Here is a snippet from the previous link: The aim of the bill is not to prevent corruption but to punish the corrupt. In this respect, the draft does not provide an approach that is qualitatively different from that of the existing institutions of the state."
It reminds me of an old proverb: Thievery cannot be abolished until the thieves have a change of heart!
Most of the time we talk or write as if the politicians are a different breed, race or from some distant planet. In the fight against corruption, I hear this cacophony more often than not. We forget that “we”, yes in double quoted boldend “we”, selected them as our representatives and they are most likely our friends’ or friends’ friends’ friends’ parents! They are very much like a lot of people we see in our close proximity. Unless otherwise we have a fundamental change in our attitude towards morality and decency in our interaction with the rest of the society, Lokpal or Jan Lokpal nothing can save us!
To drive home my point, here are some of our fellow citizens who will join Anna’s protest and then go about doing their business as usual….
At my residential complex: The thirteen plus year-olds that enjoy speeding in their dad's / mom's scooters are wide-eyed when they talked about "India against Corruption!" Straddled on their loaned vehicles they enthusiastically invited each other for joining the procession after school. Off they zoomed to their schools watched by their proud parents while the legal age for riding a vehicle is sixteen or eighteen (depending on cc of the vehicle). Why bother if mama (cop) catches, a few tens changing hands would solve the problem. One illegal activity will be nullified by another.
An ex-colleague of mine who was highly amused that I showed up for the driving test to get my license was equally proud to announce that he got his license from his hometown sent by post without him appearing for even the driving exam!! He's taking his day-off to join Team-Anna's procession. Hell! They demanded and got 1000 bucks from him for issuing that license - how unfair!
An Office bearer in my apartment residents' association who looked down upon me for being naive - for I applied for the ration card and has been waiting for years now, had advised me to use agents and speed-money (yeah that is the euphemism for bribe) to get things done faster. I was thrilled to see him sporting a “Fight Against Corruption!” badge on his wide chest buffed with pride!
A fifteen year old, that called for volunteers to help with the procession quipped “we got our freedom on 15th and lost it on 16th of Aug “. This is the second Freedom Struggle! – Obviously, he was borrowing the lines from the media reporting Anna’s arrest on 16th Aug. While I condemn the arrest, I only wish that the kid knows what “Freedom struggle” mean and does not think the “Greatest ever struggle for Freedom in the history of humanity is Avatar”!
As Mr. Gandhi said, “We must be the change we want to see in the world”. If not this mass movement spear headed by Anna will fizzle out and can only be likened to our guilt-steered support for ‘save the environment – dear pal, let us all switch off the lights on 10-10-10 at 10:10:10, and then head for our homes in our individual gas-guzzling big cars…! We have done our part!
I will rather start with teaching my five-year old son to stand in queue with me and not use his age as a cover to by-pass the queue!
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