Two years ago, people were going on candle light marches on the streets, shouting slogans. College goers were sharing status updates calling out for participants. Missed calls and messages were being sent to people everywhere in the country.
Social networking sites, telecom operators, and candle sellers were making merry. The politicians were, of course, too busy not giving a fuck.
A professor at the University of Hyderabad had this interesting point to share about the difference between the movements of Subhash Chandra Bose and Gandhi. While Bose implored Indians to join the army, fight, and give their blood for freedom, Gandhi understood the Indian psyche better. He asked Indians to stay at home as part of the Non-Co-operation movement, as a means to win freedom. There’s no guessing whose method got the most support!
The Anna Hazare movement also did things that would get the attention of any Indian. It provoked an extreme hatred for politicians (something our films have instilled in us since decades), raked up statistics on the crores lost to corruption (don’t we all love numbers?), and used the right words like ‘change’ and ‘good politicians’.
The whole country got into the debate. You were either with Anna, or against the country. There were no shades of grey in between where you could sit down and relax. Facebook became the battlefield for numerous status updates and debates.
And then, like everything else, the movement fizzled out. People stopped coming to the dharnas, and the media started to question Anna’s grasp over the country’s people.
With Anna announcing the formation of a political party, a new debate has set in. Some feel that Anna is becoming as corrupt as the other politicians and are vehemently opposed to his political move.
In my opinion, however, this is the best thing to have come off the campaign.
One of the things that pissed me off about the campaign was the way the supporters targeted the Congress for corruption. Personal remarks against Sonia Gandhi’s origins, Manmohan Singh’s voice, and Chidambaram’s dhoti reek of a dismal sense of humour, and an acute lack of political awareness.
For one, it is not as if only the Congress is corrupt. The Congress is in power in about ten states in the country. What about the other states? Are they clean as clean chits?
And for all the blame that the Congress has got for not passing the Lokpal Bill, no one talks about the opposition parties who stalled it. No matter what the reasons, until a consensus is reached at the Lok Sabha, a Bill cannot be passed. But no one seems to speak about it.
With Anna announcing a political party, the real fight begins now.
Anna has got huge support and a general sense of goodwill in the urban areas, but it will be the interiors that will be the real challenge.
Also, fighting for power at the centre only on the plank of corruption will be a huge gamble. There will have to be a set agenda, and a plan for mobilising the grassroots.
I have always maintained that corruption is an urban issue. Ironically, the rural areas are the worst hit by corruption, and yet there are more urgent things to worry about for the rural Indian – rainfall, PDS, delivery of amenities like health and education. All of which, is indirectly affected due to corruption itself. It is one huge, stinking, overflowing gutter. And Anna has taken a bold step by holding a broom and deciding to plunge into the gutter.
Another glimmer of optimism is the percent of youth who actually cast their vote. Half of India’s youth did not cast their vote in 2009, and the numbers sank even further in urban areas. If Anna floats a political party, I’m hoping at least some of the youth will be inspired to cast a vote.
Some are cynical that Anna’s party will stand no chance against the mighty parties that have spent decades swimming in the gutter. Well, welcome to reality, guys! If change was possible instantly, it would be available at McDonald’s in two minutes.
One person cannot change the country instantly. That only happens in Shankar’s films. So the next time you crib about the dismal state of politics in the country, go out and cast a vote. Anna’s in the race too, and if you have lost all hope, at least vote for the broom.
And all Anna supporters who spam walls with pictures and slogans, put your vote where your mouth is.
Go and cast your vote. Change will come.
Heartranjan's Blog 
Great, as usually. Good job Hriday.
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The lunch of a political party by team Anna has not been whole heartedly supported by a few staunch supporters alleging that Anna has gave in before the UPA government’s inability in bringing a strong Lokpal Bill. How can we say that Anna will form a corrupt free government in a country where 50% literate people never vote, where the votes of the rural people are bought, where election is the game of power, crime and money? Anna built of an image of a social worker in the heart of people and plunged into politics. The new image of a politician has not been accepted by the stereotypical minds, who thinks politics is a dirty game. Along with corruption there are problems that paralyses the whole system team Anna should take into account all those and go ahead wining the support of people at all levels. Good Luck Team Anna.
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good one 🙂
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One more thing, the people who are only blaming others for corruption should stop and think….. every act of bribing is supporting corruption as well…..
So lets start with “Be the change you want to see in the World”…….
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Landed here off some of your film reviews (brilliant pieces in their own right), and ended up rummaging through the rest of the posts. Nice write-up, good to see the emphasis where it should be.
“So the next time you crib about the dismal state of politics in the country, go out and cast a vote.”
Hope our lot is listening.
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