Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity. The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

If you don't create change, change will create you. Change starts when someone sees the next step and the first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance. Many fine things can be done in a day if you don't always make that day tomorrow. You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action.

Sometimes it's the smallest decisions with larger aims that can change the lives of many. If our attempts can at least become a spark. We are really grateful and the TEAM can proudly proclaim ‘MISSION ACCOMPLISHED’.

If you can LEND A HELPING HAND for the advancement of our country and its people be part of our ENDEAVOR.


Wednesday, August 31, 2011

ANNA rings the bell--- INDIA AWAKENS



ANNA-- THE NEW AUDACIOUS PHENOMENON OF INDIA
By : Arjun.R.Shankar
The parliament of India has unanimously approved the key elements of Jan Lokpal Bill. The anti graft crusader, the new sensational Anna Hazare has finally ended his 288 hours fast. His travails have spread across the world and in many countries he has been christened as the ‘New Gandhi’. The western media says that the New Gandhi has shaken India. The Daily Telegraph refers him as the ‘Born again Gandhian’. 
According to the resolution a Lokpal Bill shall be passed by parliament in the ongoing session of parliament which will set up an independent Lokpal at the centre and independent Lokayukta on same model in each state.  Lokpal shall have jurisdiction over all government servants (barring judicial officers) at the centre and Lokayukta shall have jurisdiction over all public servants in the state. All govt. departments are required to make ‘Citizens Charter' and the inclusion of Lower Bureaucracy under the Lokpal through an appropriate mechanism. 

The victory was very hard fought and it’s the real triumph of Indian Democracy. The parliament has gracefully accepted and acknowledged the aspirations of the people. By this, the parliament of India has displayed its sagacity and maturity in handling complicated issues with utmost precision and integrity. The Anna Hazare phenomenon has transcended boundaries of the country and brought innumerable people from different walks of life to organize and agitate for a common cause. This phenomenal attraction of the people and the support rendered in such magnitude must have been last witnessed during the time of Gandhiji. This is the real reflection of unity in diversity. Modern India represents the largest democracy in the world within a seamless picture of unity in diversity unparalleled anywhere else. According to Anna Hazare this is only a break and he will continuously fight till they achieve a change in the system that has disparity between the rich and the poor. He declared that Electoral Reforms, issues of decentralization of power, educational reforms, labour and farmers issue his next agendas. 

It’s heartening to see that the whole issue of framing a strong Lokpal was not used by the opposition to score brownie points and dilute the real and genuine causes. Even though the govt. has agreed to form an effective Lokpal, one wonders in spite of the public outrage against corruption how could the govt. prepare a fractured bill and table it in the parliament? People always demanded stern and robust action against corruption and not a glorified smokescreen. And the victory gained is also the victory of the civil society and reveals their influence on the law making process. 
Even in the present system there are microscopic minorities who are against the sentiments of the people and see the political arena and official power as their prerogative to extract money and accelerate their personal mileage. It’s crystal clear that the interests of the people are overshadowed by many other vested interests and the govt. is trying to protect that and the previous governments also had to protect this. There are strong interests that have become a super structured bloc over the time that makes the govt. kneel and succumb to pressure every time. Prime Minister willingness to put the position under the purview of the will was finally overruled due to many reasons. This bears the testimony to this strong super structure bloc that wants impropriety to rule in the name of established procedures and laws. 

Every system has such a super structure and it’s a true fact that such blocs have grown in epic proportions and  enjoy a superior and tremendous clout. This super structure should be broken and even they know that a strong Lokpal will be the end of them.  Such vested interest leads to corruption which in turn leads to failing governance which in turns leads to underdevelopment, chronic poverty and unemployment. An effective Lokpal should be able to tackle corruption and break this super structured bloc and rejuvenate the governance mechanisms. 

The whole episode is the reminder that Gandhian thoughts and methods can still efficiently work in today’s complicated world and parallels in other parts of the world proves that violence only creates discords and chaos. The mettle and merits of one of the strongest weapons of the world, Satyagraha and non violence has been proved beyond doubts. Satyagraha as an ideal and as a great weapon will always continue to invigorate and inspire the generations to come to achieve goals for the human welfare. Another remarkable feature is the participation of the youth of the country who generally were only united by cricket and world cups. Usually sports was one of the strong binding forces of our country. The ANNA phenomenon has suddenly replaced that.  


But this time a national cause has overshadowed it and the youth of our country has awakened and took pride in thronging the streets with the sole aim of creating a corrupt free society. Common people like never before are aware of the corruption in the country and they had carried the rage inside their heart to the streets. It seems that a good activist culture has developed in our country with strict adherence to non violence.
        
Even after 64 years of independence, the country has not achieved the desired sets of rights and freedom and the real independence. The whole country in this Independence day like every other year acknowledged and remembered the great leaders and people who valiantly fought against the oppression of British yoke and yet years after that, is there are an end to oppression and indifference?  Please ask this question to yourselves. Now one of the biggest hurdles for the country is massive corruption that has deeply penetrated into every rungs of the society. The real challenge is to get rid of it.

The people cannot expect that the whole corruption will vanish over a night on its own. It’s not natural phenomena it’s purely a created one and the people are not demanding magic from the govt. They should acknowledge the hard situations which the common people face every day and end their blatant support to this indifference and corruption. Let this victory become a great beginning and a first step to end corruption. 

8 comments:

  1. Its feels good to read a well-written article.Keep up the good work. :)
    The unity and fervor displayed by the citizens against corruption is very heartening.The awakening of the youth was joyful to watch. The projection of the Lokpal Bill as the savior of the people against corruption by the civil society is a bit disappointing.
    Yes,it is a step in the right direction.But a lot of questions need to be answered.Will it be of any use without strengthening the existing laws and system?I'm surprised that the talented 'Civil Society' members never demanded anything other than the Lokpal Bill in their fight against corruption.Is the Lokpal not susceptible to corruption?What if the same super-bloc takes control of the Lokpal,if PMs can be dolls,why not Lokpal members?Nothing is mentioned about corruption in the Private Sector other than blacklisting companies.Why will the Private NGOs not come under the purview of Lokpal?(Its interesting to note that some NGOs are monitored even by agencies like the Intelligence Bureau).Many questions need to be answered,hope the Standing Committee does a good job.
    A change in mentality is the need of the hour.Ignorance and feebleness of the people to tackle corruption in day-to-day life should be despised.

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  2. Arjun...

    Though Iam not an ardent supporter of ANNA HAZARE, I liked your article. The 2nd para is highly informative.

    Besides, the whole write up gives an overview of the ANNA phenomenon that has spread across INDIA.

    I think we need to look at Anna’s campaign on two different perspectives: Gandhian and Ambedkar(this has been pointed out by many and so it is not my invention).

    I adhere to Ambedkar’s view that means like Satyagraha and civil disobedience are strictly unconstitutional and are real threats to the democratic functioning of the system. As Ambedkar himself pointed out, it could have been justified when there were no adequate constitutional provisions available(say, in pre-independent India).

    It is the aura which the popular media created that made Anna’s (social movement) this popular. A Gandhian facade was strong enough to exploit the inherently emotional Indians. But it remains ironical why Irom Sharmila seldom find place in those hearts!

    I do admit that we need stringent legislation to deal with the menace of corruption. But, we can’t afford it to be at the cost of democracy.

    Of course, the final result is a triumph for democracy. But the ways were not. This is one juncture where i find the ideals of Bhagavadgita imperfect...

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  3. Arjun,

    Unlike a lot of articles written about anna and his satyagraha, your article maintains a pitch of neutrality and brings in an academic analytics to the entire issue...You seem to have no prejudices and you also appear to posess a sense of rationality and keen understanding of Indian democracy and it's ascents and descents..Though personally i ma not a fan of the methods adopted by him, It is was a pleasure reading your articles..keep up the good work.! God bless. :)

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  4. hi arjun,
    Very gud article and filled with optimism....Whether there will be a real change after this Jan Lokpal bill is implemented, whether a common man gets some relief from the corruption prone system is to be seen in future....as mentioned above there are chances that Lokpal bill itself is susceptible to corruption...
    In spite of all these, we r lucky to witness the '2nd non-violent movement' powered by this social activist and the impact that it made on our government. I could feel the power of people coming together, though many of them may not know the full technical details of JanLokpal bill. It is simply that we have found an anchor, a platform to raise our voice against the corruption. (Power really corrupts!!!). As u have said the democracy is still very much alive and this movement has only reinforced that.....
    All said, as Visakh has mentioned, we should not forget the 10-year-long struggle of the 'iron lady of Manipur.'
    Deepa.

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  5. i found this interesting blog and Many thanks for making the sincere effort to explain this. I feel fairly strong about it and would like to read more.

    Thanks & Regards.
    Akhilesh
    Admission procedure in canadian college

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging.

    Thanks

    Admission Procedure in Canadian College

    ReplyDelete
  7. superbly written article....we can see a great columnist in making

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  8. ...Its of no doubt that The Anna Hazare and his team has made the nation to think more seroiusly about the growing threat of curruption which is nw prelevant in allmost all sectors..
    Dear Arjun Bro....Ur article was very informative and was special because of its neutrality...well done....keep writing....

    ReplyDelete