INDIA - Corrupted !

If you ask a citizen of India to list down top five highlights of the Indian political scenario for the past year, I am sure four, if not all five, will be dedicated to scams. The very routine political discussions that happen in our living rooms, trains, chat shows and other public places are also frequently dominated by these scams. The fact is that each one of us was, on some level, aware that such scams are prevalent in our system but when such scams were exposed, their multitude, their mass and their facilitative mechanisms were scathing. I would say, these scams are reflective of the way our system has been functioning for the past many decades and how wealth has been bleeding away from the system. Corruption is a multifarious phenomenon and has, in some way or the other, been influencing our lives for years.
Now, with more active media and more conscientious citizens, these scams are facing light . A turnaround role in this is being played by the Right to Information Act, which has effectively empowered the citizens to dig out facts and expose the irregularities in otherwise secretive government agencies. Many highlighted scams this year were exposed with the help of RTI.The important aspect to realize is that - with power comes responsibilities. Each and every citizen of India, being empowered by the RTI, is now also responsible for exercising it wherever he/she doubts the integrity of actions. Consequently, for any unexposed irregularity that runs in our surroundings, we are as much to blame as anyone else. The attitude, now, has to shift from indifference to participation and the paradigm of 'Think Global, Act Local' established.
India is not the only country to be inflicted with corruption. In fact, corruption is a very natural current in any political system, given the dichotomy of human mind-good and evil. The focus should not be on condemning the presence of corruption but on building a credible institution or framework to tackle it.So far, we have unarguably failed to rein in the colossal losses that have incurred to the state owing to corruption, to the extent that probably, we were all habituated to believe that it is an inextricable thread in our societal fabric. However, with present state of empowerment and awakening, we stand capable of challenging corruption. The proposed Jan Lokpal Bill can be a powerful step in support of empowerment of common citizens. The current vigilance system is crippled with manpower shortage, limited jurisdiction, overlapping interests and game of influences.The proposed bill should promise to eliminate these shortcomings and make the institution of ombudsman a more powerful and effective one. The hurdle now is first, to strengthen the proposed framework, get the bill ratified and then, to ensure meticulous implementation of the framework. The ratification of desirable form of the bill is hindered, obviously, by vested interests of politicians and officials and thus, is Mr. Hazare on his hunger strike. It is definitely positive in view of democracy and non-violence. On the other hand, it might create unfruitful drama and provide opportunities for political leaders to leverage the situation to their benefit and for miscreants to create an uproar. It eventually falls down to Mr Hazare to guide the way his strike proceeds.Although given his background of strict social motives, it seems unlikely that any political drama will ensue, the chances of insincere public action, however, linger. The motive of his hunger strike is still very pertinent and India surely needs a directed, unified effort in this direction to regulate the existing system. Time will tell how the story of Mr Hazare proceeds and how competent is India in tacking corruption.
Waiting and hoping(for good)!

The making of history !

Having been largely uninterested in cricket, I am amazed to find myself writing this blog on this very topic. I cannot particularly point out why but I never felt drawn to the game.However, this time I could not keep aloof from the frenzy that has taken over the entire nation- the frenzy of World Cup 2011. The surge of excitement, the thrill, the ecstasy of victory - it was all so intoxicating, it needed a vent and that explains this blog.
The feeling is inexplicable. To see India hold the World Cup and stand along the banner of CHAMPIONS is a sight that can move even atheists of cricket(somewhat like me). The significance does not confine itself to cricket. It leaps on to glorify the nation on a global platform. If not cricket, the feeling of solidarity drove each Indian to revel in the momentous victory that our cricket team brought in for the nation. The eventuality is a rejoicing India, celebrating the fulfillment of its long cherished dream!
India has seen the top spot on some rankings in the recent past, but the intoxicating streak of winning the World Cup exudes from the thrill and passion of having to fight one's way through to the top. It lends the drama and triggers unmatched excitement when a team climbs up the ladder one at a time, where at each rung the entire nation fixates and palpitating hearts yearn for a victory. That exactly was the case here as well. The onsets of matches against multiple-time-world-champion Australia, arch-rival Pakistan and toughnut Sri Lanka were as charged with sentiments of patriotism as of cricket. India's stunning performances in each of them paid back for it, taking the thrill a notch higher with each victory. With Aussies, it was an eight-year-old revenge; with Pakistan it was prestige, sentiments and nationalism; with Sri Lanka it was just-a-step's distance to glory. Each of the matches held insurmountable significance for the cricketers and audience alike and only when we thought no other match can bring in more excitement to the table, our team opened the chances for yet more!
Getting over the drama aspect of it, this World Cup truly showcased one of the finest performances of India ever! The precision, diligence and concentration of India while fielding was unprecedented. Gone also were the days when India crumbled under pressure with its batsmen walking away one after the other. This time the batting was characterized by outstanding stability and the players carried remarkable composure. When the ship of team India ran into turbulence,there as always a batsman to anchor it- sometime Yuvraj, another time Dhoni. Cannot say for everyone, atleast I found the stability and composure to be the vitalizing addition to Indian strategy, one that I always wished India had and one that has played a very critical role in driving India to success. The team knew how to balance itself when times were tough and it rebounded, chased victory and attained it. That, was the source of real exhilaration!Cannot go unmentioned, of course, is the extremely fine captaincy of 'Midas' S. Dhoni. Extremely good formulation of strategy, very promising leadership and an anchor when the team needed it in the finals-Dhoni can be credited for all of it.
The final match deserves a separate mention for the kind of game it was. A very tight beginning for the Lankans ended on a very tumultuous note for Indians. The hopes dipped further when two experienced and much-depended-on pillars of India fell. Salute to Gambhir for his outstanding work and sympathies for his unfortunate dismissal.(I really wish he were the Man of the Match.) His and Dhoni's gift of strength and stability to the Indian innings brought back smiles to 121 crore faces. The stadium reverberating with cheers of 'Dhoni-Dhoni' testify the hopes India had from him. Appreciable is the strategy he played with-stable, steady and progressive! Finishing off with a six was probably the most which an Indian could ask for. It was the moment of glory for the entire nation and the rejoicing that followed in the stadium and outside was a manifestation of how proud and ecstatic every Indian felt at the moment. The victory touched everyone alike- politicians, Bwood stars, business tycoons and the aam janta!
Truly, one of the red letter moments in Indian history, April 2nd, 2011 has given Indians boundless joy and supremacy over all forms of cricket. What feels great about it is the fact that we have a team as mature as this one that can kick out world's cricketing giants. Such a well deserved win and one so beautifully earned! Salute team India!