Say you don't agree with the man, some say 72, some 73, sitting hungry on a New Delhi road, at a pebble roll from an ancient monument dedicated to time telling.
Say you don't believe that he is so hungry that time perhaps means little to him at this point in time.
Say you thought, as a friend of mine does, that this is 'emotional blackmail'. Say you believed, like this friend, that you are a 'silent supporter'.
Even then, could you for a moment think today when was the last time you thought about corruption? When? When you paid for school admissions for your kids? Or was it when you paid off the traffic cops for a red light jump?
When?
We grew up in a generation where our parents complained about corruption all the time. There were gas-wallahs to pay off if you wanted your kitchen fire burning bright, the telephone man incessantly demanded money and hinted, no, grunted,"We will take care of you, if you take care of us", there were electricity supply and meter chaps who wouldn't move a screwdriver without money – at every level that was a corruption interface.
What has happened in two decades of liberalisation is that our daily interface of corruption has thinned. No, we don't need to pay a bribe to get a phone connection anymore. SIM cards are ours at will. No, power comes from private companies now and we never really have to pay a bribe to a 'linesman' or a 'meterman'. In fact, do you know who your local electricity linesman is? My parents did. Most likely, yours did too.
Even fifteen years ago, when my dad got his first passport, the local police verification cost Rs. 1,000. "See, you will get passport, you go to foreign, what will I get?" was the unassailable logic.
Three years ago, when a new passport came, it was fairly effortless.
So some of the daily interfaces of corruption have disappeared. But other figures have balloned. The entire Bofors gun deal (not kickbacks, the entire deal) was worth a paltry 1,400 crores.
The 2G scam, by some estimates, is worth 1.7 lakh crores.
Even the head of the most powerful industry lobby group admitted on the Nira Raadia (is that how she spells her name?) tapes that an even more prominent minister took a 15 percent cut on every infrastructure project passed by him.
A 2010, as a supporter Nisha Samson has pointed out, ranked 87 on the 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International. She also points out that research has shown that more than half of the bribes doing the rounds are accepted by government officials at the state and national level, and that in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, political parties spent Rs. 8,000 crore, as opposed to Rs 700 crore by the government and Rs. 1,300 crore by the election commission.
The C-word stares us in the face from every angle. It's just that at a day to day level, we might not be as affected as we used to be. But, make no mistake, our wealth is being stolen. As ads urge us to make it large, guess what we have done?
We have made it large.
Why You Should Care About The Lokpal Bill-
If, like many of us, you have been disgusted by the incessant stories of corruption at all levels in India – from the Commonwealth Games to the 2G telecom scam to everyday loot and graft at every level of government – then the Lokpal Bill is for you.
It's a simple :
1.
The Lokpal Bill is basically an anti-corruption bill.
2.
It has been ignored, as Hazare points out, by governments for 42 years. This means every single major party is to blame (as we all know) for the mess that we are in.
3.
What Hazare is demanding is that the Lokpal Bill and the Lokapal's office should have the right to check on not just political offices but also bureaucrats, judges and even the Prime Minister's Office.
4.
Hazare also wants the Lokpal to be populated by eminent citizens who have policing powers (as opposed to the recommendatory authourity that it is at this point in time). This means the Lokpal will be able to file FIRs, chargesheet accused and file cases.
5.
He has also suggested that the Central Vigilance Commission should be merged in the Lokpal, creating an independent powerful body with real teeth.
6.
To keep it independent, Hazare rightly says that the selection of the Lokpal must be done not just by politicians but by eminent personalities free of vested interests.
For this, the septuagenarian Hazare is on a fast unto death. This is the time to support this movement and effect real change in the fight against corruption. This is the time to shame the authourities, the government and the political parties into bringing real change. This is the time for you and me.
Lahroon Se Darr Kar.. Naauka Paar Nahin Hoti
Himmat Karne Walon Ki.. Haar Nahin Hoti
Nanhiin Chiitin Jab Daana Lekhar Chalti Hai
Chadhti Deewaroon Par Sau Baar Phisalti Hai
Mann Ka Vishwaas Ragoon Mein Saahas Barta Hai
Chadh Kar Girna.. Girkar Chadhna.. Naa Aakarta Hai
Aakhir Uski Mehnat.. Bekaar Nahin Hoti
Koshish Karne Walon Ki.. Haar Nahin Hoti
Dubkiyaan Sindhu Mein Goota Khoor Lagaata Hai
Jaa Jaa Kar Khaali Haath.. Laut Aata Hai
Milte Na Shaheej Ke Moti Paani Mein
Behta Doona Utsaah Isi Hairaani Mein
Muthi Uski Khaali.. Haar Baar Nahin Hoti
Himmat Karne Walon Ki.. Haar Nahin Hoti
Asafalta.. Ek Chunauti Hai.. Sweekaar Karoo
Kya Kami Rehgayi.. Dekho.. Aur Suthaar Karoo
Jabtak Nasafaal Ho.. Neend Chaain Ki Tyaago Tum
Sungharshoon Ka Maidaan.. Choodh Mat Bhaago Tum
Kucch Kiye Bina Hi.. Jay Jay Kar Nahin Hoti
Himmat Karne Walon Ki.. Haar Nahin Hoti
Saw the movie "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara" last night.
I found this poem very meaningful, so i thought of sharing it with all.
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
