And miles to go before we sleep.....

With passing of the resolution in the Parliament on Lokpal Bill on 27^th Aug’2011, India won a battle with itself! And every one won, some reluctantly and some pro-actively. While the world is witnessing violent protests against the high handed governance, the mini peaceful revolution witnessed across India - led by Anna Hazare and his team has further cemented the already strong and vibrant Indian democracy. The resilience shown by our Parliament too has set an example for other nations!

While declaring acceptance of the resolution and announcing the end of his 12- day long fast, Anna Hazare said that the battle is only half won and that the struggle will continue. But, in my view, it is only ‘a quarter win’. Another ‘1/4^th win’ would be achieved  - once the effective Lokpal Bill comes into existence, making it ‘a half win’. And remaining ‘half win’ would make it a ‘full win’ – only when the corrupting factors give way to a corruption-free India and India ranks proudly among the top ten in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index!

Going by the recent ranking of India at 87^th position by Transparency International, it is a difficult task for us. But, if we could fast-track rolling of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament by active participation of the common people, I feel – it is achievable.

Let us make a commitment to ourselves, may be in the ‘Wanted’ style of Salman Khan – Ek baar jo maine commitment kar dee, uske baad toh main khud ki bhi nahin suntaa!

But, it is much easier said than done. A lot of work needs to be done and undone!

It reminds me the famous lines from ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ by Robert Frost : And miles to go before I sleep!

For us, it is - And miles to go before ‘We’ sleep!

madhukarmohan@gmail.com

Post ‘strong’ Lokpal Bill, Onus of its effectiveness lies on us

It is heartening to see large number of people coming together to lend their moral support to Anna Hazare and his Team. And, it is not confined to Delhi. It is happening everywhere. Anti-Corruption stir has united people from all walks of life, the young and old alike, across the country. And the greatest satisfaction is that this crowd is swelling by the day, it is able to generate heat enough to make the thick skinned politicians wake up from their deep slumber. They all are looking clueless and angry. The sense of disbelief and discomfort can be gauged from the body language and statements of Congress’s spokesperson Manish Tiwari. His "Tum" Corrupt 'Ho' statement for Anna Hazare proves the helplessness of Congress leadership in tackling the 74 year old Gandhian.

Manish Tiwari’s statement also reminds me of the statement given by Digvijay Singh, the Congress General Secretary – referring Osama Bin Laden as ‘Ladenji’, upon the terrorist’s elimination by the US Navy ‘Seals’! For Votes and their chair, our representatives in parliament and state assemblies can go down to any extent and they try to defend it too!

Lokpal Bill is not going to be a quick fix panacea for corruption, but it might be able to put a check on the rampant corruption- to some extent. It may make our lives much easier. It may make our dream-homes- a bit cheaper. It may save us from making unnecessary trips to various agencies, for getting a certificate or our financial dues.

However, the corruption won’t go just by having a ‘strong’ Lokpal Bill. We, as an ordinary Indian, will have to be more vigilant and ‘stronger’ than ever to weed out the deep rooted corruption in our daily lives. We must learn to say ‘NO’ whenever we encounter situations that demand from us ‘under the table’ payments. We need to be a little fearless now in exposing such corrupt forces.

If we are dreaming of a corruption-free India, let us remember that actions speak louder than words. Our very own role, as an individual is more important than the proposed Lokpal Bill. At home, let our children imbibe the right values and virtues from us - by our very own upright actions. This alone would take care of the future course of our nation.

madhukarmohan@gmail.com

Logic(sic) behind Government's Lokpal Bill

Hearty congratulations to everyone on the eve of Independence Day!

This day holds special memories of my childhood days at my village school. As school kids, on this day, we used to go round our village in a procession called ‘Prabhat Pheri’- shouting ‘Vande Mataram’, ‘Bharat maata Ki Jay’ and cheerfully waving the paper flags. It used to fill me with the spirit of a warrior! Sitting in their thatched houses and broken huts, the smiling villagers used to wave at us and their kids would come running and join the procession. More than four decades have passed and this tradition of ‘Prabhat Pheri’ is now no more observed.

In these four decades, most of the thatched houses have now taken the shape of pucca house with concrete ceiling. But the connecting roads, open drainage, waste-pit, drinking water facility remains the same and electricity that remains elusive; it hasn’t changed much in all these years. Yes, here and there, some influential people have certainly made their presence felt by encroaching upon the public property!

The change, or, the status quo in development of our village very well depicts what India achieved in all these years post-independence. Same must hold true for all other villages, barring the lucky few- having a co-villager with them like Anna Hazare or a sponsor like Sai Baba or a few high profile politicians who have done something for their constituency as compulsion!

 As is being debated for quite some time now, the real reason behind our poor development is -corruption. No doubts; we all have encountered it, encouraged it, used and abused it – at some point of our life, in one form or the other. I would be surprised if someone tells me that he or she hasn’t experienced it!

The tussle that is going on between the Team Anna Hazare and GOI on Lokpal Bill needs to be looked with special vision (the Government thinks so)! While Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejariwal and Kiran Bedi are crying hoarse about the fact that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, MPs, MLAs, municipal councilors, sarpanches, judges, all state government employees, all Group B, Group C and group D employees of the central government - are out of the jurisdiction of Government’s Lokpal Bill; government is trying hard to give some logic(sic) to it, but we the common people and the TEAM ANNA perhaps are unable to understand the governments logic and idea!

To me, it seems that after all deliberations with its erudite ministers and secretaries, government has decided to stem out the rot – right at the roots! That's why, it has exempted all the heads and everyone who play a big role in money minting. Buck will ultimately stop at the door-steps of the common man, the grass root of democracy!

Am I Right, Sirji?

madhukarmohan@gmail.com