2011: The Year of Anna Hazare

Whether one likes it or not, the year 2011, now at its end point, will be remembered in India as the year of Anna Hazare.

His movement, commencing with his first fast andolan in April this year is a very major movement having a lot of implications for our democracy. After dragging the issue for about forty years and eight abortive attempts, the country is going to have a LOK PAL in place. Only its form and its efficacy could be the debating points. Full credit goes to Anna and Team Anna.

A lot of writings have since been seen both for and against his Jan Lok Pal Bill and his methods of achieving his objective. Nonetheless, he has been able to bring a crucial issue to the center stage of our body politic. He has been able to garner support from every section of society. Particularly, the youth of our country.

Having said this one must not overlook the fact as to who is really responsible for corruption per se. Mainly, it is the so-called middle class, which is ever ready to pay bribe – if bribe only, is to be taken as the definition of corruption in the present scenario.

Corruption, of course is much more than only greasing the palms of various babus. In fact, any unethical behavior or action comes under the purview of corruption. It takes place only when people allow it to happen.

Many, during the first phase of Annaji’s fast had taken oaths of not giving any bribe. It would have been a great service to Indian society if somebody had taken the pains to collect data about bribes during these last intervening seven months if not for anything else but to see whether both the bribe takers as well as bribe givers are fearful or not!

The next thing which one feels is the fact that there are existing laws, rules and regulations which, if followed and allowed to be followed, not only lower the instances of corruption but even eradicate them.

For example, the current imprisonments of highflying individuals have taken place without any Lok Pal in place. This, however, is not to undermine the importance of having a LokPal.

While giving full credit to Anna ji and his team, the only thing which has not been fair on their part is the fact that as time passes, one gets the feeling that only one political party has been its target.

Likewise, there is also a case for the supremacy of our parliament in making and enacting laws. Similarly, there may arise debating points if one takes up provisions of the so called Jan Lok Pal Bill drafted by them. There is no end.

Be that as it may, let the movement started by Anna Hazare be given a permanent shape of a crusade by enlarging its scope to include every evil and short comings prevailing in our body politic. Every mohalla should join this crusade by acting as a ‘watch dog’.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflectUdaipurtimes.com’s policy.

Article by: (ex-Commander) Mansoor Ali Bohra