Anna Movement

People Vs Power

Setting Perspective Right

Debate that began with Jan Lokpal got gradually translated in social movement against rampant corruption. Agreed that corruption connotes very many things, and it is well neigh unthinkable that one man’s fast could have weeded it out from the face of country entirely. Nonetheless, it is only due to such initiatives taken by man of character and proven credibility that hope flickers among the masses that scope to fight through democratic means for seeking probity in public life is still there. This movement has played its limited yet very real role by giving a much-needed jolt to parliamentarians (not Parliament) that after winning elections and making it to positions of power, they must not sit ensconcing in cozy comforts till next elections. Instead, they need to deliver goods in right spirit of people’s aspirations, by keeping in touch with ground reality, that too, in a transparent and accountable manner. Yet it remains in the womb of future whether political class takes it positively or not? But the jolt was real; this was evidently proven in parliament. Parliamentarians across party lines appeared shaken while they spoke in parliament on Saturday. This jolt couldn’t have been delivered effectively had the advocates of Jan-Lokpal not been as well versed in constitutional provisions and related intricacies, as our political masters. It is due to such competence of now famed Team-Anna that during these dozen of days government fumbled, right from the beginning, when they arrested Anna Hazare and got exposed many times over, part of credit for the success of this unprecedented democratic mobilization goes to media too, specially electronic media which played a role in involving urban middle class in it which is so much frustrated with price rise, unemployment, and many more slow moving processes of governance that results in blocking of common aspirations of people. In extending their support to Jan-Lokpal and expressing their solidarity with Team-Anna, they found an opportunity to vent their ire in a creative, peaceful and matured democratic style. It is a fact that ‘leading participants’ in this movement were urban middle classes, yet it involved one and all. At this point I cannot remain but to mention that media especially electronic media should also need to rethink about its responsibility! Whether it’s role is limited to keep the glare of their cameras, focusing only on ‘their’ perceived audiences having requisite purchasing power and aiming the ad-pie or it has to play an educative and more down to earth role also. If we discuss it in details, which we need to, yet in this piece that would be digression from the subject in hand, hint should suffice.  

As things stand toady, it remains yet to be seen what will happen to Jan- Lokpal despite having passed the resolution by accepting three main conditions. As law making, specially phrasing is a tedious process wherein even a single comma changes the meaning i.e. its interpretation. Nonetheless, Anna has already made his contribution to the cause of nation successfully. And he has done so not on one count but many. I feel his foremost contribution lie in breaking the myth, that in current times of 24X7 media coverage, people vent their ire before the screen, sitting in their homes, they do not come out in streets to express solidarity; howsoever plausible the cause be. Anna has demolished ‘this’ theory propounded and circulated by vested interests that peaceful democratic mobilizations or social movements have become almost extinct world over. He has proved that people not only came out to express solidarity but they maintained their peace throughout, and remained restraint also. It is a kind of affirmation of the nation to itself that it is matured, secular and vibrantly democratic. And Anna Hazare deserves credit for his courage to believe in himself as well as in innate quality of people of this country to separate chaff from the grain under all circumstances. He in a sense gave solid reaffirmation to people about them that given a credible leadership they can match step for step with him or her in spearheading peaceful movement,that unlike, current dispensation of political leadership they have not forgotten Gandhian values. 

A section of intelligentsia was seen murmuring over the legitimacy of fast as a means to democratic protest for pressing ones point. They said it was tantamount to taking parliament to ransom. Interestingly, this section is of the opinion that means applied (read fast) by Anna Hazare would have been apt, had (as opposed to elected government) there been an imperial power ruling our country. This view is not only bleakly myopic but against very democratic spirit also. No need to say that even in democracies people in power are seen behaving as arrogantly as even emperors would have found difficult to behave. It is high time people in power realizes it. There is no alternative to character. Be it democracy or imperialism these remain mere words until we infused meaning in them by our actions. Despite inherited political systems beyond our control and our individual positions both, the way we exercise ourselves -that alone gives meaning to life and words. I would suggest before passing the verdict they should think why the need for such an extreme step (yes, extreme) has risen? Why an upright person like Anna had to revert to it? Political scientist should definitely ponder over the prevailing state of political consciousness among people and lack of conscientiousness among establishmentarians.

 Let there be no doubt in anybody’s mind that democracy is our first choice and it must be also. This being undisputed bottom line, we shouldn’t forget that solutions to the problems of democracy is more democracy, not authoritarianism. However, arising the necessity to choose between conceding public space to democratic dissent and exercising state authority to cut dissent to size in the name of law and order; weighing of options is important. Contemplation of punitive action by one set of privileged people sitting in positions of power and parroting threat to parliamentary democracy as rhetorical justification for cracking down against another set of public spirited people raising their voice for corruption free governance and more democracy, would certainly not have gone down the throat of common man so easily, more so in current times when corruption is writ large on the face of government. Therefore, in all times before taking any harsh action, it must be made clear to the nation, whether such an authority (read government) still carrying moral vitality to go ahead and crush a movement by terming it unlawful. Had government done so again, it would have reduced merely to its legal skeletal frame of law enforcing agency in the eyes of public. This being the case, government needs to remind itself that Anna Hazare and people galvanized around the cause he is fighting for are not criminals, least said better understood.

 Politicians cutting across all the party lines need to remember, claim to power in a democracy is essentially moral. It is better if they visualize winning an election as, just a systematic affirmation of confidence by voters in their leadership, at a point in time. Having won an election does not give them absolute power over the destiny of people. Being in public service is like being incessantly in camera. In every picture frame they must be seen standing tall with public and not in ruling/rival camp.  In democracies duty come first and not the authority. Instead of committing themselves to higher ideals of serving the nation, power mongers in the guise of politicians and bureaucrats, hiding behind seats of power, tend to use legitimate power for furthering their illegitimate self-serving purposes by somehow holding on to power.  Unfortunately, as compared to examples of politicians serving the nation in true spirit, instances of aforesaid nature have become conspicuous. In such a scenario, as individuals people have no choice but to face their day-to-day life bravely, until some mass movement happens and people galvanize to emphasize necessity for pressing reforms. On such occasions power mongers and peoples power come face to face in an intense manner. During such engagements common people realize reality and façade of welfare state. Current craving for a corruption free (read accountable) character of government, which has come to the fore by way of demand for a strong Lokpal is one such instance. Therefore, while handling secular issues, involving mobilization of public opinion, state power should be exercised not only in most democratic manner but also in democratic spirit (as opposed to arrogant and self righteous style) also. State apparatus is empowered by sanction of democratic authority, misusing it for crushing democratic spirit of the people by hiding behind veneer of election-earned power will be dishonest. Citing unpalatable reasons of erosion of democratic freedom at the hands of democratic dissenters may have catapulting effect. Powers that be better remember this in their own interest. Unfortunately while speaking in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi set the tone for appropriating brawny points, after that scenario turned in a free for all, all across the political parties to do the same. He has every right to have an opinion that he has but timing of voicing was wrong. He should have chosen his words more cautiously. Young leaders should stand up to aspirations of the people and not against them.

Nand Kishore Tiwari