He has always been a big crowd puller. Does that prove him right, all the time? It's a big question, I have dealt with all along my childhood. I never got the answer though. All I got were arguments and counter arguments. Some were adamant to catapult him to God-like stature and others were just happy demeaning him.
Yes I am talking about the toughest puzzles that even natives of old blighty struggled to solve, The Great Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
I always thought will anyone really pay heed to what a weak and seclusion loving man has to offer. His ideologies, his methods were far too simple yet difficult for my childish comprehension. I just knew one rule, if the opponent is weaker than you, don't spare him and if he is stronger, spare yourself. My closest encounter with Gandhian ways was the movie "Lago Raho MunnaBhai", where I got a chance to see the effectiveness of Satyagrah.
I also noticed a few positive changes around me when people started to behave courteously to each other. The instances were rare but I couldn't stop myself from being amazed when I notice a teenager looking for a dustbin to throw away his chocolate's wrapper. It gave me a kind of belief that things can and will change.
However, the magnanimity of the non-violence was yet to hit me. It took a 74 years old man clad in a plain white attire to convince me that this is the only way to success. I came to realize that even a non-violent man gets angry and his anger is even more dangerous than a violent man.
A violent man may commit a crime in his frenzy, however, a level headed person with deadly tools such as hunger strikes and mass support, can bring an entire nation on to the streets. He can bring down the government to its knees and can change the future of the generations to come.
I can very well understand government woes here. They have to face the public wrath, first for its inaction against corruption and then for its harsh action of arresting Shri Anna Hazare Ji.
What works in favor of Anna and works entirely to the disadvantage of government is the clean image that Anna carries. The very notion of maligning his image is like wishing for harakiri. And the govt's strategy of terming the civil society representatives as Frankenstein Monster has been a flop shop.
There are a few intellectuals with a few extra gray cells are calling this movement a dangerous precursor to future where people will be able to hold the government of the world's largest democracy to ransom. However, it's a absurd notion to compare issue of corruption to any other issue. In fact, to the people of our country nothing is more important than Politics, Bollywood and Cricket. And I doubt the later two will ever be able to generate so much of public ire. Yes, in politics, there is a chance that people may take to streets again as it touches upon their day to day life. Issues like land acquisition, demands for separate state and lots of other sensitive issues are capable of creating a public disorder. However, to address such situation, we have voted for public representatives and allowed them to form a government.
These public figures have been entrusted with the responsibility of catering to the hopes of a great society. So, such agitations serve as a reminder to the members of the parliament who sit in the sanctum-sanctorum of the democracy that this game is not entirely theirs.
In fact it is a very healthy sign for democracy that such large gathering have been totally peaceful and have been able to convey the public message in a strong and effective manner. I hope this movement's focus stays on the Lokpal and its effectiveness rather than debating on the length and venue of the hunger-strike. May this man succeed in his campaign and the hopes of millions see a bright sunshine in the next few days. Amen!!
Yes I am talking about the toughest puzzles that even natives of old blighty struggled to solve, The Great Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
I always thought will anyone really pay heed to what a weak and seclusion loving man has to offer. His ideologies, his methods were far too simple yet difficult for my childish comprehension. I just knew one rule, if the opponent is weaker than you, don't spare him and if he is stronger, spare yourself. My closest encounter with Gandhian ways was the movie "Lago Raho MunnaBhai", where I got a chance to see the effectiveness of Satyagrah.
I also noticed a few positive changes around me when people started to behave courteously to each other. The instances were rare but I couldn't stop myself from being amazed when I notice a teenager looking for a dustbin to throw away his chocolate's wrapper. It gave me a kind of belief that things can and will change.
However, the magnanimity of the non-violence was yet to hit me. It took a 74 years old man clad in a plain white attire to convince me that this is the only way to success. I came to realize that even a non-violent man gets angry and his anger is even more dangerous than a violent man.
A violent man may commit a crime in his frenzy, however, a level headed person with deadly tools such as hunger strikes and mass support, can bring an entire nation on to the streets. He can bring down the government to its knees and can change the future of the generations to come.
I can very well understand government woes here. They have to face the public wrath, first for its inaction against corruption and then for its harsh action of arresting Shri Anna Hazare Ji.
What works in favor of Anna and works entirely to the disadvantage of government is the clean image that Anna carries. The very notion of maligning his image is like wishing for harakiri. And the govt's strategy of terming the civil society representatives as Frankenstein Monster has been a flop shop.
There are a few intellectuals with a few extra gray cells are calling this movement a dangerous precursor to future where people will be able to hold the government of the world's largest democracy to ransom. However, it's a absurd notion to compare issue of corruption to any other issue. In fact, to the people of our country nothing is more important than Politics, Bollywood and Cricket. And I doubt the later two will ever be able to generate so much of public ire. Yes, in politics, there is a chance that people may take to streets again as it touches upon their day to day life. Issues like land acquisition, demands for separate state and lots of other sensitive issues are capable of creating a public disorder. However, to address such situation, we have voted for public representatives and allowed them to form a government.
These public figures have been entrusted with the responsibility of catering to the hopes of a great society. So, such agitations serve as a reminder to the members of the parliament who sit in the sanctum-sanctorum of the democracy that this game is not entirely theirs.
In fact it is a very healthy sign for democracy that such large gathering have been totally peaceful and have been able to convey the public message in a strong and effective manner. I hope this movement's focus stays on the Lokpal and its effectiveness rather than debating on the length and venue of the hunger-strike. May this man succeed in his campaign and the hopes of millions see a bright sunshine in the next few days. Amen!!
