Ramdev's Babagiri And Other Related Issues - What's the Stir?

I keep thinking about what we would tell our children of our times as young people of the nation, once we grow old. One thing is sure that they will ask us about what really happened because these times are such that there is going to be a lot changed in near future, and by the time we grow old, we might look back to incidents that defined the backdrop of our youth. Now the question is - would we look at these days as a glorious past or would we be laughing at ourselves thinking what idiots we really were?

There is some stirring and unease in the nation today. I won't say it is a revolution in making because as a people Indians are too confused to know what they really want, and a revolution demands a clarity of objective. This quality of being confused is really a good thing if peace is something that one holds dear. Ideology is one thing, but seriously it's better if we leave all the revolutions in Europe's history as a part only of Europe's history. However these are interesting times in India itself. For the past few decades I have never seen young population of this country come out on streets for a cause, or at least not since I was born. Politics and social domain seemed only meant for people past 50 years of age. And though I find it extremely immature and juvenile, the way they do it now, it's still quite moving to see people of my age, the youth of the nation take part in a change that they desire to bring about.

I said that the youth is quite immature and juvenile in it's approach and I shall justify my words. But first, to make it clear, such immaturity is not to be held against the up-takers of a movement because having woken up after decades of ignorant sleep one is bound to be a bit clumsy and disoriented before completely being a part of the daily life. But eventually a small visit to toilet makes one perfectly fit to hold responsibility for the day.

I remember quite clearly how we took sides with anybody who seemed to be giving words to our feelings regardless of their credibility or sincerity or background. That was when we were entering puberty and had long way to get to adulthood. It took us time to realize that the person older to us and seemingly more credible than our own parents, talking about how parents should mind their own business and leave children alone, might be talking so out of a hatred for his own parents born out of a disturbed childhood and not out of a genuine concern for the development of children under the care of their parents. There is a strange analogy between how a child of age 12 confides in a complete stranger who seems to sympathize with his/her thoughts and how the youth, especially from upper middle class and upper casts readily confided in one Anna Hazare when he voiced their frustration towards corruption in the country. There is something disturbing about the level to which this man has been idolized just for fasting in front of the parliament to get a bill passed! There have been various other activists who have fasted before the authority to get some reform done in the system. But hell, who in Delhi or Bombay cares about some miserable community being tortured and killed in the name of cast and denied admission or jobs because of their 'impurity'? And there he was, the amazing Mr. Anna Hazare, talking about 'removing' corruption as if it was a dead rat on the floor. In no time there were English speaking, politician hating, party going, apparently educated classes on the streets shouting slogans quoting European and Latin American revolutionaries. Suddenly Anna Hazare becomes the beacon and lord protector of democracy. When news channels covered the whole event at various places throughout the country and when fans wrote about the hero Anna Hazare, it seemed as if here was man with no background whatso ever sent by some superior forces in the universe to protect the nation called India on a certain planet called Earth. However, this loving grand dad of a figure has a history.

There is no doubt that he is called a social activist and rightly so. After all he is socially very very active! There are legends of how he made his village the model village and set an example for development. Good deed right? I think it is, although, done the wrong way.

I would like to give the reference of a historical figure here. Any one aware of British history would have heard of Cromwell. Now those who supported him in his own time considered him as the lord savior of England. He rose to bring purity to his state and make his sociaty corruption free. And he did it; by beheading the King. After that he banned theatre and all public amusement in the state. Suddenly the golden era of English drama that could have given birth to more Shakespears was put to an end. And as soon as Cromwell died, every single person who ever supported him agreed upon the restoration of the King and propper authority to its place. Now why did I bring Cromwell here? It will become clear if one makes the effort of dwelling into the history of our dear Anna. Back in his village he no doubt brough about amazing changes and reforms. However, his way of dealing with alchoholism resemble Cromwells aproach to correction of values in society. The Hazare brigade took the liberty of taking a religious vow in a temple of eliminating alchoholism from their village by shutting down all the liquer shops in the area. Those shop keepers who disobeyed were made to obey with muscle power. These were illegal stores, however I doubt muscle force used by civil society is anywhere acceptable in the concept of a democracy where there is a prescribed proceedure to get things done. So far so good. Further, it was declared in the village that no one must be found drinking. Here starts the 'poor old Gandhivadi' assuming the role of a law maker. There were people who were found drinking through the suply from nearby villages. These people were warned thrice and then publicly tied to poles and lashed! So much for Gandhivad.

This man leaves his village, arrives at Delhi and starts demanding for a bill that would check corruption at higher level, people followed him in agreement. He asked them to protest till the demands be met, people agreed. The suddenly he makes the outragious demand of putting the Prime Minister under the Lokpal and compromise the power of the chief leader of the country
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