Saturday, April 16, 2011

In the name of Anna

Another high-TRP contest, another victory for INDIA. A new set of pictures with scenes of jubilation, lights, camera, action and "Anna wins".

The government was humbled!!

Or was it?

Hours passed and gradually the political class playing possum until now started stretching their limbs. "Anna is a great man, but his actions do not quite fit in a democracy and the constitutional set-up" some said. "Anna is a good man but isn't this a sort of blackmail of a popularly elected government?" asked few others. In the hours that followed, the political class showed concern, none about corruption though and gave India free lessons in polity through the media.

The people, on the other hand were out there, jubilant and upbeat. Some said "I support Anna", other's promised, "I'd fight till the end for Anna". Anna, has been the buzz-word for sometime now. Actors, activists, students, professionals everyone loves Anna. Everyone supports "Anna".

Question: Who would they support if (God forbid) Anna is down with an illness, so much so that he cannot be involved in any public affairs? Mr Kejriwal? What if Mr. Kejriwal subsequently meets with an accident? Justice Hegde? What if he is implicated?

The point is, does the movement have enough fuel to sustain itself even if the agents of this new-found awakening are strategically plucked out? Do we, the people have the ability to bring up new stalwarts to the scene? Are we dedicated enough to stand behind a new champion "for the cause"? These will be the determinants which will transform the protests that we saw into a movement that we want.

It is a marvel that the country has come out of the drudgery or excitement of life, as they live and view the spectacle of a national protest and support Anna and his men. It is high time now that people came up to be his men, if the movement is to succeed. Anna has done his bit in uniting the people for this cause, creating awareness and initiating the impending process of mental reform in the country. It is time now that the country plays it's part by individually and collectively weeding out corruption, case by case.

The strength of the movement will not just be defined by "how many people turn up to Jantar Mantar next time Anna calls. The strength of the movement will be defined by how many us resolve to not give or take a bribe, by how many of us stand by our neighbors when they report wrongdoing on part of a government servant.

The awakening would come forth:
When a person in a police station out to get an FIR written is joined by tens of other passers by if he argues with the policeman asking for a bribe,
When even the last person in a long queue says "No" if he is offered a back-door entry for even a small illegal payment,
When government offices are flooded with complaints of any such wrong-doers.
That will send the message across the table, that will tell any scheming perpetrators that there is not just one Anna Hazare or one Arvind Kejriwal to put down, that there are a billion strong who will not stop until propriety is maintained.

Anna will live to be only a name in history if we, the people, fail to gain on the momentum he as got for us. He stood up for the people when nobody else was ready to stand. It is time the people paid back, not by shouting/scrapping/posting slogans "in the name of Anna" but by standing up for his cause, for our cause and causing the demise of "corruption" on this day to be put down in the history of the country.