A few months back, it seemed like the nation was standing at
the cross roads of history.
But pretty soon, much to my chagrin, I realized that we are
actually treading down a road that takes us no-where. Forgive my despondency if
it offends you, but I think as a citizen of India, I can make use of my right
to expression of thought.
What started at the Jantar Mantar was historic. A group of
respectable activists, headed by a simple and inspiring villager appealed to
the masses to demand for the demolition of Corruption. It struck a chord with
the “Aam Aadmi” who was burdened with increasing prices, reducing amenities and
taxes which seemed to be vanishing in the thin air.
After months of Struggling, the government finally gave in,
and we celebrated what we called “Azaadi ka August”
And after that we shrunk back into our shells, never
bothering what happened to the bill.
Though not explicitly said, the “Team
Anna” was now to take care of the rest of the matter, and the public slipped
back into the normal routine of facing the hard Indian life-- earning their bread...facing the lack of amenities, and paying our taxes.
This is where, from the cross
roads, we actually took a turn into a road that leads us no-where.
What happened next is not surprising. “Team Anna” was
jeopardized.. Swami Agnivesh tape struck the small-screens.. News of internal
rifts made headlines.. Santosh Hegde’s and Anna’s interviews were manipulated
to be against Arvind Kejriwal. Prashant Bhushan dragged into Kashmir row…
And the most ridiculous thing to happen, Team Anna was asked
to clarify their stand on Kashmir Issue? It was like asking Rakhi Sawant about
quantum mechanics. :D
We were asking anti-corruption crusaders a question that
we actually should have put up to our Govt. (Does anyone ask the govt. for a
clarification about its stand on Pak policies, Does our PM have a clear stand on Pak issues)
And why do we forget, that “Team Anna” members are also
individuals. Prashant Bhushan is an active lawyer and a citizen of India. He
has every right to express his thought. We can reject his ideas if we don’t
like them. But we cannot punish him for thinking.
Yet the public, who feeds its mind on the 9’o clock news,
took offence about it! What we don’t
understand is that, Bhushan’s remark is a “remark”, not a judgment. If we don’t
agree with it, just ignore it! While we honor Nehru for dividing India and
creating Pakistan, we beat up a person who thinks People’s wishes should be
honoured.
Then, came the Hissar by-polls. Once again the issue of
anti-corruption crusade being apolitical sprung up; and many thousands of
people who had said “I am Anna” a couple of months ago, were distanced from
Anna by active lobbyists who spread the notion that this movement had turned
political.
(well, the corruption issue is really very political to its core. After
all the Jan Lokpal has to be passed by politicians. I don’t know why it is
labeled apolitical.. and why would people want it to be apolitical)
While the “Aam Aadmi” stands dazed and confused about what
is happening, the media is doing little to portray the true scenario as it is.
Why has this movement suddenly lost its sheen?
It is NOT because the leaders are incapable of taking it
ahead. It is NOT because there are rifts/power struggles between them. It is
not because the Govt. is cheating us. It is because, We, the people of India do not jusdge for our own, rather we feed on the opinions of news readers.
I guess it is not that difficult to see through this muddy
pool. Focus your lenses and you will see it right.
We are lost in the mid-way because We, the people of India,
have chosen to get confused by the twisted facts that are served on the platter
to us. It is because we believe less in
ourselves and more in the views of newspaper columnists.
It is because we take
less notice of Leaders who work silently, and more notice of Politicians like
Digvijay Singh, who have focused all their energies and time in defaming this
movement.
Anna Hazare may be the leader of the movement, but if you
take a closer look, the real Leader of the movement is in the Common man, who
works hard and deserves every penny that he earns.
The leader is in the
Individuals who led themselves to support a cause for their nations;
The Leader
lies in people who led their families on the streets to demand a Corruption
Free India;
.... the leader is in you, who refused to pay a bribe to get a job done.
It
is in the parents who teach their children to live an honest life.
When You and I are the true leaders and builders of our Nation, how does it matter
whether “Team Anna” has internal rifts, or if they have gone political (if that
bothers you)?
This was our movement and it is only us who can take this
movement ahead. How can we slip into inactivity and un-awareness and delegate
our responsibilities to a few leaders. It’s time the ordinary man took account
of what is happening to him.
The famous saying goes: “…Fool me twice, shame on me”. If we keep our eyes open, nobody can fool us.
We need to filter out what is irrelevant right now and see where the Jan Lokpal
Bill is going. Yes, that will require a little extra effort by the ordinary
man, but then “extra” added to “ordinary” yields “extra-ordinary”.
