I don't know where to start this post from. Should I start speaking about the entire herd of corrupt politicians that are at the helm of affairs in the Country? Much have been already said about them; but the shameless bastards continue looting the Nation's exchequer, unabated, unfazed. Or should I speak about the billions that our Country has lost to the greed of these people whom We elected - pushing the nation behind on the development front and shoving it up on the corruption ladder (#87 in 2010; source - Transparency International).
While I can speak a lot about all these vexing topics, no amount of words would do justice to describing this man with a mission - Anna Hazare. His action speaks louder than these words. As of today (7-Apr-2011, 2 AM PST) this septuagenarian has already been on fast for more than 60 hours and he says he'll die fighting unless the voice of the people against corruption is heard by the the powers that be. He has rattled the power corridors of New Delhi several times till date and this time the movement has already started making its mark. The fight this time is against corruption and the several corrupt Ministers and other elected representatives that are running the country today. The fight is for the acceptance of the Jan Lokpal (जन लोकपाल) Bill by the Government of India, to truly empower the People of the Nation to act decisively against the corrupt without intervention from the Government.
It is sad seeing a 72-year old person having to take such a step - a real surge in feelings for the state of affairs in the Country driving this very gentle man, perhaps. But at the same time it is heartening to see that the movement has caught on with the youth of the Nation supporting it throughout the Country. Support has come in from many prominent figures in the Country from all quarters. All that is needed now is to continue the momentum and rope in more and more support for the cause, for the fasting grand old man and for the hundreds of other Indians who are on indefinite fast with Anna Ji.
Many would want to draw parallels with the Movement in Egypt and the Middle-east. While there can be some similarity in which the Movement is spreading among the people but they are definitely not towards the same end. Ours is a Democracy and we are not being ruled by despots. We are being ruled by Elected representatives, albeit corrupt. This movement is against the corrupt. Having said so, there still are honest politicians and it is these good people who should be leading the Nation.
I am not providing any solutions here. The way has been shown to us by the likes of Anna Ji - we simply need to tread on it. Follow the lead and take turns in leading. I am simply trying in my own small way to support the cause, to spread the word on the movement. Also, many of us (yours truly included) have been guilty of corruption - mostly by means of feeding the greed of the corrupt. We must try to inculcate in us the need to shun corruption in every walk of our life.
After the World Cup Cricket triumph, it's now time to win another important match - against corruption. Just as the nation united during the Cricket World Cup to boost India to victory, people have to create a non-stop movement till the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed by the Parliament. Thousands have already lent their support. But, we are a Nation of a billion plus and a billion plus Indians cannot be unheeded. जय हिंद.
Discuss on Buzz
P.S.: In the past few days, I have been posting numerous comments on News articles, posting on Facebook, Buzz, Orkut and emailing people about the movement. I am probably not doing much, but just my little bit to spread the word. Please consider using all means at your disposal to support the cause.
EDIT <<<< -- Update on the Movement -- >>>
Anna Hazare called off the fast after 97 hours on 9th April after government issued a gazette notification constituting a 10-member joint committee of ministers and civil society activists, including him, to draft an effective Lokpal Bill. Just goes to show that Gandhi and his motto of non-violence are still relevant today. The fight against the corrupt of course doesn't stop here. This is just the beginning and We, the People of India must not lose the momentum. जय हिंद.
Following is the text of the Gazette Notification issued by the Government of India constituting the Joint Drafting Committee comprising ministers and civil society activists to prepare the draft Lok Pal Bill (Source: The Hindu)
While I can speak a lot about all these vexing topics, no amount of words would do justice to describing this man with a mission - Anna Hazare. His action speaks louder than these words. As of today (7-Apr-2011, 2 AM PST) this septuagenarian has already been on fast for more than 60 hours and he says he'll die fighting unless the voice of the people against corruption is heard by the the powers that be. He has rattled the power corridors of New Delhi several times till date and this time the movement has already started making its mark. The fight this time is against corruption and the several corrupt Ministers and other elected representatives that are running the country today. The fight is for the acceptance of the Jan Lokpal (जन लोकपाल) Bill by the Government of India, to truly empower the People of the Nation to act decisively against the corrupt without intervention from the Government.
It is sad seeing a 72-year old person having to take such a step - a real surge in feelings for the state of affairs in the Country driving this very gentle man, perhaps. But at the same time it is heartening to see that the movement has caught on with the youth of the Nation supporting it throughout the Country. Support has come in from many prominent figures in the Country from all quarters. All that is needed now is to continue the momentum and rope in more and more support for the cause, for the fasting grand old man and for the hundreds of other Indians who are on indefinite fast with Anna Ji.
Many would want to draw parallels with the Movement in Egypt and the Middle-east. While there can be some similarity in which the Movement is spreading among the people but they are definitely not towards the same end. Ours is a Democracy and we are not being ruled by despots. We are being ruled by Elected representatives, albeit corrupt. This movement is against the corrupt. Having said so, there still are honest politicians and it is these good people who should be leading the Nation.
I am not providing any solutions here. The way has been shown to us by the likes of Anna Ji - we simply need to tread on it. Follow the lead and take turns in leading. I am simply trying in my own small way to support the cause, to spread the word on the movement. Also, many of us (yours truly included) have been guilty of corruption - mostly by means of feeding the greed of the corrupt. We must try to inculcate in us the need to shun corruption in every walk of our life.
After the World Cup Cricket triumph, it's now time to win another important match - against corruption. Just as the nation united during the Cricket World Cup to boost India to victory, people have to create a non-stop movement till the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed by the Parliament. Thousands have already lent their support. But, we are a Nation of a billion plus and a billion plus Indians cannot be unheeded. जय हिंद.
Discuss on Buzz
P.S.: In the past few days, I have been posting numerous comments on News articles, posting on Facebook, Buzz, Orkut and emailing people about the movement. I am probably not doing much, but just my little bit to spread the word. Please consider using all means at your disposal to support the cause.EDIT <<<< -- Update on the Movement -- >>>
Anna Hazare called off the fast after 97 hours on 9th April after government issued a gazette notification constituting a 10-member joint committee of ministers and civil society activists, including him, to draft an effective Lokpal Bill. Just goes to show that Gandhi and his motto of non-violence are still relevant today. The fight against the corrupt of course doesn't stop here. This is just the beginning and We, the People of India must not lose the momentum. जय हिंद.
Following is the text of the Gazette Notification issued by the Government of India constituting the Joint Drafting Committee comprising ministers and civil society activists to prepare the draft Lok Pal Bill (Source: The Hindu)
“The Joint Drafting Committee shall consist of five nominee ministers of the Government of India and five nominees of Shri Anna Hazare (including himself).
The five nominee Ministers of the Government of India are as under:
Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister of Finance, P Chidambaram, Union Minister of Home Affairs, M Veerappa Moily, Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Resource and Development and Minister of Communication and Information Technology and Salman Khursheed, Union Minister of Water Resources and Minister of Minority Affairs.
The five nominees of Anna Hazare (including himself) are as under:
Anna Hazare, Justice N Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan, Senior Advocate, Prashan Bhushan, Advocate and Arvind Kejriwal.
The Chairperson of the Joint Drafting Committee shall be Pranab Mukherjee.
The Co-Chairperson of the Joint Drafting Committee shall be Shanti Bhushan.
The Convenor of the Join Drafting Committee shall be M Veerappa Moily.
The Joint Drafting Committee shall commence its work forthwith and evolve its own procedure to prepare the proposed legislation.
The Joint Drafting Committee shall complete its work latest by 30th June, 2011."
