I am Anna !

Standing there at Ramlila Ground, seeing him sit straight on the stage with his trademark Anna topi, looking lovingly into the massive crowd gathered there, a thought stayed with me: how would he be feeling “being Anna”? …

It had been weighing on my conscience since Aug 16 for not being able to make it to the Ramlila Ground and pledge my support to Anna in person; I had this strong feeling of guilt that in spite of being a proponent of anti-corruption movement, I had not contributed to it in real terms. The reasons were numerous but though none being an “excuse’, I decided to do my bit. Therefore, today – 27^th Aug – I went to Ramlila Ground in the afternoon.

The moment I made the decision, a strange feeling engulfed me; I found myself very uncomfortable with the thought of being amidst that huge crowd. Even my parents were uneasy. They advised me to strictly maintain my cool unless provoked to “that” extent. I assured them that I would as I didn’t want to become a “breaking news” in front of the Indian media fraternity!

There were people all around. Getting inside the Ground took almost 20 minutes. But the security personnel were managing the queues well. People were of all age groups, with males obviously hugely dominating in numbers. There was a separate allocated space for females. People were in groups, with family members including aged parents and children, singles - from all classes and strata of society. The energy of the gathered public was amazing! Chants of Anna were being heard all over, in fact from a couple of kilometers away. Loudspeakers were blaring speeches and songs. ‘Main Anna Hoon’ – I am Anna – caps and badges were seen on almost everybody; many wearing tri-colored wrist bands and waving Indian Tri-color in numerous sizes. The mood was of extreme eagerness but of absolute hope at the same time. The reverence for Anna was palpable. The Ground resembled a place of pilgrimage!

After having stood in the “mixed” queue for almost 20 minutes, I gained entry into the Ground. My first instinct was to look for Anna! He was sitting on a raised podium at a distance. Automatically I started walking in that direction but keeping myself away from the crowd –walking at the periphery of the gathering. However, barely I had covered a few meters that suddenly I got caught in a huge sea of people, all having come inside “suddenly” – that is what it seemed then! – crushing me virtually from all sides. The scene resembled an impending stampede! And I got alert and concerned about my physical safety. But to my surprise, people – all male crowd – behaved extremely decently! No even a single person tried to show his ‘basic instincts’. And, perhaps, for the first time in my life I felt proud of my countrymen who otherwise exhibit such pathetic attitude towards women that you cannot help but hate them. To me it seemed to be the reflection of Anna in every male present there!

Another distinct feature of the Ground was the presence of media. Never before I had seen such a huge congregation of press for any event! The OB vans were parked all around the ground; television cameras and other broadcast paraphernalia were mounted inside the ground. Television channel reporters were busy reporting. I watched them work – and work hard non-stop! – with high amount of respect. If Anna could drive home his point in otherwise not-so-courageous Indian hearts, a great degree of credit goes to the Indian media which stood by him throughout and ensured that Anna’s people’s movement became stronger with every passing day. In this one name which stands out is of Arnab Goswami and his team at Times Now – Team Arnab! - they set a record of non-stop coverage of close to 300 hours (13 days) and made sure that all relevant points regarding the Jan Lokpal Bill – including doubts, concerns raised by genuine people as well as detractors – were debated with utmost sincerity and honesty with the sole purpose of putting the truth before public. And if many felt he could be rechristened as Arnab Hazare or Anna Goswami, I think that says it all! Continue your crusade, Bengali Babu Moshai J … (as called by parliamentarians!).

Parliamentary discussions were on; India’s elected representatives were meeting and debating the ‘3’ points put forth by Anna for inclusion in the Jan Lokpal Bill draft for discussion. The passing of parliamentary resolution was awaited anxiously as Anna had entered his 12^th Day of fasting. Everyone shared a deep concern for his falling health; everyone wanted the government to relent so that Anna could break his fast.

However, what was incredible was Anna’s energy level! He looked strong enough sitting there and lovingly staring into the crowd, considering the length of his non-stop fast. I tried to take a few pictures of him, and did so as well, but the sheer distance between him and me ensured I did not get any “good” photograph. However, I could get myself clicked with Anna on stage and people all around in the background and guaranteed that I had a souvenir!

I called up my parents and gave them a running commentary of the happenings at the Ground till it was announced that the parliament had passed the resolution as per Anna’s demands on the pending Jan Lokpal Bill. And the crowd erupted with ecstasy! What a moment it was! I felt blessed being a part of the history being made! My regret of not being born in the times of Mahatma Gandhi felt like regressing to a large extent! I was witnessing a watershed!

Anna with support of his team member got up and waved happily to the crowd which was now loudly cheering and chanting his name! It was a victory and it was unprecedented! Never before since the time of India’s independence, people’s power had been acknowledged in the arrogant corridors of political power! The democracy in all its essence was on display! And it was an extremely proud moment for India!

Anna proved to the world once again that Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of peaceful protests were alive and relevant even in today’s 21^st century! And he showed to the people that collectively they could bring about desired changes in society and polity of the nation! Indians looked transformed!

Words fail me to describe the event in its entirety. It was an experience of my lifetime! I kept watching the happenings both on and off the stage for some more time, soaking in the fervor and festivity! There was hope floating all around coupled with confidence about a corruption free future for all! This was in fact the “game changing” moment in Anna’s crusade against corruption! And I was simply happy to be a part of this soon-to-be-seen change!

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28-08-11: Anna has broken his fast today. After a couple of days in hospital (Thanks, Dr. Naresh Trehan, for looking after Anna’s health for past 13 days; please continue to take care of him even beyond his discharge from your Medanta Medicity!) he would be again on his mission for a strong Jan Lokapl Bill. As he said: the battle is only 50% won! To think that the task towards achieving the other 50% would be smooth now, as the political class has “woken up” to the reality that India needs change, is a bit naïve. Anna will have to continue his protest and sustain his self-led India Against Corruption fight along with his esteemed Team Anna and his millions of supporters – Annas! - all over the country and abroad. But one thing is clear: This time India will ensure that the Change comes - and fast! Else, Anna will fast again! ;)

I don’t have to be Paul The Octopus to predict this: if Indian politicians still fail to see the change in public mood towards them, they are going to become irrelevant soon. The foolishly arrogant attitude that they demonstrated so shamelessly for so long will have to be shed. Hubris will not take them far anymore. If they do not embrace the desired Change, then they would get changed. But the process of Change will not stop; in fact the Catalyst for Change has just got activated …

Anna, Gandhiji is smiling up there J

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Lokpal Bill and an Incorruptible India?!

I start with thanking Anna Hazare and all founding members of “India Against Corruption” for giving India its much awaited Lokpal Bill, finally! Well, now that the government of India has relented fearing further erosion in its public support base, and with a determined Anna and Co. there to ensure its formulation and subsequent passage in the Parliament, the Lokpal Bill will see the light of the day. (So what if it took more than 42 years? It is never too late for any thing, including the Lokpal Bill!)

Now that we have the Lokpal Bill, the moot question remains: Is Lokpal Bill the Panacea against Corruption?

NO. Let’s admit it honestly. Lokpal Bill is the first step in that direction, nevertheless. Its sincere and fair implementation will determine its effectiveness and purpose, and ultimate success; the chances of which are extremely grim, to say the least.

Well, we know the reasons.

We don’t have to do an autopsy of our systems – the monumentally corrupt systems are very much alive! – to discover that the chronic malaise is a multi-organ phenomenon and is indeed widespread and deep-seated. Also, we do not have to do gene-mapping of our country to realize that the etiology of the disease is a DNA mutation leading to the corrupt-chromosome getting embedded into the nucleus of the nation!

Let us also not forget the global positioning of India and here I am not talking about “Incredible India” which sounds as hollow as the “India Shining” slogan! Today I am simply reminding every one of us of the infamous tagline on India: 100 mein se 90 beyiman, phir bhi mera Bharat mahaan! (90 out of 100 are corrupt, still my India is great!) … Majority of the Indians behave like an opportunist microorganism: depending on the scope and scale of corruption, they derive their share!

Frankly speaking, to believe that because the Indians came out in full support to Anna Hazare’s fast-unto-death protest Indians have got re-mutated to their Non-Corrupt Avatar would be like living in an illusory India! (Sounds good; could replace “Incredible” in India’s slogan!)

Indian history is witness to a few such contemporary revolutions. In my living memory Mandal Commission was the first such incident which succeeded in mobilizing a large population base to protest which was followed by a repeat show at Ayodhya and resurfaced occasionally in form of support for quotas/reservations etc. Election Reforms Bill (not the actual terminology) also got huge support from the public of India. The recent radical change was witnessed in form of passing of the RTI Act. All these could have served as catalysts for elemental and permanent changes in fabric of India and its establishments i.e. overall polity and society, but none of these served the actual purpose for which it was meant. On the contrary, all such amendments and bills etc. accomplished dividing the society further. Worse, these also succeeded in keeping the downtrodden exactly at the bottom of the societal pyramid where they have belonged to since centuries! And not to forget the most dangerous of them all: in spite of a resurgent election commission we continue to elect criminals ‘by hook or by crook’! (i.e. by hooch or by cooker! Please refer to the forthcoming Tamil Nadu polls in case you are unable to get the drift!) And the corrupt have continued to amass unlimited wealth through malpractices and colossal corruption! (Kalmadi, Raja, Hasan Ali … every one seems to be in a competition to out win every body else!)

Thus to believe that all ills will be cured just by signing of the Jan Lokpal Bill is the height of naivety and extreme form of foolishness!

Therefore, first and foremost, we need to cleanse our systems – both politically and socially – to be able to bury the demon of corruption. Because, Lokpal or something else, it is the Indians who are going to be at the helm of affairs majority of who would come from the same corrupt gene-pool! Otherwise, to say that the Lokpal Bill too will remain rusting and corruption will continue to thrive will be an understatement. And, remember, Anna will not be around forever for us to fast-unto-death for every change we desire!

In fact we need to change our attitude fundamentally. Like charity, NO TO CORRUPTION has to start from self; the change has to come from within; in every day of our life. Let’s pledge not to give any bribe for any personal cause or gains. Let’s also make a resolve that no matter what the allure, we will not let the honest core of our being – and India’s foundations - get corroded with corruption. Let’s get over our comfort with corruption. We, as a society and a nation, will shun corruption completely and start celebrating honesty and integrity. We will banish all corrupt to margins of the society. The spectrum of India will have no iota of corruption in it.

Then only real change will come to India – Change we can believe in! Else, after every few years we will keep getting motivated to crowd near the India Gate and the Gateway of India and other landmarks of the country in front of numerous television cameras and non-stop coverage and may succeed in forcing the then government with hoarse sloganeering to enact some crucial bill and then we will go back to sleep dreaming of more money for ourselves by “whatever it takes/gives”!

If we do not change – ourselves and our country - India will keep struggling in the solid grip of corruption. Because in such a scenario/society where corruption is rampant, though an average corrupt citizen gets a little ‘extra’ amount to so-called stash away and enjoy life with in a ‘limited’ sense of the term, the real beneficiaries continue to be the ultimate looters – players in corridors of power and position – politicians, bureaucrats, police, businesses, and other high and mighty of the society, people who are masters in the game of manipulations – all done with the sole goal of self gratification. The rest of the average Indian citizenry – corrupt or non-corrupt – continue to suffer rigmarole of daily life immensely tainted with corrupt colors and stay squeezed in tentacles of corruption; there is no recourse for anybody in a corrupt country.

Living a corruption-free life is not difficult. It just a matter of practice and getting used to a better life – a life with dignity and free from manipulations; a life filled with honesty and integrity and sincerity and prosperity and peace and happiness – for all.

These are not sermons; these are what everybody in non-corrupt parts of the world experiences and enjoys! And we too can!

Because only an “Incorruptible India” can be an “Incredible India”!

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Anna, your Annagiri will prove to be a viable channel for fast-unto-death-of-corruption!

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Anna, I know now why you love to fast! Ann-na means “no ann” i.e no grains! ... And, "annshan" means "shun" the "ann"!

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Anna, I salute your strength; even after 97 hours of non-stop fasting, you looked and sounded absolutely strong! That’s the mettle of a true leader!

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To all those so-called leaders who boast of a popular base on twitter/facebook: just accept my challenge to gather so many people in support of a cause espoused by you in your tweet or on your facebook page - in a public place and away from the glare of television cameras – and force the GOI to act in favour; I will accept you as my leader!

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World’s revolutions have been fought primarily by youth but have almost always been led by matured leaders!

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And it was no twitter-facebook revolution; it was a pure people’s revolution; revolution of all those people who bothered to come to India Gate and Gateway of India and other designated places in solidarity with Anna’s cause. Because if the GOI relented, it was under the sheer pressure of losing its voters base – of whatever is left of.

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And it was Media’s movement also because if the Indian media had not highlighted Anna Hazare’s fast through non-stop coverage, this event would have also died down like previous many such protests.

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The success of Anna’s crusade proves two things: that if the people of India “will”, they “can”; secondly, the Indian media can play the role of a real crusader for all the desired changes in India!

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Finally, a slogan for the second round of Indian revolution, if need be (and chances would be many!): Kudos to Anna and Judo (kicks) to politicians! (My sister has the copyright to it!) J

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