lokpal bill

For the past one week the entire country has been witnessing the Anna Hazare phenomenon. Anna Hazare, the man who decided to stand against corruption in the country. We’ve seen thousands of people follow him in blind faith and many more pouring in daily. The media attention that his fight against the government has received has even put Indian cricket in the back seat.

 

Anna’s fight is supposedly against “Corruption”. Corruption in the form of scams and black money that has made the country monetarily poorer than it should have been. Its surprising to see that the citizens and activists have related corruption in our society only to money. The definition of corruption according to the dictionary means: “The act of corrupting or of impairing integrity, virtue, or moral principle; the state of being corrupted or debased; loss of purity or integrity; depravity; wickedness; impurity; bribery.”

 

So I ask Anna Hazare and the people supporting his cause whether its fair that you have narrowed down the meaning of corruption only to money? What about the fact that the society is also facing other threats and acts of corruption? An example is the moral corruption that we all face in the form of our treatment and mentality towards women. The current protests garnered millions of supporters nationwide. Sadly the recently held “Delhi Slut Walk” didn’t have that much effect. People refrained from it and the event was looked at as mere entertainment rather than a protest of the women who want to be respected and deserve their freedom of expression whether through their dressing or lifestyle.

 

People say that the government does not deserve to steal our money. True. But what gives the same people the right to steal a woman’s right of expression? What gives you the right to declare that a woman wearing shorts is less dignified than a woman in a saree?

 

Since the issue of money has been raised then its time you answer some questions related to some of our forms of income too. Why is it that when foreigners come to our country they pay 100 times more than what we pay for something? If you would have been treated the same way you would have created a lot of hue and cry over it. Even our own cabs, rickshaws, autos and shops charge them more than what we are. Is it because their currency value is higher than ours? But then what gives you the right to decide that since he/she is earning more he should pay more?

 

The people plan to clean the government but refuse to look at themselves. The excuse might be that it’s ok, it’s not a big amount, it happens but then isn’t that a form of corruption too? How come no one says anything about that? The message that comes across is that the government cannot steal but the daily earners can in the form of overcharging highly paid people. Well what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong. You want to clean the top? Start from below.

 

The protest for passing the Jan Lokpal Bill has maximum supporters from the middle class and the lower income group. Walk into any market in Delhi and you will see the same people trying their best to swindle a tourist. On what basis is that done? How  come it does not drill in the fact that he/she is doing the same thing that he/she iscomplaining about? Stealing!!

 

As a friend of mine who visited our country recently says: "We were very frustrated in your country about the state of corrupton of natives minds an way of being conditioned.Nothing,the most simple and otherwise natural things could not be done without corrupting someone.From leaving your shoes out at a a temple to obtain a train-ticket,or even access to the internet.I am not afraid of any situation,but this time I felt under pressure and treated all the time, I had no idea what else I was expected to give for anything I already payed for.This kind of greed comes from,but cannot be justified by poorness anymore.If Anna's campain is a true one,not only a well-disgused manouvre for power,he should be talking out for the ending moral corruption ,too...why would people in the government be different?It is realy true that the same people running around now crying his name out would ruthlessly take away all my money,if they get the chance,abusing even more the fact that I am a woman,and a foreign woman who needs even less respect."

 

That is the image we send across. Our thoughts, values, living, understanding and taste are all corrupted in one way or the other. But instead of dwelling into it we decided to take the easy way out and start government bashing all over again. It’s very easy, after all every government in a democracy is one that the citizens openly love to hate.

 

The current protest is a leap forward without having cleared the other hurdles in between. We have other forms of corruption to deal with within ourselves before we start pointing fingers. How many people in the protest can claim that they have never cheated, lied, eve teased, passed lewd comments on women or stolen some one else’s rights?

 

The protest looks like a mockery of the nation. Its like a gang of small fry have come together to take on the big ones. A gang which is corrupt within certain limits taking on another which has set higher limits of corruption. Ultimately, small or big it is a battle of the corrupt against the corrupt. You say money is the root of all evil. Then I say that you should not complain about monetary corruption because the government is doing you a big favour by taking away a large burden of evil off your shoulders upon them.

 

I respect Anna Hazare and the cause. But will not join the huge parade till it’s decided that we remove all forms of corruption one-by-one. Till then I will watch and read the news for more speeches, dialogues, plots and entertainment. Have a coffee and a good laugh as the issue has become more entertaining then any flick in the box office right now.