I have been called Anna's supporter (happen to be wearing black), an elitist, a corporate-type, leftist, moderate and an anarchist - all in the same morning. Its very easy to label - isn't it?
At Churchgate station today, a mass of people were shouting slogans - Anna hum tumhare saath hain, humare sir par tumhara haath hai, anna kee jai - bharat mata kee jai, atyachaar nahin chalegaa, lokpal bill nahin rukegaa. I stopped an 18 year old, who was falling on the side and the conversation went like this:
Me: Topee kaafee acchhee hai tumhari, kisne dee?
He: Anna hazare ke baare mein nahin suna aapne?
Me: Suna hai par topee kisne dee?
He: Hum log shaakha se hain
Me: Kaun see shaakha?
He: Shiv Sena
Me: Oh! Acchaa..ye naaraa kiske liye laga rahe hain?
He: Anna ke liye?
Me: Anna ke liye kyun?
He: Wo fasting kar raha hai na
Me: Kis liye fasting kar raha hai?
He: Bill paas karne ke liye..paper nahin padha? bahargaon se ho aap?
Me: Padha..par bill mein kya hai?
He: Wo nahin padha apun.. par anna ne likha hai..gareebon ke liye acchaa hoga..
Earlier in the local, in ladies compartment:
Woman 1 : Everyone's wearing black..
Woman 2: (Looking at me) You are supporting anna hazare?
Me: (quizzical expression)
Woman 2: You are wearing black no..so thought you must be a anna supporter
Woman 3: My daughter had the entire house on her head..said I want my black jeans. That I had sent for washing. I told her wear blue jeans..what difference would it make? Anna wont stop fasting because of her jeans no?
Woman 1: All are going mad at this..first make basics right no..this train is so crowded, they should start more trains..
Woman 2: Who has time for all this..i don't have time even to die ("marne ke liye bhee time nahin hai)
Woman 3: Yes..it looks like a fashion statement..anna hazare has become a hero..
Conversation with my maid on the phone today:
Me: Aaj aa nahin rahe ho phir se?
Maid: Traffic boht hai..anna hazare ka wajah se
Me: Tum to chal ke aatee ho
Maid: Haan par idhar bastee mein sab udhar hee jaa re hain..main kaise aaoon?
Me: Matlab?
Maid:wo morcha nikala hai..nashta veestaa hoga..udhar ko jaa rahee hoon main..
I am not against Anna Hazare or the Lokpal Bill. Am against the sheer ignorance that is going into this. What is Lokpal Bill? What are the revisions in the bill? How will it be implemented? Why haven't previous provisions put into the constitution/ laws to curb corruption worked so far? How will Lokpal address the loopholes of these previous provisions? What are the other ways that need to go into the system or form a part of the system that will aid an anti-corruption drive? Can this mass uprising be not about Anna Hazare but about the cause? Can we stop blaming the Govt. and own 'anti-corruption' at an individual level?
The above are just some of the questions that we need to be asking, answering and discussing. For anybody who is really interested in making a difference, I would urge you to make yourself aware and also others around you.I am not talking about intellectiual masterbation. Just plain and simple what, how, when, where and why of corruption, of lokpal bill, of the movement that is. And as a friend rightly said - lets talk about this not only amongst us but also with people who might not have access/ inclination to the information that we have.
Lastly, do go light a candle - but do so with a complete awareness of what it stands for.Else, its just another charade really.
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