Taking the Step Ahead...

I just couldn’t update my blog for a long time. But it is very nice to see you back here. In this post, I shall talk about the recent happenings in the nation, and how there is a lesson we all have to learn from it, something that will help us throughout our lives. Let me get you a quick review of the facts-

First, a man in his sixties, a social worker, called Anna Hazare sits on a fast at Jantar-Mantar in the capital having a strong demand to initiate the Lokpal in India. The whole country cheers for him as the government struggles to get over the odds. All of us also knew about Anna Hazare and supported him fully. But ironically, I bet 90% of us didn’t even know what the Lokpal was, and most of us still don’t know!

Yet Anna Hazare received a massive support. Most probably because all of us knew he was fighting for “something which is somehow against corruption”. So we all did whatever we could to support him. From joining him in New Delhi, to shouting slogans in support with banners, or updating our Facebook statuses, or even giving a missed call to a Mumbai based number which claims to have recorded your favour for the Gandhian Anna Hazare. We did this because all of us are against corruption.

Are we really?

Of course we are against corruption – if you ignore the little bribes we pay to the traffic policeman who stops us for having broken the rules, or if you ignore the extra bucks we pay for an LPG cylinder so that we don’t have to wait longer, or if you ignore the amount of fuel we put into the pockets of bureaucrats to get licenses in business, or if you ignore the amount of money transferred under the table to avoid taxes and penalties, or if we ignore the “sweets” we give to judges “before” we win the case – of course we are against corruption!

And so everyone supported Anna, and the government had to succumb to the pressures and agree on forming a committee that will draft the Lokpal bill before it is passed by the parliament. The country rejoiced as if we won a battle, little did we know that it had actually started!

Then we had the scams and allegations against the members of the drafting committee. The duo Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan, it was claimed, were engaged in anti-social activities regarding disputed lands and black money. So we started a debate as to whether these should be in the committee. The points raised from both the sides were so strong that we forgot about the essence of the deal – the Lokpal!

It was hardly resolved, and the committee had just started meeting and discussion process when another man started his enthusiastic approach towards corruption and black money, again by fasting in New Delhi…!

This time it was the Yoga teacher, perhaps the most famous Yoga Guru we ever had – Swami Ramdev. As I write this, he insists on a national movement to fight against the government’s inability to curb corruption and money laundering. Ram Lila Ground in New Delhi has been ceremoniously prepared as Swami starts his fasting ritual from 4^th June; claiming also, that 637 districts in India will support him in the process.

He intends to keep fasting until the government takes a strong initiative to bring back black money from tax havens and declare it a public property to be used for national welfare. Once more, the government appears clueless and helpless as another common man threatens to fast till death. Why otherwise would the Prime Minister send four cabinet ministers (including the senior-most Pranab Mukerjee) to welcome him at the Indira Gandhi Airport as he flew from Ujjain to Delhi, only to persuade him to drop the idea? Funny, four cabinet ministers were not sent even to welcome the president of USA! At least it shows the power of the common man!

To look at the above instances, I am flooded with opinions – some good and some bad. Even though we didn’t know about the Lokpal, the support that Anna Hazare got spoke a lot about India. It clearly showed that everyone in the nation – the elderly citizens having few years to live, or the working class struggling a life out of their hectic schedules, or the housewives battling inflation and unemployment, even little children who can see their future in dark – everyone needs a change…

We really need a change… and it’s a positive sign…!

But it is disheartening to see people fasting against corruption even as nobody is actually willing to speed up. Is it the solution to everything? Is this really as easy as it seems to be? Undoubtedly, we are desperate to see the systems changing – but going very “fast” way will not resolve the issues. Mahatma Gandhi also fasted several times in his life. For instance, he fasted over the communal riots between Hindus and Muslims towards the last days of his life – but was unsuccessful. He may have had a pure intention in his heart, but this is hard to see in today’s world.

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh had also threatened the Central Government that he would fast unto death if the Centre doesn’t consider the demands of the state. Indeed, tents were drawn and all was set up in the state capital when he got a call from the PM saying that the matter would be considered. But the Hon’ble Chief Minister did not see what he was doing as the head of the state government. Indore and Bhopal - two very small cities compared to giants like Mumbai and Delhi – are the two cities that have recorded highest level of crime over the last three years, more than all the metros, even Jaipur, Kanpur or Bihar! Where are we heading towards?

This is very ironical indeed: If there is one man who lives without food for four days, the whole government succumbs to defeat… and what about those millions of Indians who don’t have anything to eat for the whole life?

The point I want to convey is that if we really need a change, we have to have a strong move. Such agitations are short-term. If we need to bring a revolution, we have to revolt! If you believe me, the system is never wrong in India, even though we keep cribbing that we need to change the system.

I am reminded of these lines from the Bhagwat-Gita Chapter 2 (text 47) –

Thy Right is to work only; but never to its fruits;

Let not the fruits of action be thy motive

May you not have any attachment to inaction

Instead of pressing the government to act, we need to take the initiative and act ourselves. And how do we do that? By standing for the election, joining the politics, working for the country – by being IN the government and DOING what we always wanted the government to do. Believe me; the educated sophisticated young men have to join the government to run the nation.

MBAs from IIMs often claim that they would prefer entrepreneurship over service. Running the government is nothing short of entrepreneurship. It requires deep-rooted managerial and leadership qualities to get going. The Common Man of India – who can fight for action – is capable of doing wonders. But He has to understand that His skills are required within the government, not outside it.

I don’t say that I don’t support Anna Hazare or Swami Ramdev. But I am afraid – and I am sure I share this feeling with many people – we are all afraid that all this may not bring out the desired results. Somebody amongst us will have to take the initiative: it could be me, or you, or somebody else. My message to Him (When I say “Him” – I mean him or her who will come out and revolt… someone who is amongst us, and will emerge as the One who solves the complex issues), is this –

Rise… Now is the time… we need you!

If you really agree with my thoughts and share these feelings – then you should support me by spreading this message. Who knows some-one amongst us will indeed rise to fight for us… “Hope” is the first step to a better tomorrow! Share this blog on Facebook, or send it as an e-mail to everyone and let all of us bring a revolution.

Perhaps… all of us could have had a better solution to the problems. But then, it is true that life would be meaningless without these struggles. Therefore, we should all join hands and emerge as winners. For one time in life… just once… stop being negative and see the amount of difference it will bring. Please… stop saying, “Nothing will happen with India”. If you don’t want to do anything, you at least have a moral responsibility to not discourage those who can think of doing something… Do good things in life. Believe me, it feels very nice…

Let us hope that we take a step ahead in our fight… and one day we all will surely say – “Where there is a will… there is a way!”

Yours Forever,

Palkesh Asawa