We v/s We

Anna Hazare, probably India’s most influential social activist, has staged a fast-unto-death to root out the biggest epidemic of the country—corruption. People across cities and from all ages have joined in support of the Gandhian style protest through candlelight marches, fasting for a day or promoting the cause itself. Many are calling it the Jasmine revolution of South Asia. Such has been the effect of the demonstrations that a prominent minister has stepped down from his position in an elite government group.

The large numbers of people who have turned up to express their support to Anna are proof of the growing resentment in the masses against corruption and political parties. In an article written earlier which found place in a leading newspaper, I had mentioned that if we have to put the blame of corrupting the country on any one person then that has to be ‘us’. Yes, collectively it is ‘us’ who are corrupt and strangely, today we are rising against ‘us’.

The demonstrators are asking for new powers in an old law (as if the already existing laws were not enough). Obviously, the government is trying to downplay the demands. Opposition political parties are trying, somewhat in vain, to gain milage out of the tumultuous situation. The great Indian Media has big news in the post World Cup scenario.

Protests are not new to this nation. We have been protesting since— God knows when. Some of those protests were successful while others failed. It was the protests that led to our Independence. The media and the people equal this agitation to the one that were held in the pre-Independence era. However, there is a difference.

The protests before 1947 were against a government and a class that was entirely foreign in all aspects of a civilization. Everything is different between the societal customs of the British and the South Asians. This time, the people are opposing a few of their own. Ironically, those few were elected by the very same people who are out on the streets today. In this regard the Jasmine revolution that swept the sands of North Africa is closer in comparison. Yet again, there is a difference.

The one that happened in the desert nations was a movement of those who thought on the same plane. The demonstrators were a mixed lot of high class and low class people, filthy rich and pathetically poor individuals, people from different ideologies or religions irrespective of their societal standing. On the other hand, India is a country of 1.2 billion people and is far more divided in societal structure than any other country in the world. Thus, it is extremely difficult to generate public opinion for a good cause. Why?

Look at the World Cup that ended on a happy note for India. Tickets were in great demand and this led to black-marketing. Tickets worth Rs 25 were being sold at Rs 25,000. Someone was ready to sell off his kidney for a ticket so that he could watch the game. Millions were spent in a matter of days and billions were earned by the corporates and the BCCI. As for the cricketers, do I need to write anything about them and their incomes?

On the night India won the World Cup, 18 million children went to sleep on the streets of this very same country. They do it every day. While many of us were busy in celebrations, thousands (maybe lakhs) were wondering about their next day’s meal. My simple question is: If the people of this country have so much money to spend on brands and an overpriced ticket for a match, then why hasn’t the number of poor in this country reduced? If the owners of big corporates have enough money to spend on palatial 26 storey buildings for their personal comfort, then why are those 18 million children sleeping on the streets?

No revolution can find success until everyone takes part in it irrespective of differences. Human psychology is weird; they may say something and do the other. Before trying to root out corruption, it is necessary to root out the greedy side within us. That is difficult, very difficult in this materialistic society.