The Power of the People

As I type this post out, my stomach is busy grumbling angrily at my brain’s center for rational thought. It is highly upset that the center deemed it fit to skip a meal, especially these days, when blood glucose is in high demand. As a result, it has chosen to continue producing gastric juice, as a form of protest, to erode away its lining. Totally justifiable, some might argue.

But little does my stomach realize that the decision to not partake in the afternoon’s meal was due to a higher calling. It takes will power to ignore the more primal instincts of the body. And this will power can only be summoned by those who are very strongly opinionated. As of this moment, I really am. About the current status of the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Of course, my level of dedication to the cause is nothing compared to that of Anna Hazare (who is NOT pictured to the left – that is just one man who’s placards caught my friend-cum-friend’s-brother, Aayush’s eye), the 78 year old social activist who’s been on a hunger strike for the past 3 days. And he shows no signs of relenting till the government gives into his demands. Broadly speaking, he’s asking for greater involvement of the public in the framing of the bill, and minimal involvement of ministers with questionable rap sheets, who are trying to push in a lax bill so that they get off easy. The Lokpal bill is essentially trying to introduce a new anti-corruption framework that can fast-track the investigation of corruption cases around the country.

But that’s enough of the facts, because I’m sure that any number of news sources will be more than happy to provide you with further details regarding this. As usual, I’m more interested in the human factor surrounding this, and how it’s affecting normal people.

To be honest, this movement has gained movement like little else that I’ve seen before. Anna Hazare has received support from all quarters of society. And this is appropriate for an issue which cuts across all regional, religious, caste and other divisions. This is primarily because irrespective of the people you identify yourself with, it’s not easy to ignore the way graft and corruption has consumed most, if not all, of India’s bureaucracy and political institutions. To this extent, even the judiciary has come under the scanner.

So today, along with Sukriti and her family, I decided to go to Jantar Mantar to register our opinions. Even though I may not have spoken in front of any TV crews, or addressed an audience from a stage, I know that I was there, which is reason enough for me to feel proud. This blog too, is another outlet for me – a way for me to voice my opinions. Different people have different methods. Some will protest vociferously. Others will write. As of now, I’ll be writing.

Once I got there, nothing really prepared me for the crowd. Actually, the crowd isn’t really the issue. The dynamism of the crowd is. Wave after wave of supporters from different parts of the city (and possible, the country) kept pouring in. Banners were on display. Flags were being flourished. Slogans were being chanted. And the atmosphere at the place was such that you just knew that the public was pretty united on this issue. And that turning a blind eye to this was something that was going to become increasingly hard for the government to do.

Even though I didn’t get a chance to see Anna Hazare himself (the crowd was really unmanageable, and Sukriti’s Mom wasn’t feeling too well either), just being a part of that crowd was enough for me to show my solidarity with him. Honestly, there aren’t many people like him on the face of this earth. I really hope that the government concedes to his well-reasoned arguments soon and puts and end to this protest.

I could go on, but I’m in a bit of a hurry right now. So I’ll have to cut this post short. Not that I’m ever happy doing such a thing. Ever.