A seventy four year old man moves the masses to combat corruption. We do our bit by liking his fan page on face book, holding a candle light march and discussing it in drawing room debates. The media as always turns everything into a circus, headline grabbers like a certain swami jump into the fray and a serious issue becomes the latest weapon wielded by self serving politicians to promote their selfish interests. Somewhere in all the brouhaha the real purpose seems to have lost its shine.
It is suddenly cool to be wielding the national flag and proclaiming ‘I am Anna’. Point is it doesn’t matter whether you are Anna, or a daily wages laborer who couldn’t care less or even a cynic who feels that war against corruption doesn’t stand a chance. Chances are that most of the people voicing their support are unaware of the implications of what they support. Lack of awareness about issues that govern our lives is unforgivable especially if you are taking a stand. It’s amazing how we have managed to turn an issue of such importance into merely a trend!!! Irrespective of whether we support Anna or not the one thing I feel everyone agrees on is that corruption needs to be weeded out. Secondly everyone has a right to their opinions and also the right to hold a peaceful protest in order to be heard. No doubt a start has been made and that’s a big reason why a lot of people find themselves behind the cause, for better or for worse. It’s better than sitting about waiting for things to right themselves. Fair enough!
Corruption however is a vice which has its tentacles firmly entrenched in the fabric of our nation. It’s not a monster created over night. We have fed it and raised it in our hurry to be better than the best. It’s been accepted and around for so long that a lot of us will not recognize it if it stares us in the face. I can bet my money on tainted people being part of these rallies too…..imagine asking them….given a bribe ever?? Of course they’ll say….there was no other way. Bribed the ticket collector on a train ever?? Of course!! Stopped for speeding and whipped out a hundred to cover it??? Yes! No act of corruption is too small. The same people agitating against corruption that runs in to crores are doing it in smaller ways in their everyday lives. I wonder how the passing of a certain bill is going to fix that!
Reminds me of a time in college when we had just given an exam. As we stood there discussing the questions the topic as usual turned to how a lot many had managed to cheat. They had written on desks (which by the way were sandpapered first to remove the notes already on it!!!!!), they had carried chits, written on walls next to their seats…. It was a lot of hard work! A friend’s cousin visiting from the US
