It's all happening in last few weeks. Even for a vigilant citizen, it's quite tiresome to comprehend everything happening on the national front. The issue of corruption has really stirred the whole of India. First, Baba Ramdev is attacked, Anna condemns, Government tries to justify their point and then Anna threatens to go on a fast again...so on and so forth. A lot has already been discussed on this issue and I have no intention to bring the "who's right and who's wrong" thing again into focus.
Amidst all this hullabaloo, practically no-one knew about Swami Nigamanand until he died. His fast for an equally important issue of pollution in Ganga and stone quarries, went unnoticed and when he took his last breath, everybody (including me) suddenly realized the gravity of the situation. Now that rounds of accusations and blame have begun, the main issue has already taken the backseat. The usual procedures of inquiry will now follow and corrective measures will hopefully be taken. Yet one cannot undermine the fact that while all supported the fight against corruption, we were and are clueless about many such small fights on going in this country. (Just a few days back Abhay Deol had raised the issue of Irom Chanu Sharmila’s hunger strike.) Not only that even so called vigilant media has done nothing regarding them. All TV news channels were busy taking the interviews of Anna and Baba, none of them had a time to focus on such "trivial" causes. So, one cannot expect that a common man would know about that.
I don't expect that a guy living in suburb of Mumbai going on a fast or participating in a movement with zest against the issue of say coal mines in Dhanbad, nobody does. But the fact is we Indians have a quite a high emotional quotient. A relatively convenient and obviously glamorous issue of corruption attracts us today because we are emotionally charged up now. Nothing bad in that. But essentially glamor fascinates us. That's why even the so-called socially relevant films in "Bollywood" have one or two item numbers as a need of the script.
We have firmly made up in our mind that all these politicians are corrupt and they are responsible for the underdevelopment. Partly, it's true. But we are the people who elected these politicians. And honestly, how many of us can say they are the ones with honesty and integrity and haven't bribed a single rupee to Hawaldar when they were caught not wearing helmet? These small things actually lead to bigger scams. As we discuss how the rich is exploiting the poor, on the other side we are the ones who lobby for a 2BHK flat to the same builder who has built a building on a poor man's place. So much of hypocrisy!! Why can't I start from myself? It would be foolish to believe that once the Lokpal bill is passed, India will become corruption-free because ultimately it's not going to change our mindset. I am not saying that this fight is meaningless. It definitely deserves support. But there are so many issues that we conveniently and deliberately decide to ignore - what about that? I doubt how many people would care to join if tomorrow someone steps up and says "Let's stop gender-bias." Many would say that such thing doesn't exist in our society. Primarily because it's unacceptable for so many "common" husbands in even the biggest cities, let alone villages, if their wives start earning more money than they do. 33% reservation for women has become a farce. It becomes an ego issue for many "Men" when they see a successful woman. Same is true with religion. I don't understand how bathing in Ganga will cleanse one's soul when it is the dirtiest river on this earth. But our religious sentiments are conveniently hurt when someone asks Sadhus to stop peeing and pooping in Ganga.
When we blame politicians, it's also important to keep in mind they are nothing but the reflection of our society. If we want them to stop being two-faced, we better stop keeping double standards. On a lighter note, I have decided to go on a huger strike against my parents as I want increase in my pocket money. As I hear the whispers, my mother doesn't mind that....
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