The India for which Anna fights

Anna Hazare has been arrested by the Delhi police. The famed Gandhian was about to begin his fast unto death against corruption at the JP Park in the capital of the country. However, the government and the police turned the tables on Team Anna by not only imposing sec 144 a day before but arresting many who had gathered at the venue in his support.

The entire area was cordoned off and in a matter of minutes the colour of khaki had replaced white. None was spared, not even the senior civil-society members who have a reputation of their own. Thus Kiran Bedi, Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan saw themselves getting packed into buses for a destination not disclosed. Many are protesting on the streets and some are courting arrest.

Almost everyone in this country is aware of what Anna is fighting for. The 74-year-old, born as Kisan Baburao Hazare, was already a known figure in parts of India (he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1992). However, his rise to fame came only this year when he chose to fast unto death on April 5. Though the fast ended in four days but by then waves of supporters from many parts of India had joined him forcing the government to agree on a Jan Lokpal Bill to check graft in public offices.

This time, Anna was threatening the government with the same weapon since the Centre had failed in its promise.

In a televised interview before his arrest, Anna said that this is the time for a second Independence struggle. He urged the fellow countrymen to come together and court arrest so that the “prisons are packed to capacity”.

How sad. It seems he is not living in the 21^st century. Anna, rather unfortunately, still believes that the preachings of Mahatma Gandhi stand true in today’s times in this country.

India is a country where things run more on a ‘copycat procedure’. At the time when Anna was holding his fast in April, waves of protests had erupted in many parts of the world – particularly North Africa. Thus Anna’s fast got a big boost through the social networking sites. Reports reveal that many people who had then sided with Anna were either unaware of what the agenda was (except the clichéd word corruption) or were corrupt themselves.

The clever government agreed to Anna’s demands for the time being only to let the issue ‘cool down’. It was a well thought-of plan and it worked. Indian politics says that the people have a very short memory and less patience. They may raise their voice for a particular cause but will not be able to hold on to it for long.

Here in India, the people are busier with their daily lives than anything else. Whatever little education they receive, they are content when they get a ‘sarkari job’. The next step is to get married and the ‘customary’ give and take of dowry. In the next step they carry out the ‘necessary’ task of having a child. In a year or two, the first child needs a companion to play with and thus a second one is introduced in the household. Now mind it, the second one has to be a boy if the first one was not. In case the second one too turns out a girl (which is unlikely because of cases of sex determination), a third one is planned. The series will go on until the ‘saviour’ boy arrives.

The next step in a common man’s life is to feed his family. To do so he needs money and in this rising inflation living on a ‘sarkari’ pay is not easy especially if the man is little learned. Thus, exchanging hands under the table becomes a common act. Even if the person is unemployed, this will not deter him from marrying and having children (often seen in rural areas of the country).

This type of a common man constitutes more than 2/3^rd of this country’s population. Of the remaining 1/3^rd, at least 30 percent of the people have all the luxuries they need. This leaves only a few who may join their voices with Anna. But indifference to the nation is another factor that will chaff off many more from within the probables. Those left will be the only ones fighting for Anna and they will only have small section of the youth. 

Faces of middle aged and old men were seen on TV channels airing the protests live. Not many young guys were there on any of the 20 leading channels of the country.

The opportunistic youth of today are busy with their careers and, if possible, leave for ‘that foreign land’. Who said USA is the only country?

In India a century by Sachin Tendulkar is far too important than a disabled boy winning gold at a world championship. In India staring at Ambani’s Antilla means looking ‘up’. Who cares for the homeless?

In India election of a leader on the basis of his caste is mandatory. Is there a criminal case against the candidate? We don’t care.

In India ignoring traffic laws, evading responsibilities, using unethical means to climb the ladder and differentiating between ourselves on any basis are some of the ‘rules’ by which people we have been living and will live.  

This is not Gandhi’s India. The concept of Ahimsa now stands good only for a movie script.

Thus, Anna’s agitation will not continue as anticipated by him. Yes, there will be protests for some time in his support but not for long. It is an established fact that a battle overstretched is a battle lost.