Baba Ramdev and his 5-star Satyagraha!

The setting was perfect: Ramlila Ground, therefore, it had to be high drama by the protagonist along with his protesters! …

The desire for a pie in the Anti-Corruption Movement was so intense inBaba Ramdev that no sooner Anna Hazare wound up at Jantar Mantar, the politically ambitious Baba Ramdev announced his “fast-unto-death” campaign against black money. It was bound to be interesting to see theYoga guru add another chapter to India’s crusade against corruption. There was never any doubt about his ability to mobilize his supporters - he has them in abundance - to force the Indian government to enact laws to bring back the massive amount of ill gotten money stashed away in foreign banks and tax havens abroad. Like Anna, he too was bound to get relentless media coverage. Interesting, however, was also the probable response of the Indian public to a new episode of Dharna-in-Delhi; also important was to see the handling capabilities of the government. (The issue, nevertheless, is that a stubbornly arrogant Indian government does not relent till it is forced to do so – like Anna did.) And the outcome of Baba’s so-called fast turned out to be exactly what I had envisaged!

With great difficulty Anna Hazare had succeeded in waking up the perennially sleeping Indians to stand up for their country; in my living memory it was for the first time that Indians had come out in full force to fight against corruption. It was heartening to see an average Indian - who has been otherwise quite comfortable with his/her corruption surrounded existence – adopt the word“crusade” in his/her vocabulary of daily living.

Then came Baba with a clear mission to hijack people’s platform in order to further his political aspirations – though he vehemently denies this charge. And thus the country witnessed a new look crusade being staged in an air-conditioned ambiance – all with public money snatched forcibly by Baba’s menin name of providing comforts to the congregating protesters in a “hot” Delhi!

More bizarre was the manner in which the government of India attempted to tackle it. First it tried to woo Baba by rushing senior ministers – including the finance minister! - as soon he alighted from his private jet at the Delhi airport. It seemed of be greatly wary of the sheer number of his followers. When the placating policy failed, it tried to strike a secret deal with him in the setting of a plush 5-star hotel and succeeded in getting a hand written assurance from him to stop his agitation. Baba, not satisfied with the attention he had got so far, tried to garner as much political mileage out of the event as possible and thus took au-turn on his words and decided to continue his protest. In response, when the government tried to convince the country of the patch-up by waving his letter in a press conference, Baba levied charges on the government and called it a “liar”which, as we all know by now, did not go down too well with it. Police was sent to chase away the protesters with a midnight crackdown. The scene became hugely chaotic with Media broadcasting live the mayhem. Sleeping people were forcefully evicted and even Baba was forced to flee the ground in disguise. The political theater, famously called the Theatre of the Absurds, was at it best!

By using force on peaceful protesters – though no one was injured with mild lathi-charge and tear gas shells – the government with its highly unimaginative move has inadvertently relinquished its grace and moral rights to be a proponent of aam-aadmi, and has allowed Baba to seize the opportunity to garner unwarranted credence for his campaign. And the scene of drama has shifted to Haridwar for now, with his followers openly supporting “the person” and not “the cause”. In addition, the saffron brigade hooking onto the bandwagon and trying to give it a communal hue is the most disturbing aspect. If left unchecked, it has the potential to scuttle Anna’s movement and provide chances to unscrupulous to gain undue advantages by exploiting gullible population’s sentiments.

Though in a country where corruption had long back ceased to make any“news” till Team Anna shook them up from their siesta, a hugely popular figure like Baba Ramdev taking up the cause of corruption could have strengthened civil society’s crusade, if only his intentions were genuine. On the contrary, Baba’s 5-star campaign has in fact rendered the term impotent, though temporarily. The legitimacy of the agitation has become doubtful. The seriousness of the purpose which is always the driving force behind all such movements looks to have got diluted in Baba’s case completely.

To say the least, I am happy at the developments.

I was never comfortable with Baba Ramdev’s foray into the “movement” area because his credibility as a serious campaigner for country’s cause was always a big question mark. To me he seemed to be an opportunist who wanted to ride the wave of public support and garner a footing in the political landscape of the country. I never believed him when ever he tried to proclaim his so-called detachment to politics in spite of floating a political party, his so-called philanthropic effort to cleanse the country of corruption. His claim to the cause as a co-crusader seemed illegitimate as he is known to have amassed massive wealth the sources of which are still unknown. And then his attempt at redefining the way to conduct a campaign: 5-star Satyagraha! I am sure Mahatma Gandhi must be amused up there!

The contrast between Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev could not have been starker!

Though I do not believe in public display of sentiments, nevertheless, I pledge my full support to Team Anna and promise to be on fast in solidarity – at home and in office due to professional compulsions – the next time they embark on their fast protest for the Lokpal Bill. …

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P.S.: Let’s not forget that in today’s times of crusades, the one entity which deserves the maximum credit for initializing it in India is the Media, especiallyArnab Goswami at Times Now who with his courageous campaigns against corruption forced the government to relent and act and inspired the activists like Anna Hazare! …

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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