It is no longer significant that this year began as 2011. Henceforth, it would forever be known simply as 1 A.D. , the year of the historical anna divide. It signifies a period when, as an Indian, you just can’t be noncommittal; you have to take a stand, one way or the other. It has also been marked by the appearance of those gems of unparalleled brilliance, those rare twinkling spots of reason and logic in discussions on Indian politics on the otherwise dark cyberspace horizons of Facebook.
Of course, there are still your very predictable ‘Do you support corruption? If not, then support Anna Hazare!’ kind of people. But then these are the same people who complain ‘why isn’t the government hanging Kasab?’ (for the last time, the judiciary passes judgements and is separate from the government…6th grade political science, if you were paying attention). Honestly, let’s not allow them and their kind to keep us from celebrating the political awakening (from a kumbhkaranisque slumber) of the urban Indian middle class.
The great urban Indian middle class had the misfortune of missing out on supporting other fasts and movements (did someone say Irom who?). Even the Naxal explosions barely manage to interrupt its cosy dreams of iPads and penthouses in Gurgaon. But hey, even the media couldn’t care less at one point, so why pick on the middle class alone? But corruption, now that is a clincher. It’s a no-brainer. It doesn’t matter if you are left or right, left of the centre or left out of the centre, smack-bang in the middle of the centre or so left that you actually come out right, you cannot really support corruption. It’s a no-brainer (I can’t emphasis that enough).
It is the Lokpal Bill, in its various avatars, that has provided a people desperately trying to ignore a 4-0 whitewash a legitimate distraction. I understand that we would like to fast (no pun intended) track the dream of a corruption free India. But what about little details like the constitution and constitutional structures, and making a government elected by 1+ billion people subservient to an elite group who would be accountable to…who is it again? I thought it is actually this kind of power, in the absence of corresponding accountability, which corrupts, but then again, what do I know, I didn’t set up a model village, did I now?
Of course, it is infinitesimally easier to ban a poor villager from enjoying his favourite poison (and personally flogging him when he does) than to take on the collective might of Mallya sr., Mallya jr. and whoever it is that Mallya jr. might be dating these days. Would model cities place a ban on five star hotels serving liquor? And would it require the closure of Blues? Scary thought, makes me want to reach out for that vintage 12 year.
But then again, no one has been publicly flogged (yet) during this surprisingly peaceful movement. Fine, even if it is the middle-class, surely even they have the right to express themselves peacefully. This brings me to the greatest PR disaster in the last couple of months, the arrest of Anna Hazare. UPA government, please fire whoever suggested that move, because in case you didn’t notice, it failed miserably. Was there no one amongst you who could take on Anna Hazare on an intellectual level first (the PM’s speech came a little too late)? Or did your brains disappear somewhere, possibly to recuperate in the US?
On the other hand, no one likes a kid sitting in the middle of a supermarket aisle howling ‘I want THIS and I want it NOW’. It is quite an irritating experience.
The only difference is that you can reason with the kid.
Anna's village is a model village - so model that they don't have elections for panchayat. Everything is done by consensus - just like in Iran and China! Anna wants to get the bill passed but how many times has he appealed to the people not to take or give bribes? How about 'I will fast until everyone stops giving bribes' - it will make it difficult to get a passport or more expensive to jump the light but hey, who said corruption free India is an easy dream? Anna wants to create an alternative institution - more powerful than the judiciary or the Parliament. Where do you think the staff will come from? It will be the same civil servants and judges.
ReplyDeleteIf you look in to the demands of Team Anna - they want a nobel prize or magsaysay award winner of indian origin to be in the selection committee - Now I doubt any nobel prize winner in physics or bio-chemistry will leave his research to be in the committee but FYI - both Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi are Magsaysay award winner. Easier said than done!
This is a fine piece Mike!
ReplyDeleteI would like to differ with Vivek. Why do you think the people of this country have for years have impelled themselves to pay the bribes!? Its not because they like it. It is not as well a behaviour that people are born with or have developed overnight. Years of corrupt bureaucracy and politics have consistently deprived people of their basic needs.
It a simple theory of demand and supply which was never met in India. Why would you have to pay a bribe to get a passport if:
1. The clerk at the submission desk did not want money to forward your application to the passport officer?
2. If the passport officer did not want money to scrutinize and sign your form?
3. If the verifying police officers did not want money to write a correct report?
4. so on and so forth
Now the question is why would they want money for something they are being paid for by the government (the employer). We all know the answer for it.
I don't assure that just the Ombudsman will root everything out. But at least it will vest upon the people of a India an opportunity to protect themselves from the state of helplessness when it comes to asking Public "Servants", "why aren't you doing what you are supposed to do"?
Yes, I agree, everything has its opportunities and challenges. It may not be so easy to find people worthy of holding the positions at envisaged institution. But that is for time to tell and people to see.
I am eager to see how this all unfolds and hope that one day I can get a railway ticket in an emergency without being exploited by the unlicensed agents, and hope someday a deserving candidate can get admission in an academic institution without having to worry about losing the seat to a wealthier candidate!
@ vivek...wonder why someone of 'Indian origin' would really care that much anyway?
ReplyDelete@ vinay...I understand where you’re coming from on this...I am concerned, as I said, about the 'little details'.
Thanks guys for reading and commenting.