Gurus, Politics, Corruption and India!
Well, the reason I am being forced (???) to write this article was nothing but news on my Facebook wall that says there was a collection of around 98 kg gold, 307 kg silver and around 12cr in cash (not to forget it took more than 36 hours to count these…GOSH!) from holy man’s ashram! My goodness, even Swiss bank would be feeling shame for a while now but what’s surprising is that now I do not feel this news shocking with the kind of allegations the holy man were facing for a long time( remember a very famous documentary by BBC). Anyway, I am not going to do another research on Baba in this article, it was just for a start being latest in the series of such revelation news on various Babas all around.
Just few days back we have seen another famous figure a yoga guru; (as per actress Sonam Kapoor sexiest homophobe! Gosh Please!), Giving details of his accounts and wealth, which was something around 1100cr, (not to forget his wonderful island in Scotland gifted by one of his follower there). We also have another figure who teach some of richest people the art to live better; having a big follower list all around, well I do not have exact details of his wealth but this is very clear that he is as rich as his other friends in the line are. Sure, He does charity but there is a price for that and of course, his teachings are not so easy to be availed by an aam adami (general public). None of them let their charity or help go in public for free or even if to some extent it remained to a negligible amount. Nothing wrong in calling them intelligent No-MBA successful businessperson, who know how to sell. Now the point of writing all of this definitely not to be misunderstood as that I am here to write against all the So-called Guru in India. The main reason here that is making me to think is if some so respected figures who call themselves Mahatma are having such kind of account and assets than until what extent; it is going to be successful as well as appropriate that they are asking Govt. to bring back black money from Swiss bank or doing campaigns against exceptionally growing corruption and scams in India. No doubt in India Corruption has reached almost to a state where it is difficult to get out of it. Moreover, problem is not only that it’s the dirty politicians or dishonest industrialist or Corrupt IAS, IPS officers or a simple govt. employee in a small office asking for a mere hundred bucks for a signature to an illiterate villager, its all of us in one way or other.
Last few weeks we have seen a number of campaigns and high drama activity in the country getting attention as well as support from most of the part of country and world against corruption and fast movement was one of them. Unfortunately instead of remained focused against corruption, it all got distracted for their smaller issues. Instead of keeping it a movement against corruption, it became or remained a publicity stunt. No doubt, the government is responsible to larger extent for this entire situation; but just saying that present government is solely responsible for all of this and all outside the power are honest, how much true that sounds?. When you ask them are they sure what they are talking; there answer comes as if you need to choose better from all bad, you need to choose least bad( as some of my friends keeps arguing with me). C’mon, so should we accept that there is no one whom we can call honest leader out there, what a tragic statement. Then there is no surprise whoever gets a chance to rule try to make maximum money they can because they are afraid they might not get second chance. If we are really aware why would we vote to a person who is already a criminal or convicted. However, we do with the same excuse, just because our court takes time to give final hearing in a time enough for them to complete some couple of terms very easily. Moreover, it has remained an ill fate of Indian politics that we have one of the largest lists of names in the power that all did the corruption but smallest list in terms of how many of them was convicted. Not even least, shockingly it is blank. No surprise politicians gets a feeling that they can do whatever they want, in whatever way they want. In addition, who will not follow them, would get the punishment as being convicted. How easy it is to believe that Corruption in events like commonwealth game took place just in knowledge of one man and none of the lawmaker above him was aware of it. According to Swiss bank details 2006 the amount deposited is more than entire world’s black money (INDIA $1,456 billion, RUSSIA $470 billion, U.K. $390 billion, UKRAINE $100 billion, CHINA $96 billion) this shows very clearly that something is very much wrong with the whole system here.
Another point is the kind of mentality we Indians have and that is to keep ourselves limited to our very personal lives and not try to take lead steps. Of course, if someone else takes, then we may follow him blindly. We say at present time situation is changing, politicians cannot get away after elections, public is aware of their power and anytime through various campaigns we can hit them. Sounds good, but are we really? Not exactly, instead we are just becoming more like sheep that keeps following their leaders without putting any question. I might get opposed here by many of readers that this is not true but please if we look at few of the campaigns in last few weeks or months in our country and various parts of world and compare it, everything would be crystal clear. There happens some sudden rise of various self nominated leaders of general public, good enough but then instead of making it a public campaign it starts to become their personal stuff, where they keeps it in a way they want. Of course, we are good in following our leaders always, whoever it is. Now look at two of the most talked campaign, one by a retired ex-serviceman and iconic figure Mr.Anna Hajare, certainly, what he started was a brave and welcoming stuff. Then there came another public figure Baba Ramdev, who too started a separate similar campaign, not to forget in a more aggressive manner than his counterpart did. C’mon, if you all are talking about same thing why not to join a campaign, which is already in progress, and make it stronger. Well certainly, they would be having their own reason. Most surprisingly, both of them got separate crowd of followers and supporters too. Unfortunately latter’s campaign met an ill fate when first local police took them at hit list after some initial warnings and then Baba has to break his fast sighting his bad health without getting any success in terms of their cause of this campaign. And then they came with a so childish statement that next time for such situation they goanna prepare a new army of their own trained followers! Now look at some similar campaigns against the government in other parts of world most recently in Egypt, and similar countries. No doubt, they were huge movements by public too but you never heard separate names becoming separate leaders of the crowd there, and leading them in various ways. They all knew their goal, their reason for doing campaign and they all remained together until last. None of them kept on giving interviews on various televisions until they got their result. All I am trying to say here if you want to make such campaigns successful, you need to be together, you need to be clear with what exactly everyone wants, instead of just making it a one man show. If so, I wonder if that ever going to work.
The point is what we want really, to stop corruption or just to follow someone because he seems doing something good. The reason why I am telling this is that after looking back at various campaigns and movements by various organizations and personality in recent times, it doesn’t seem having a clear vision of what exactly we want to achieve through this. Just threatening a government to act else there would be another movement of similar kind, cannot be a solution of corruption in long run. You cannot keep on sitting on Fast every time you get news of some wrongdoing. Instead, it needs to be resolved in a far matured and constitutional way. You need to amend rules, you need to be strong enough to take action even against one of most powerful personality and this all can happen only and only if entire public would stand in support and put their efforts.
We need to accept that we have been negligent too to a large extent that took situation to this level limiting ourselves in our very own lives, profit making and why do I care attitude. We need to take responsibility and instead of putting gun on other’s shoulder anymore, we need to hold it on our own and till it doesn’t happen we never going to achieve the desired so called corruption free country.
BY:-PRAVEEN PARASAR
DATE:-18/06/2011
