Man is mortal but ideals are immortal. A man's voice can be suppressed but not his ideals. Ideals generally dont have the material force but when situation demands it becomes radical and subsequently a material force having capacity to overthrow the existing socio-political organization of the state.
The current turmoil within the ruling party was envisaged by Gandhiji way back. Gandhiji who has been revered as 'Political Guru' by Congress, had already lost faith in the Nehru's cabinet. He even proclaimed to dissolve it but his propositions were turned down. He didn't have faith in the British styled Parliamentarian system and wished to establish a direct democracy.
Congress got the rid of Gandhiji but Gandhism still haunts it. Both moderate and extremist revolutionaries fortold that the real independence would come only when the government is dedicated to safegaurd and promote the individual and common interests, society is corruption free and not divided in exploiters and exploited, dominants and dependents. The current social and political situation in India witnesses the resurrection of Gandhian soul by a veteran advocate of Gandhian School of thought, Anna Hazare, A Gandhian by belief, outlook and practice, whose ' Anti Corruption Campaign' is resonating across the nation. Governance in India was already sitting on a pile of explosives which just needed a spark. Common man is suppressed under the burden of exploitation, product of policies of Liberlization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG) mingled with the most severe form of corruption. Money is getting accumulated with certain privileged groups and common man is suffering with rising prices of even basic commodities necessary for his subsistence. Tension was getting accumulated and now the sudden unleash of that force is morally and ideologically violent and can topple the government anytime, a government in which politicians are not concerned with the individual and common interests of the society but are just interested in power and money.
The current revolution will also silent the critics of Gandhian principles. The force and effectiveness of Gandhism is manifested by the Anti corruption campaign. The struggle between the government and the Anna Hazare camp over the righteousness of means to pursue the ends of 'Corruption Free India' clearly demonstrates the ill-intentions of the ruling party. Gandhiji once said," If we take care of our means, end will take care of itself." Our means are based on 'Non violence and truth' whose righteousness is historically approved.
Over and over again government claims the actions of civil society as unconstituional. What ridicules me is that where were these 'strong exponents of constitutionalism who are seeking a strict adherence to the constitutional means', when their fellow ministers, or who knows they themselves, were exploiting the country's wealth and amassing it outside india, the wealth expropriated from common men for common good. They clearly know that passing such a bill will be self destructive for the congress and seems like decorating their own death procession. A peaceful Gandhian out of nowhere, with no political background who just few months back sat on a 'Fast unto death' for a public cause, can connect to the masses in such a holistic manner then why can't the Government, comprised of so called Electives. A common man must be educated for the exigency of such a bill. This will also in one way or other serve the view of Gandhiji of having a Direct Democracy, in which people can interfere in the vice and immoral actions of the Government. Lokpal bill needs to be institutionalized to give a voice to common man, for the quick recognition and redressal of his grievances. In my opinion, only then the true meaning of a democracy will be realized when junta will also have a voice in legislation.
An awesme experience it is to watch the millions of peaceful protesters, marching across the streets. This revoltuion will surely be counted as the most revered ones at the global scale after the Jayprakash Naraian's in the post independence era. When Indira Gandhi was found guilty of violating electoral laws by the Allahabad High Court, Narayan called for Indira to resign, and advocated a program of social transformation which he termed Sampoorna kraanti (Total Revolution). Instead she proclaimed a national Emergency on the midnight of June 25, 1975, immediately after Narayan had called for the PM's resignation and had asked the military and the police to disregard unconstitutional and immoral orders; JP, opposition leaders, and dissenting members of her own party were arrested on that day. Jayaprakash Narayan attracted a gathering of 100,000 people at the Ramlila Ground and thunderously recited Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar's wonderfully evocative poetry: Singhasan Khaali Karo Ke Janata Aaati Hai.
Today the situation is much more favourable to unearth the atrocities of the goverment. More educated Intelligensia, Middle class, revolutionized mass media has all become prime instruments to support such campaigns. More surprising is that intelligentsia within the government are not able to realize that gone are those days when corruption was executed under the nose of the common man due to lack of education and institutions. Now the situation has changed. Contemporary situation in India has radically changed. 'Aam Adami' knows his rights, his ends and means to achieve them. Government is busy in finding a way to somehow coerce the present revolution but easily discernible is the upcoming of such revolutions in near future over and again. Who knows the more violent ones!!
When Anna hazare was protesting for the RTI against the BJP and Shivsena they addressed Anna as 'Talibani Gandhian' and congress backed Anna. Now when he is protesting against congress, BJP is supporting. Country's youth is now fed up of watching this ball game between political parties. They say that its only the right of electives to propose a bill. Is this the vision of democracy our visionary founding forefathers had, when they contemplated a shining India deriving authority from people; The vision that in our democracy Junta's role comes into limelight only during elections? Once elections are over we need to shut up and see the game of political parties, supporting and accusing each other? Now the ball is in our court. so come out of your shells and protest wherever you can, in whatever peaceful way you can, for the sake of the corruption you faced in any walk of life, at any age, I'm sure which you must have had. Come forward at least for the sake of your duty to the country we live in. Make sure the non violence character of our revolt. Peaceful protest has always been an ornament of our motherland and will always be. Don't besmear it with the bloodshed.
We are at war, a war of position against the political hegemony imposed by ruling party due to its parilamentarian majority. Famous Italian political Philosopher Antonio Gramsci's theory of a War of Position and a War of Manoeuvre against the cultural hegemony can be realized. An oppressed and exploited common man increases class consciousness, teach revolutionary theory and historical analysis, and thus propitiate further revolutionary organisation among the social classes. Leaders like Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev has waged a war of position by raising the consciousness of common citizens of the state against the exploitation of corruption. On winning the war of position, leaders would then have the necessary social power and popular support to begin the political manoeuvre revolutionary warfare. We are at war of position and government should realize not to let it transform into war of manoeuvre.
Time has come when other supporters of this noble cause like Baba ramdev and others should call upon all their supporters to seize the capital peacefully by instrumenting civil disobedience. Alongwith Non Violence, instrument of civil disobedience should be put into action. Bureaucrats, Police and other steel framework of the government, should stop executing the immoral orders and stop the functioning of the government. All the film stars and other cultural figures should come forward to support such campaign by arousing the patriotism. A time when many middle east countries are paralyzed with the revoultionary insurgency and bloodshed, our peaceful revolution has taught the world again the way to protest. Let's show the world that this is Gandhiji's land. If we can fill the stadiums in thousands to watch an IPL match, can't we take a day off and support this revolution. If we can come on the streets with unprecedented exuberance to celebrate India's victory in world cup then why cant we come forward for such a noble campaign. Wold cup is over and all its effects are gone with the days but our future depends on this revolution. My strong conviction is we have got a vent by Anna Hazare's "Anti Corruption Campaign" to relase our frustration built over a long period of time. Let's make the Anna's voice stronger," Pass the Janlokpal bill or QUIT."
So far we have just interpreted and criticized the multi dimensional corruption pervaded in all walks of our political structure, now the point is to change it. Its now or never. We have waited for many decades. Do you want to wait for another 60 years hoping for a Messiah? Choice is yours.
- Saurabh
"The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people."
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