “backwardness” in all spheres of life was the primary one. Thus, one can simply understand how he would have been raised amongst poverty where meeting ones ends could have been of prime concern; education and cultured upbringing being purely incidental. Poor, MSY :(

Therefore, my fellow Indians, why should we feel offended by his crazy comment about women or women’s reservation bill, or on any subject of importance for that matter?

MSY echoed only what he is been reared to practice, and, preach! Imagine, MSY on his “trademark” bi-cycle, in his dhoti-kurta, roaming on streets, ogling at women and enjoying himself by whistling and making catcalls! …

Nevertheless, I have some tips for the women in the Parliament; I mean the women MPs (Sonia Gandhi, Meira Kumar, Brinda Karat, Sushma Swaraj, …). Next time the parliamentary session convenes, they all should show some “Gandhigiri”: they must present a “seeti” (whistle) to all male colleagues, MSY included, and welcome MSY with "seetis" (whistles) and make his feel “at home”! I am sure, their noble gesture will not be forgotten by MSY in this lifetime, and beyond too perhaps!

I bet, the first thing MSY will do post his encounter with the women-kind would be to rush – on his bi-cycle with a seeti between his lips - to file for two affidavits: one, to change his middle name from Singh to Seeti; two, to apply for change in his party’s symbol from bi-cycle to, again, Seeti !

So, everybody sing along:
“Hothon ko karke gol, seeti bajake bol! Mulayam Seeti Yadav, naam hai mera! Seeti bajana aurton pe, kaam hai mera! Mulayam Seeti Yadav …”

When translated into English:
“Make your lips round and whistle. Mulayam Whistle Yadav is my name; whistling at women is my work; Mulayam Whistle Yadav …”

God save India.

The Mahatma and The Maoists

Every time I see the mindless massacres being unleashed upon innocents by the Maoists, I always wonder what Mahatma Gandhi would have said about the series of senseless slaughters? How would he have dealt with these dreaded criminals who, though shamelessly claim to be engaged into “People’s War”, are actually the biggest advertisement for the adage, “if one had such friends, one wouldn’t need an enemy!”

I think we know the answer to this question all too very well.

Gandhiji would have preached and practiced the philosophy of “Ahimsa” and “Satyagraha” with Maoists as well and would have effectively encouraged them to renounce violence completely. I am sure the Mahatma would have held the same degree of influence against the illusory ideologies of the Maoists as he had had over the English’s concept – rather the lack of it – of India’s independence.

Gandhiji would have made the Maoists look deeply into their dangerous practices of crime and country’s destabilization and would have told then bluntly: “Whatever may be your understanding of the Maoism, whatever may be your so-called reason for taking up armed struggle against the State – and its people – you can never “justify the means” to your “end” which is so-called “social structuring”.

I am sure Gandhiji would have simply marched in his trademark attire and with his trademark attitude into the bastion – heartland – of the Maoists and would have won their hearts and minds! And, saying NO to the Mahatma would have been a monumental task even for these heartless Maoists!

Of course, the Mahatma would have taken the tribals along with and would have first weaned them out of the influence of the Maoists. I am sure those underprivileged people would have understood being grossly manipulated by the militant Maoists and would have vehemently protested by wholeheartedly participating in an uprising against them – following the principles of Ahimsa and Satyagraha, of course.

Simultaneously, Gandhiji would have successfully made the Indian State to implement comprehensive developmental policies and plans in the troubled tribal areas and, thus, would have ensured that the so-called “People’s War” being waged by the militant Maoists was rendered irrelevant.

And, in his endeavor, the Mahatma would have resorted to hunger strikes if he deemed necessary!

Equally important, Gandhiji would have severely opposed the Pseudo Display of Affection (PDA) for the Maoists by their so-called “sympathizers”. Because, this brazen PDA is in effect highly skewed and nauseating and it once again reiterates the fact that these Maoists “sympathizers” are hugely myopic in their outlook.

Finally, the Mahatma would have said to the Maoists: follow the philosophy of Ahimsa and Satyagraha and join the mainstream. This way you will be able to serve the downtrodden people – your people – in reality. Work alongside the government. You have the power; use it – non-violently – to force the government to build basic infrastructure – roads, schools, hospitals, telephones, electricity etc. – in the tribal areas and let them have equal opportunities to develop their skills and lead a better life. This way you – the Maoists – will actually be respected as true leaders.

Therefore, what do you have to say, dear Maoists? Follow Gandhigiri or do Dadagiri? Dadagiri will ultimately lead to your anonymous and much-awaited death in the hands of the State’s para/military forces, whereas, Gandhigiri will ultimately lead to your celebrated status in the society as leaders – people’s people – and your death will see you being honoured by the State’s para/military guns!

Choice is yours.