Corrup-tion or Corrupt-kaun?

Disclaimer : The writer has not read much about the Lokpal Bill, for which the whole ‘revolution’ is on. These are just views about what the writer has been wondering past few days, looking at number of invitations he got from different people, either through sms or on facebook.

So yes. It’s been what, some 3-4 days since Anna Hazare has been on every newspaper’s headlines, every news channel’s Breaking News, many’s facebook profile wall and updates, not to forget about sms asking to give a miss call on a particular number to support the cause.

I have no issues with the man who has started his fast, and I suppose it’s still on (am not keeping me updated on this news). The only issue I have is with the kind of people who’re supporting it. I think of going anywhere around VT and then people say it’ll be all jammed ‘coz of the rallies happening, supporting the cause. Last night while cycling at Marine Drive I noticed these youth, bunch of some 50-70 in all, donning the Nehru-topi on their heads with placards in their hands and screaming something, which I failed to understand.

From what little I’ve read in the newspaper, this ‘revolution’ is for the Lokpal Bill, to fight against corruption in the government. Fair enough. Awesome, rather. Someone is fighting for it at least. But the way people have been taking it up, portraying it, giving support to it, this blog is for all them.

You’re supporting the cause to remove corruption in the government. And you’re joining the cause only ‘coz it’s on someone else, the government in this case. I totally agree, we need to do that. But before all this, I want to know who’ll have not been corrupt themselves? My only point is, before you point the finger to someone else; at least make sure you yourself are clean.

I’ll take this example. How many of you have driving licences? Ok, I assume around 80-90% of the people reading this have it. So, how many of you have acquired the licence by giving a driving test? Ah! I see hardly peanuts who said yes to my second question. Why is that so? You got your licence without appearing for driving test? Got it done through an agent? I’ve heard of friends who’ve got done with their licence without being physically present.
Ok, I’ll take another example. You jumped a signal and a traffic cop catches you. How many of you have paid him Rs 50 to put in his pocket, so that he doesn’t register your licence with the offence? I see quite many of you agreeing to have done this. How many of you have given donations to get admission in a college? Quite a few, again.

The point I want to make is, yes, corruption exist in the government. But it does outside as well. That corruption happens between you and me, or between each one of us. Why don’t you fight against this? First have a conscience of not being a corrupt yourself, then try to put the blame on the government, ‘coz if the government has been corrupt it’s because there’ve been people like you and me who’ve always fulfilled their wishes by proving with little favours of money.

Well, that’s the little I wanted to say. Again I’ll say, have not read about the crusade happening around, which I will soon, and also that I have absolutely no issues with what is going on. The critic in me has only come out looking at people who’re supporting it.

That’s all.

When the cheers are loud, the whole world will take note.

...and a lot about it has been written, clicked, said and discussed about. Few small things I too had in my mind and wanted to share with the world. It’s what have noticed around, on two accounts. Something that has been in front of our eyes in the recent past, but without any connections for many.

Next morning had my board exam, but still something crazy caught my head and I was at Marine Drive at 11:30-12. Most of the 3 km stretch had people, from young to old, holding the tricolour in their hand or painted on their face, having the country’s name on their tongue (...and in some cases, the neighbouring country’s name too, for obvious reasons.) It took me around 45 mins to cover the distance which usually happens in 10 mins.

Then it was yesterday again. A chronicle moment. Cheers, jumps, hugs, dance. Ah, and the claps with whistles. Did I forget the fire-crackers? Then yes, that too. Unaware of what to do after the big screen + projector went off, six of us decided to do a dandi-march to Marine Drive, again. And with the quarter of mumbai’s population to be expected there, we were better prepared. Didn’t take any kind of vehicle and walking was the best mode of transport.

The scene wasn’t any different than what had seen few days ago. People from all sorts of background were there. None of them knew the other, or in many cases, everyone was a stranger. But every single soul had one single emotional feeling common with every single stranger over there. And if one known face among the throng of unknown people, then the happiness moment was cherry on top!

We had just about to reach the Air-India building and noticed these few bikers honking. Man! The tune of the honking was the very same thing that was in everyone’s mind. It was like they were providing the background music to our cheers. * people taking part in Polaris’s Junkapella, please make a note! :P * The bikers got a compliment right away from all six of us, and must’ve been by many on the road at that moment.

Once at the Marine Drive, we got busy in observing different people’s creative expressions to make a distinct mark on the happiness among others. A biker carrying huge replica of the cup to people having mad face paints, a sardar uncle in tricolour turban to around ten people sitting on a car’s roof while it’s in motion. It sure was a party with the theme of Light Blue, if the tricolour was not an option. And it was on the road. For the first time vehicles were planning to opt the footpath instead of the roads. They couldn’t help missing all the empty space on the roads. And strangers were talking to each other. Laughing, hugging, cheering, shouting, screaming all in unison. One of those few moments where the internal clashes were the least priority on their mind. The only priority they had was the other person was from the same nation. It is this moment which all the patriotic songs wishes to witness. And also, looking at all this, a close friend KaMa said, “Looking at the atmosphere, I wonder if the amount of tricolour and togetherness among the country people that we’re witnessing now comes to reality on any of other patriotic days!!!”

People were trying to break all possible records. Of the civic sense. A two-wheeler carrying 3 people, and in some cases, 5 or 6, a four-wheeler carrying double their capacity, stuffed in like it’s a pick-up truck. Stopped their vehicle wherever they felt like. Played music at the top of the speakers and all the strangers joined in to dance. Oh, don’t worry, the police were right over there. Right from normal police to traffic police, rapid action force to the commando’s. No one seemed to mind the act, unless it created a huge ruckus. For the first time all the illegal civic sense made some sense to me at that moment. The moment was historic, and temporary too. So as long as it didn’t cause any serious harm to anyone, it wasn’t taken as an illegal act. You had to be there to understand why. Just a passing thought, I shared with my troupe, “If a foreigner lands up here who has no clue of the sport, will wonder if the situation like Libya and Iran has come down to the sub-continent.”

From one who’s who to other who’s who, it really didn’t matter. Everyone over there were waiting for this one bus carrying those 16 fortunate a game’s soldiers, who bled Light Blue on the battle-field, and helped the nation bleed too. Everyone else’s bus passed by. The soldiers on the opposing side’s too. Looking at the situation outside the perimeter of their bus, they didn’t know what emotion to be in, whether to feel the joy around or distress for not able to live upto their countrymen’s expectation. But many of them had smiles on their face, appreciating the host’s efforts. A sportsman spirit. Well appreciated.

Time passed by, and everyone wondered where are the most awaited people’s bus. And none of us was bothered about anything else. That’s when, an interaction with one of the security personnel, we come to know that that one bus which we’ve been wanting to see had taken another route and reached their destination long ago, to avoid the large crowd gathering for a smooth ride. And as soon as we heard this, we realized that it’s way too late in the night (it was 2 o’clock), realized that each one of us had terrible pain in legs, realized haven’t had dinner (or anything else for that matter) the whole night till then and that every situation from now on will be tough. No vehicle to carry us back home, so had to walk with the pain. Everyone had informed to their folks that will have dinner at home once back. So all of us were wondering, the food will be on the dining table, all cold and it’s a terrible point to reheat it and consume it. Thought this case was with me only, but my troupe were in similar situations too!

Somehow crossed all the hurdles and silently welcomed the dream world with only one thing in mind, tomorrow’s morning will definitely be skipped without experiencing it. And once awake, this one word was still replaying in my head...

INDIAAAAA....INDIA!!!

PS: For those who are still in a fix wondering to what context this blog is about, here’s a little update. The chronicle moment was that India won the cricket world cup 2011 tournament against Sri-Lanka at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The second one, after 1983. Now read the whole blog again to understand emotionally!

Cheers!