Current Affairs : Anti-Corruption : Thoughts : The Coming Together of Civil Society
A common cause for the Civil Society.
The media says that civil society is divided.
But I see that for the first time, all kinds of great and good civil rights activists who have fabulous track records in their individual areas, are actually coming together for a national cause perhaps for the first time to my knowledge.
Their backgrounds have given them different views on how corruption ought to be tackled and handled, and they are discovering for the first time, that they have differences in approach for what all of them agree is a burning issue. Everybody wants the society to turn away from corruption towards purity.
Annaji is making us democratic.
The reason they have differences of opinion is because they have come together from various regions in the country for the first time for a common cause. Annaji has brought them together with his fast.
This is democracy.
The way Anna Hazaare has chosen is a Gandhian Satyagraha. This is helping ordinary people like me feel that we can take part in improving the society. All we have to do is sign a register, wave flags, shout support, sing songs, wear caps, hold hands and things that even tiny school children are able to do confidently and enthusiastically.
Of course a very few of us are fasting with Annaji from the first day. And some more of us have courted arrest.
We are also using the newspapers, web and news channels to understand issues and form views. To discuss them, argue about them.
This is democracy at grass roots.
I know some people think it is undemocratic, because they equate democracy with following rules, not with framing them. They equate democracy with rules of people who win elections and not with people itself. They want to “manage” a system and not “reform” it. That is also okay, this idea is new to everyone in the country.
Many Indians are enjoying the exhilaration of participation in national affairs. Annaji is doing what is known as prANAhuti. He is pouring his life, his identity, his values, his ideals, his love of the country into us.
Legislators :
Our legislators like to say that they are elected representatives. Indian elections have low turnout and the winners have very small percentage of votes, compared to the population of their constituencies. People don’t call them their leaders. Actually they refer to them using very colourful epithets. This everyone knows.
Yet individual legislators are admired and respected for their actions and decisions.
Another thing is that the “bad guys” of today were the heroes of P.V. Narasimha rao’s govt. – of J.P. Narayan’s movement. It looks like yesterday’s heroes are sometimes today’s villains! Hmm. Let that be a warning to all of us, to not rest on the laurels of yesterday and to keep pace with the times.
Arvind often suggests referendums on issues. That means lots and lots of elections to which people can be apathetic, form vote banks, sell votes and all the rest.
It is education that is key. Awareness is key. Without education, even “referendum votes” can be bought.
Anna’s physical body is deteriorating as of his other co-fasters across India
India does not know how to keep Anna alive. Anna considers it a great fortune to die for the country.
His spirit, discipline and courage are holding strong.
Their gift to us, is the gift of spirit, the gift of power.
That is true, no one I know has opted for such a noble death. Hua na jo su mrutyu to vrutha jiye vrutha mare.
Is Indra holding open the gates of svarga open to Annaji?
Dear Annaji,
We are learning our lesson. We are sorry for being such self-absorbed, egoistic, arrogant, greedy idiots.
Please don’t leave us just yet. India cannot bear such a big punishment.
Live among us. Teach us. Show us the way.
We have just found you. We cannot bear to lose you.
We will help. Please don’t go!
Satya
Other posts on Current Affairs
- Current Affairs : Is India letting Anna die?
- Current Affairs : Anti-Corruption : Thoughts : The Coming Together of Civil Society
- Current Affairs : Anti-Corruption : Team Anna : Prashanth Bhushan
- Current Affairs : Anti-Corruption : What is Zero Hour? Resolution? Rule 193? 388? Short Duration Discussion?
- Current Affairs : Anti-Corruption : Anna Hazaare : Tapas, Dharma : Conversations with my Veda Guru
- Current Affairs : Anti-Corruption : Lokpal Bill : Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice
- Current Affairs : Anti-corruption Movement : Ms.Aruna Roy, Member NAC
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