People and parliament: ANNA in between

When he wrote about the corruption as social means of gain, Premchand , an eminent writer of his times, would certainly not had thought that it will become as mighty as it is now. Corruption, is not a new issue in India, it has been registering its presence from centuries, what has changed is the dimension. If a case of corruption now involves “lakhs of crore rupees”, nobody needs a Galileo microscope to see the real picture, the picture is magnified enough. It seems that   THE PEOPLE OF INDIA suddenly woken up and started fighting against the issue, no, it’s not the case. From then to now many things have been changed. India now is a country of more than a billion of which 47% are youth. India now is a country with more number of educated people. Indian youth is no longer is in situation to accept corruption as the part of their society, a deep resent existed even before this movement led by ANNAji. What led in what circumstances us to the steps of a mass movement?

               Various scandals were discovered in 2010-2011, including the 2G spectrum scam, Adarsh Housing Society Scam, and the Commonwealth Games scam. These involved various Ministers and also members of the Armed Forces, and they demonstrated how entrenched corruption had become in India. People of India witnessed height of inaction on the part of government in the name of coalition bindings, CBI seemed to be helpless. Final blow came from honorable Supreme Court of India, after their involvement some action had been taken, the results of which are visible in Tihar jail. This made the people in the civil society to think over the issue and pay attention for the need of a strong and effective law .

On   4^th of April, Hazare announced that he would commence his "fast unto death" and that this would last until a comprehensive measure to tackle corruption was introduced. He claimed that the government had excluded "civil society" from the panel set up to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill, and implied that at least one of the people who was to be on the drafting committee - Sharad Pawar - might be unsuitable for that role because of his large landholdings. When anna started his fast unto death- 1 on 5^th of April, support poured in from all across the country.  In Very short time anna became the voice of people who were the victim of corruption. These corruption wounded disturbed people started showing their discontent from the government and wholeheartedly supported the janlokpal bill. ANNA broke his fast1 when Government invited him in the process of drafting the LOKPAL bill by forming a joint drafting committee. In seven meetings of joint drafting committee, protracted negotiations resulted in nothing. Standoff between government and team anna made things worse. Government singlehandedly decided to send their weak, inefficient, flawed draft to the parliament. This made 74 year old anti corruption crusader to go again on an indefinite fast from 16^th august. By now anna was no longer a person but he became a phenomenon. This gandhian became a household name and this time more number of people were with him. Fast 2 begun with ample miss management on the side of government, his arrest and release created a chaos all over the country. By the time he settled down at ramleela ground, all over the country peaceful protest in favour of janlokpal bill started, anger of people against corruption got a face in form of ANNA.  After 12 days of the largest mass movement in recent times, when ANNA broke his fast, history has already been made. For the first time in the history of democratic India, a resolution incorporating ANNA’s 3 demands (citizen charter, lower bureaucracy to be under lok pal through an appropriate mechanism, establishment of lok ayukts in the states) have been passed.

Now let’s think from the critic’s point of view. Some of the people think that this is nothing but setting up a bad precedent, blow to the Indian democracy. It is correct that only parliament can draft a law and nobody from outside is expected to intervene in the procedures of a parliament. But it is also correct that most of the parliamentarians do not show a strong will to form an effective anti-corruption law which covers mp’s, because they know that they are not clean. There are many bills including women reservation, The Communal Violence (Prevention, Control & Rehabilition of Victims) Bill etc. that are pending from many years awaiting the political will of MP’s. Even the e Lokpal bill was first introduced by Shanti Bhushan in 1968 and passed the 4th Lok Sabha (Lower house) in 1969. But before it could be passed by Rajya Sabha (upper house of the Parliament of India), LokSabha was dissolved and the bill lapsed. The Subsequent versions were re-introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008, but none of them passed. The people of India have seen the inaction and lack of political will in the halls of parliament for years and it is the time for the respected MP’s to understand the fact that this is the new awakened India needs immediate action. They cannot simply do whatever they want for five years. Yes, the method adopted by civil society was not 100% correct but for the time being for the sake of country and for reducing the corruption and for a dignified life of AAM AADAMI it is totally justified.

As I see, this movement have cleared many things in context of present India:-

• ·         People are not ready to except corruption in any form

• ·         People distrust their representatives

• ·         People think that politicians are most corrupt

• ·         Civil society involvement is necessary

• ·         Before taking any important steps, government should make a broad consensus

• ·         Mp’s need to restore the faith of people in parliament

• ·         MP’s need to meet people

• ·         Media came out as a vital role player in society

• ·         Youth has an important role in any movement

• ·         This is an unique movement of its type which was taken forward by gandhian way of NON VIOLENCE

• ·         People are absolute power

• ·         Representatives are ought to stick to the cause for serving people

• ·         Yes, GANDHIgiri still works

We have seen that this mass movement has brought people and parliament more close than they were before. Media played an important role to bring about this change. Miraculously anna became successful to connect large number of people across country and made them feel that the time has come for action and conveyed the parliament that people are absolute power. Even for the time being it seems to be an anti-democratic way; it is the only way forward. I expect that parliamentarians should understand now that the common people are watching them; they should show some will to bring about the change. I hope that in future public interests and democratic interests will not clash because basically both are same things.

THE TREE

Walking on the path
was enjoying thee.
Beautiful blossoms,soothing breeze,
divine songs echoing,
children playing,joyful youths,
olderones' worshiping
were seen,seen trees
small,medium and large
of flower,of fruits,of shades
they too enjoying thine,
dancing to and fro;
spreading the essence
of love,of beauty,of happiness.

Walking on the path
was enjoying thee.
Overglowing sun,seems angry
utter breezeless silence prevails ,
children in listening stories,
youth at workplace,
tiring passerby besets
were seen,seen trees
small,medium and large
of flower,of fruits,of shades,
happily standing still
giving shelter,relieving burned out;
spreading the message
of care,of selflessness,of endurance.

Walking on the path
was enjoying thee.
Clouds shunning sun,
violent winds,storming
children crying with fear,
youths afraid of untoward spree ,
olderones' dictating
were seen,seen trees
small,medium and large
of flower,of fruits,of shades,
like a soldier fighting adversities,
though rooted to its soil,
despite loosing beloved
branches,leaves,flowers,fruits;
showing no sign
of grief,of unwillingness,of tiredness.

Walking on the path
was enjoying thee.

BEST IN WORST

Here goes the story of a journey,probably worst for me!.Life too a journey and if i call a journey worst....uhu,life can't be worst.I was in delhi last week.I didn't have a returning ticket, so i approached a broker and to my surprise he told me''sorry bhai no confirm ticket till next month".Somehow he arranged a ticket for me which was RAC and also not on my name.I was very upset since 1st time i was travelling on an unconfirmed ticket,also,which was not issued on my name.
I was shocked when i reached the New delhi-darbhanga bihar saptakranti express.
How will I?
I was thinking to stay back.But love to home persuades me to get in. In a sleeper coach of strength 72,there were more than 172 ppl including ladies and children. Someone told me that general is too much filled to be occupied.
Still too much migrants?when will they get job in bihar?
When higher education will be no more a dream in our land? How much time will it take for 10 crores of biharis to stand on their on feet on their own land?
These types of thoughts suddenly messed up my mind. Finally i was sitting on my seat along with 5 more ppl. If i wanted,i would certainly forced them to leave but i didn't,my soul just didn't allow me. Everyone was sitted here there,even the floors and the area near bathroom were occupied.When the sleeper coach is in this position,what about general? I just trembled for a second.
Lyricist sameer has rightly said
"AGAR YAHI JINDAGI HAI,TO KYA JINDAGI HAI"(IS THIS LIFE!).
Do their love to native is anymore less than me?

I was not in position to blame them for this occupancy. When T.T.E came,they all were fined and charged almost twice than normal. Still they were happy. Under 43 degree temperature along with more than 172 people in coach.....,i almost had fever and was in gutwrenching situation. I was worried and tensed but i didn't call my parents. But thanks to MR. Dale Karnegi,whose magic formula for solving worry situtations as bestowed upon in his book transformed my journey experience.
What is worst that can happen? May be some physical unease but definitely i am not going to die. I accepted the worst and let me tell u "true peace of mind comes from accepting the worst".The very next moment i was between one of them unaware of unease and happy to return home. This happiness,joy had painful precedings. Most of them were less educated. Everyone of them whether labour,street vendor,taxi drivers were not only arranging bread and butter for them and their families but also contributing to their nation. I am not talking about those biharis who were in the same train in AC coaches,they also contributed to the nation. My surrounding had overjoyed people,not talking about their sufferings but the success. Ya,definitely success had a different meaning for them. Most of them were going home to participate in ongoing panchayat election-the basic decision making process. The only issue,they told me on which,they will vote is development.1 year ago landslide victory of nitish kumar was only because of this issue. Their hopeful eyes want work,good education. Ya, in these 6 yrs the perception about bihar and biharis have changed but still flood comes and destroys the entire living attire in one part of bihar and the drought do their work in the other part as before,still no industrial outline is seen,agriculture sector is uncertain due to above two devils. I just lost my sense in anxiety,worry and thoughts. When i got myself back, again their dedication,fight with life,contribution to the country which was apparent through their faces leave my eyes full of tears.
I was now undisturbed from temperature,easy and comfortable on my seat. They were now a great inspiration for me. I also like them founded in bihar,building in other distant part and will definitely serve my country INDIA.
"suffering is the essence of success"-APJ KALAM

SHE IS THERE FOR CARE

light was unknown,silence was all grown
exposed to this world suddenly
crying seeing all unknowingly
that hold stopped the cry
her smiling face was like a soothing sky
don't know what these connection were,but
she was there for all that care.

small steps were shaking
it was when i hadn't started speaking
she propped me well before
i tend to fell
every slap had a lesson
those lesson laid a foundation
building was not easy
paths were very slippery
but i feared never as
she was there for all that care

still i am building
i fall sometime
still i am trying
i fail sometime
but those lessons were divine
making me awake every time
still she is caring,i need forever
maa, i cannot live without you ever

SOMEONE WHO ALWAYS STAND BY

on this earth with us,there is someone who always stand by.
We born we grow we die
we love we hate we lie,
sometimes bounded by the emotions
something happens unexpected often,
ever and again we becomes sad
at times very happy
once in a while we are forced to cry,
after being very helpless
when whole things are in a mess
it comes a deep thinking process,
how it happened why we born
for us to sustain left no more option,
but suddenly things progresses
repeats the cycle things move smoothly
his hierarchy,at the helm is almighty,
that's why
on this earth with us ,there is someone who always stand by

THE THREE EVENTS

THE WORLD CUP CRICKET is in progress. It is undoubtedly one of the greatest events for Indian people as here people treat the cricket like religion. As far as India is concern cricket is a usual event. In four years the aam adami forgot the failures of Indian team in previous world cup and started cheering them again. But there are certain events , actually tragic events which cannot be omitted from the mind of the common people.CWG scam,2G spectrum scam,S BAND irregularities, ADARSH HOUSING SOCIETY case, the HASAN ALI case, the black money case etc. are those tragic events, thanks to media that makes the common man aware of the difficult but true farce conditions of the country .The first and second event are sounding very odd with respect to each other, but are of greater concerns. Now a days, after cricket these are the tea gossips. The AAM ADAMI is too much astonished by knowing that in a country like India where a large number of people are bereft of basic needs of roti,kapda,makan,shiksha scams involving lakhs of crore rupees befall .Where the world cup is a four yearly event ,scams does not have a duration but impacts for durations. There is yet another yearly event-THE GOVERNMENT BUDGET. It just come by now. Different people look at it differently. Businessmen, students have their own concerns while the common people have their own. The AAM ADAMI look at it less technically . These three ongoing events have great consequences on the core of the common man.
It is not just a game, it is like a religion-this is how cricket is described in Indian context. For the highest level tournament of this religion when selection committee announced the name of players, it anticipated that few players would be fit till the beginning of the same. This is the beginning of the contest but this can certainly be pointed out from the fielding that everyone is not fit. Praveen Kumar left out the squad. What will be the outcome, time will tell? Too much of cricket can be made responsible for this malady .Some people including me thinks IPL to be the culprit. Players treat IPL more seriously than their respective teams. Obviously, because large amount of money is involve there. Let us go sometime back, when cricket was in news for wrong reasons. Many teams had not paid the taxes, sweat equity case led to the resignation of Mr. Tharoor, irregularities done by former IPL commissioner, source of money in IPL etc. These cases portrayed that religion of cricket also is not free from corruption.
The Government Budget came at the time when the global economic scenario is unclear. Yes, the growth rate is predicted to be 9% for next fiscal. Yes, allocation for infrastructure, education, defense have been raised. Yes, tax exemption has been made. But the AAM ADAMI is asking other questions. Allocation for education is 52000 crore , almost equal to the tax due on HASAN ALI. What happened to him? where did he escape? The defense allocation in budget is 1,64000 crore, slightly less than the loss occurred to exchequer in 2G scam. Will the real culprits go behind bars? The Common people is not asking about the allocation for sports but for the conviction of Kalmadi. They are asking will the black money stashed away in foreign banks return to India? Their disgrace, anger can easily be spotted on collage campuses, railway stations, tea corners etc. Government will have to address these issues, if it wants to come back in power again.
During World Cup Cricket, which follows a number of scams, a Government budget comes and become less popular. It is not because it lacks content but because it comes at a wrong political situation.