Sunday, August 28, 2011

A New Day in India

Once in a eternity, a time comes in the history of a country when an entire generation declares that it has had enough of something. The moment that we witness today stands testimony to the  fact that this is the closest India ever got to a revolution that reached a logical conclusion without fizzling out, fading away or being hijacked. Here, I try to touch up some points seemingly missed by the popular coverage. 

  • A system that works: For all the criticism that the movement faced, including the allegation of being an arm-twisting parallel authority, the fact remains that at the core of the agitation was the acknowledgement and understanding that India has a system that works. All that needs to be done is to force those without willpower to do something that is long overdue. 
  • The mass appeal: All those who thronged the streets of Delhi and other parts of the nation were mostly unorganized masses, brought out on the street not by any mobilization campaign but by a realization that time has given them an opportunity to be a part of history in making, a chapter which promises to change the civic fabric of India. 
  • MY India, MY Pride: The sea of Tricolour was not inspired by any sporting spectacle or external fervor, but by an intrinsic pride in holding the Tricolour high; a pride that comes from belonging and a sense of attachment to the nation. Also, thanks to Naveen Jindal here. 
  • Lack of leadership: This was a flip side. At a time when the movement challenged the executive, judiciary and legislature, declaring openly that the three pillars have collectively failed to give the Indians a corruption free society,   those in seats of responsibility fumbled for answers. Even as the drafting committee was framing the bill, all the political parties without exception shied away from commenting. It is surprising that there was not one man from Parliament (which cleared the bill yesterday, unanimously) who could stand up and say "I support the bill and I will get it through". It needed one man to fast for 12 days to beat some sense of purpose in the Parliament. 
  • New Thoughts: A generation that is famously quoted saying that "Is desh ka kuch nahi ho sakta", suddenly woke up to the realization that the country demands change and is receptive and waiting for the change.  The movement convinced the youth that they can stand for change, that they can demand solutions rather than excuses. 
Long way to go even now. It will take  lot of willpower and a lot of efforts to reduce corruption before eventually rooting it out from both public and private sectors. But a great beginning made. Finally, after 8 drafts and 4 decades, it took a Gandhian to teach Gandhi's party some Gandhigiri. 

Hoping for a better tomorrow for my beloved Country. Jai Hind. 

1 comment:

  1. I think a big part of the brighter future is for today's urban youth to believe that every one can make a difference. I get ridiculed every time I say it, but I continue to say it...

    ReplyDelete