Most NRIs settled abroad have a very simplistic or let me dare to say “neutral” view towards the Indian politics. It is because most of us carry don’t-care-any-more attitude since it no longer affects us directly or at least it seems to be so for the moment. It is also because most of us just hate politics and the politicians. Let us agree on it.
For ages, the politicians have managed to rule and loot the country because there has been hardly any challenge thrown to them by the system making it easier for them to continue to be irresponsible and unaccountable. There have been so many scams over the past decade or so that they have just become a part of an ordinary indian’s life. They just seem to come and go as the seasons of summer and winters do. To name a few: 2G scam, CWG scam, Adarsh Scam etc. See the ever growing list of scams here.
However for the first time in post-independence era, people have started challenging them. The social activists, Anna Hajare and Arvind Kejriwal, have led a strong wave of anti-corruption movement in the country for the past one year and it has gained enough momentum to challenge the govt. Some might question the honesty and integrity of the people who are involved in it like Hajare and Kejriwal, but let us not forget the issue that they are fighting for – enacting a strong anti-corruption law in the country to weed out corruption from every damn thing – A janlokpal bill. Isn’t something like that need of the hour for our motherland? Let us accept that finally we are fighting for something above caste, religion and regional politics. If we agreed on the “mudda or issue”, then let us do something about it.
At times when we do want to do something for the country, the question of “HOW” pulls us down. What can I do? We believe that, we all can be a great force in this movement. But How?
Here is a simply way to contribute. As we have seen so far, the government is very afraid of people’s awareness. They would have never even thought about any anti-corruption law had Anna Group not put enough pressure on them. Govt. has introduced a very weak lokpal bill , rightly termed as JOKEPAL in the parliament to diffuse the movement. A lot remains to be done and the remaining work will not be done until the government sees a real pressure coming from the society and that too from the educated and aware echelons of the society. The government has tried all its best to diffuse this movement in many ways already. This is where all of us can play a significant and direct role by making people aware about this whole movement. When you talk to someone on this Janlok pal issue, the very first reaction is neutral and don’t-care type. We can make our friends and family aware about this whole movement and this chain will continue and ultimately become a strong force.
Now WHY? Simply because we should care for it. Let us not have an escapist attitude towards this. Let us face it. We landed up here because we had no equivalent/better opportunities in our own country at that time and that was so because the rulers didn’t work to create those opportunities for us. They rather created scams after scams. And also because we didn’t do anything to make them accountable then. One more chance for us?
Let us believe in awareness. Let us do our part towards a corruption free India. Let us do a bit of it on 65th Independence Day of India and be counted. Can we?
Happy 65th Independence Day
JAI HIND
Anand Kumar
AZ India Editorial Board