Many had labelled the terms and conditions of the Lokpal Bill, as envisaged by eminent people of the civil society,as utopia. Now that the bill is almost on the verge of seeing the light of the day without any major change in the civil society stance, it has got cynics wagging their tongues. They are sceptical about how the bill would make any signigicant change in a country where corruption has seeped deep into the DNA of its people. No doubt corruption is the sole antagonist in our democracy. Only time will tell whether the bill would have any positive outcome in a country which is corruption infested bottom up and inside out. It's too early to discuss the sucess and the failure of the bill.
However, in our cynicism, we are overlooking a very important factor that made this revolution not only a success but the focal point of every dining table discussion and serious political deliberations.
A democracy can function in it's true spirit only when citizens are aware of their rights and sensitive towards their duties. Unfortunately in India, the world's largest democracy, this has never been true. The right to vote might seem to be a veto power in the hands of citizens to topple an ineffiecient government within a span of five yearrs. But lack of political mobilisition, awareness and illiteracy have reduced the right to vote to a mere formality, where people at best are participating in the decision making process in a passive manner. Add to this the money and muscle power that rule our electoral system and the political milieage gained by manipulating religious sentiments of people.All you get is a farce in the name of democracy.
And why blame just the political class. The educated elite basking in the glory of India's rapid economic growth and the disillusioned urban youth entangled in a mess of foreign dreams and westernisation didn't help the cause of this rotting system. Safe and sound in their own cocoons, they just wanted to have one big fat party. But things couldn't have gone on like this forever. In the past one year a series of scams have been unearthed. Every expose was followed by vigorous attempts of cover up. All this not only damaged the credibility of the government irreparably but also took a toll on the ever-complacent attitude of Indian masses. And when we are seeing live footages of revolution raging across the Middle-East, could the fever of being rebellious and turn a little dissident escaped us?
The run up to the governments relenting to accept the Lokpal Bill, saw people turning out in hoards. It was simply the reflection of the changing psyche of a newly awakened India. Coupled with the frenzy created by media, it seemed as if India has been transported to some different era. And what was noteworthy, was the diversity of protesters who had gathered at Jantar Mantar. From safai Karamacharis to educated elite, from students to professionals, from house wives to school children, every strata of the society shared the same platform, without any grudge or disdain for each other. Economic and social background became irrelevant. Each individual, each group and each community merged with each other unhesitantly. Afterall they were the victims of the same system.
No one can predict the future of the Anti-corruption Bill. But the fact that the whole of India stood up as one unit for a cause in so many years, is a reason enough to celebrate. So, today the cynics can shut up!!! Let this incredulous moment sink in. Let this be the beginning of a new era, a new India.
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