Very, very strange word – Democracy. After the making of history with Anna Hazare’s call to India to end corruption through the Lokpal bill, I am now utterly confused about this word. Under democracy, we the people are supposed to elect our representatives. (Wish all of us could sit in Parliament. As it is, quite a ruckus is created by the representatives in there.) These representatives are supposed to run the country for our benefit. Well no sign of that. But they keep telling us how much they look out for the aam aadmi. So we have corruption in our country few others could compete with. But the Govt says they are not responsible. The PM knows nothing. The top ministers know nothing; they are pure as snow. But one scam after the other unfolds daily. Media is having field days!!!
Fed up with all this and with this heavily populated country sitting around doing nothing, a 74- year-old decides it’s time for India to decide. So he goes on a fast. He has a number of apolitical members on his side who have been fighting corruption one way or the other. Now what would you say to a hunger strike? Is it illegal? Undemocratic? Underhand? Blackmail? Do you think there was any other way that the government would have capitulated to the Lokpal bill?
The clarion call by Anna brought thousands of Indians across class and creed together demanding an end to corruption. Probably, the ruling party did not see this kind of a response.
So now things are in place – supposedly. Anna ended his 12-day fast and the Lokpal bill will be looked at – these are the first steps to a corruption free India. Difficult to imagine though!! Some people know only this kind of living. They will perish, the poor fellows, or they will fight - too bad.
So how do we proceed now? When a corrupt official asks for a bribe, how do we blow the whistle? Is there a person we contact, a bell we ring, a number we dial? I am waiting for this tiny bit of information which will make my life a lot easier.
Proud to be an INDIAN!
3 comments:
I have seen your outrage at the state of things. I also attended Anna's meetings at Jantar Manter and Raj Ghat. I have been fighting against corruption quietly.I went to the office of the Chief Vigilance officer, Room No;54, Old Secretariat, Delhi. The officer was sleeping in his room. I waited there for 2 hours but he did not wake up. His staff did not accept my written complaint. Next day I submitted my complaint with the office of the Police Commissioner, Delhi
I share your thoughts and observations.
thanx sonali for giving me a platform to express myself. intellectuals are afraid of giving me the mike in conference. At the India International Centre I said that my own nephew was in Srinagar. He was doing business there and he says that 500/ rupees are given to the oys to throw stones at the police. how can Chidambaram be blamed for it? Another scholar from the north-east lamented the state of affairs there. he did not talk ofthe attitude of the north-eastern terrorists. A friend of mine had an agency of tyres in Imphal. As soon as a truck loaded with tyres came to Imphal terrorists would appear from nowhere and surround the truck. they demanded 20 to 30 thousand rupess before they would allow the truck to be off-loaded. no one talks about the ground reality. they only unleash propaganda against India.
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