Anna On Ann Shan: End Discussion Save Nation

Wake Up

Uncles Now!

It’s been more than 144 hours and the clock is still ticking. Anna Da and our mighty government have sworn not to leave their stands. It’s a shame that the government is doing precisely what the people expected of it. It is a disgrace that they claim to be ‘for the people’ because actually they are not!

Since 42 years the government has been treating the Jan Lokpal bill as the Jan jokepal bil. Anna Da made his point at the Jantar Mantar where he showed the vexation of the public and their dissatisfaction for the functioning of the government.

Let’s not repeat the old story all over again. The point is that Anna gave the ultimatum around one or one and a half months back that he would go on Ann Shann on 16th August.

Instead of taking that in the right spirit and work for it, our uncles were busy collecting and polishing their archery of allegations through which they could hit and put down the spirit of Anna and the populace.

Why is the government pretending to be deaf? After seeing the two day trailer at Jantar mantar, how could they afford to take Anna Da’s claim as a joke?

Since past 6 days, that strong old man who just looks fragile hasn’t put a morsel in his mouth and still the government is not doing anything except discussion. What were they doing for the past 42 years then?

Multi-million scams happen right under their nose and they are completely unaware of it. Is this the reliability of the government? All we’re hearing on the news is that the Lokpal Bill is being circulated in the Standing Committee or this committee or that committee.

Why is the government being so arrogant? Don’t they want India to progress and be corruption free? Why are they so scared?

Witnessing the massive support of the nation, they are still debating. WHY? These are the same people who have given you the power which you have used to corrupt yourself so effortlessly.

Is it that the government doesn’t care at all? I guess yes, they don’t give a damn! I remember when one of the leader very openly said that they can’t control all the terrorist attacks. They told us lucidly not to have any expectations from them.

But again, the government should not forget that the true power lies in the hand of the public. If we can give them the power then we can also take it away from them.

The way Anna and his followers have been protesting… I haven’t seen a more peaceful way of protest so far. Not once have the given the chance to the police to raise their hand. So government must not underestimate us.

Annagiri can demolish corruption from the nation, while Sarkargiri will only demolish the nation with corruption.

We are still waiting for the ever sleeping “leaders” to wake up and take some fruitful action.

WAKE UP LEADERS NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!! Because if this continues, then I fear that they will keep debating and our much adored Anna Da will fade away.

(My article published in UDAIPUR TIMES on 22nd August 2011)

Fighting The Malaise

Sixty Five years back, we fought the British to get independence. Now, after 65 years of independence, we are fighting our very own leaders to get independence. The condition today is much worse because back then, we were fighting a foreign invasion as one nation. Today, however, there are two groups.

One groups where there is a large bunch of Indians who are fed up of the malaise that has gripped our motherland. Who have to deal with it at every step of their lives. And who is just desperate to get rid of it and live in a compliant and true nation.

On the other hand, we have the other group who is somewhere down the road shamefaced for this deadly disease. No, I’m not entirely putting the blame on them. The former group is also at fault. Had they not tolerated and given in, today, I’m sure the scenario would have been a lot different. Not to forget much better.

But, as they say, “No point crying over spilt milk.” After a point of time, the pot of sins can’t take it anymore and it overflows. And it’s then when a revolution occurs. Today, that day has come. The entire nation has united as one and has forgotten everything and is now fighting for the Jan Lokpal Bill to fight corruption.

Anna Hazare, who is being referred to as the Mahatma Gandhi of 21^st century is in Tihar Jail and has refused to come out because the police and the government is not permitting him to go on anna shann at a place of his choice. But this hasn’t stopped him to accomplish his quest. Neither has it stopped his followers to support him in an unconditional way.

The media is doing its bit too. Looking at the agitation and the enthusiasm of the crowd, more and more people are connecting to the cause. Since past 3 days, the first few pages of the newspaper are swathed with news of Anna Hazare. Switch on any news channel and there is no other news but Anna Hazare’s.

I don’t know if this is another struggle for independence or is it another revolution. I also don’t know if Anna Hazare can be equalled to Mahatma Gandhi. All I know is that I want to live in true India. I want those people whom I see on T.V. in white attire, clasping their hands in a Namaste, shouting out promises to live up to those promises and respect the respect that we have bestowed on them.

While I am writing this, Mr. Amitabh Bacchan on Kaun Banega Crorepati very smartly and musically explained the mentality of the Indian Politicians.

Before elections they sing - Kasme vade nibhayenge hum…

After election they sing – Kasme vade, pyar wafa, sab baatein hain baton ka kya!

Some Positivity Please?

Why does one watch a news channel?
To know what’s happening around. To be aware of one’s surroundings.

So yesterday, to accomplish this very purpose and in an attempt to 'know what's happening around the world' I switched on the T.V. to cognisant myself. Last night on Star News at 9 P.M., the first news was about NASA’s Atlantis being launched. Following that we had Rahul Gandhi who did not eat at a Dalit’s house.

Funny right? On one side we have these people who are aiming for the sky and are establishing their mark there.
And look at us! We are still busy solving our ground issues which apparently, has no end it.

When will the time come when we will be in their place? When will we get to hear such news about our country?

You must be thinking here she goes again with her philosophy.

To that I’ll say, THINK!

Lokpal Bill - Nothing Guaranteed!

There is a lot of chaos everywhere regarding the Lokpal Bill, eradicate corruption, Anna Hazare going on Hunger Strike, Baba Ramdev duplicating the same. But are we even sure about the problem? Is the Lokpal Bill the sole point of focus or should corruption be targeted? A Lokpal Bill if passed may slow the rate of social decay in the short run, but in the long run it too must become a prey of ‘corruption’.

Clearly the common man is confused. I didn’t know about the Lokpal Bill before Anna Da went on the hunger strike and I am sure there are many like me out there. But what we all must think is what the need of the country is at this hour? It is definitely not eradicating corruption. It is much more than that. We are beholding the inexistence of character so we must build character and corruption will automatically evaporate.

But then again, it all sounds very philosophical and nowhere near practicality. Anna Da did and is still doing the best he can but can one man really accomplish? It’s not the British era. We are talking about the 21st century where unity is lost. It's not that eon where everyone will overlook everything and get united to accomplish a goal. Now, everyone is a single individual with his own needs and wants. We first figure how it will benefit us. And if we even minutely sense that it might cause some hitch, we now very well to stay out of it.

Whatever happens, in the end, Honesty should win and not allegations!

Ramdev Baba Is No Anna Hazare!

So now we have a new fashion in town…Hunger Strike! Fantastic! What else do we need? Anna Hazare went on a hunger strike to knock out corruption from the country. I don’t know what will happen to that eventually but the others have definitely got something new to do now. Confused? Don’t be. It’s simple. We Indians have the herd mentality. We do what everyone else does. Anna Hazare did Ann shann to wipe out corruption so now even Baba Ramdev joined the league!

What is the de facto? Why is he doing it? Is he really vexed about the corruption in the country? Or are there any personal gains behind it? What Anna Hazare did was different and what this guy is doing is not even close. Anna Hazare did not ask anyone to follow him. He was a frustrated stupid common man who lost his patience and decided to take a step forward. He only said what he wanted to do and went ahead with it and got the entire India supporting him. The common man was with him. He did not ask anyone personally to support him for the cause. Nor did he have any followers. He is a simple man who has all the simplicity - you name it. He have it and who genuinely wants to bring about the ‘change’! People just followed him, from big personalities and celebrities to the simple (read: stupid) common man.

But the case with Baba Ramdev is incomparable. His followers are his patients, who do his yoga. They too are innocent people and somewhere down the line are discontented. And ok even if we assume that his intentions are pure, then why was he running dress like a woman, jumping and hiding in the crowd to hide himself? So comparing him with Anna Hazare would be inappropriate.

There are a lot of other problems in this country like unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, female infanticide, and so many more. Look into that. If you really want to do something then do it to get rid all these problems also. Why is everyone behind corruption? Or are we waiting for another Anna Hazare to stand against the other problems and then we all will follow him (the herd mentality)!

What have we done as individuals? I agree not everyone is Anna Hazare and I am not even asking everyone to get up and go on hunger strike or any such strike. But do we even do the simple things which are in our hands? I have noticed so many times while commuting, people eat chips and wada pau’s and then throw the trash out of the window. Why? How hard is it to throw it in the dustbin? Why do we spit on the roads? Those roads are built from the taxes that we pay. Don’t we know that? How comfortably we spoil our own property. The bottom line is, it’s not about who has done what. It’s about what have you done? We all have become pessimists. All we do is criticize the system and point fingers at others. Anyone can do that. We are building hatred and in the long run, we all will drown in this hatred.

We are Indians! We are the biggest democracy in the world. We were the ones who united and kicked the British out of our house. We had Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Sing, Indira Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who were born here and who brought a change. I know I am stating nothing new here but even though we have read all this a hundred times, we still haven’t got it fixed in our heads. The eyes do the reading but then it vanishes from there itself. I wonder if it ever touched our hearts.

Ever wished you would have done something, but didn't? Something you wanted to do, perhaps even needed to do; but for one reason or no reason at all, you just never did. We all have. And many of us still do. Instead of doing, we don't. And a lifetime of missed opportunities passes us by.

What's the deal here? What makes us frequently turn our backs on the very things that are important to us, things that give our lives meaning and purpose? Why do we needlessly allow so many magical moments to silently slip away?

Why do we leave a trail littered with broken promises and unfulfilled dreams instead of just doing what needs to be done?

Anna Hazare Asking The Politicians To Dig Their Own Grave

Dearest Anna Da,

You are like a Grand Father figure to me. Thank you for reviving the dying hope to see India corruption free. When all of us as the children of India gave up all hopes and accepted that washing corruption out of our motherland is next to impossible, you gave us a new ray of hope. Now I believe that India will be corruption free…Someday!

You proved it that just sitting at the coffee table and discussing and cursing India and its politicians for the amount of corruption will not help. Someone has to wake up and take the first step. And I feel so proud that you have done it instead of just talking about it.

Corruption has somewhere become a part of everyone’s life, at least in India. It has affected people in many ways. From the pettiest activity to the most important ones, corruption ka tadka is everywhere.

Your strike invokes the memory of Bapu. He had said, “Corruption will be out one day, however much one may try to conceal it: and the public can as its right and duty, in every case of justifiable suspicion, call its servants to strict account, dismiss them, sue them in the Court of Law, or appoint a arbitrator or inspector to scrutinize their conduct, as it likes.”

I wasn’t fortunate enough to see Bapu kick the Britisher’s out of our motherland. But I feel privileged to be able to support you for something bigger than what Bapu did. He threw the trash that came from outside but you are striving hard to eliminate a disease that was born in our very home.

It’s always that ONE person who makes the difference. Mahatma Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and now it’s you. We are with you Da. Each and every Indian is with you.

But Anna Da, don’t you think one Lokapal bill is not enough. We need at least 10 such Lokapal to eradicate corruption in the next 6-7 years. Then after that, the one that is the best will be kept.

There is a lot of anger and disappointment among the natives. This could be seen clearly when politicians flooded the protest site, but the ire against politicians was so high that Hazare’s associates barred them all from sitting beside him on the dais. Three opposition leaders who went to the site on Thursday were shooed away by angry protestors. Others were seen standing quietly among the crowds at the venue.

The current climate of graft is entirely due to these political leaders. We are not going to let any politician take control over our agenda.

We are all with you Anna Da and we WILL get this disease of ‘corruption’ cured soon.
C'mon guys. Enough of this. Time to wake up.

Join Anna Hazare and show your support

India will be corruption free. We will make it happen!