Now that Anna ends his fast, the responsibiltiy grows
At least for me, it was the first time that I witnessed the Parliament coming as one – even if it was to concede to Anna’s demands, they were there as one. In the street, the people were uniting as one – though be it a miniscule section of the society, but they were uniting as one – something which you would otherwise witness when there is a cricket match. For me, it was indeed a historic moment.
With this sentiment, I decided to be there at Ramlila when Anna would break his fast. I simply felt I had to be there to be part of this huge oneness.
You could feel the mood even before you entered Ramlila. There was a serpentine queue stretching to 2 km or so and people were calmly abiding by the rules and marching. I did not use plural in queue, because yes, there was just one queue. It was unbelievable. Is this the emergence of a new India where people are becoming more tolerant? How else could I describe this peaceful procession in a city which is well-known for its notorious rage?
Another thought that struck me as I entered Ramlila after a very brief security check was, where have all the terrorists gone? In these 13 days, I had never once thought about them… did they also not think for once that Ramlila could be an apt place to drop a bomb or two, or were they also supporters of anti-corruption 🙂
By the time I reached, Anna had broken his fast and was making a speech. I did not get the whole gist, but I could hear him say that he would continue his fight against corruption. Whatever the outcome of his fight be, I resolved that I will contribute my bit to the society by trying not to be party to corruption to the maximum extent possible. Having made the resolution, I could feel the responsibility grow on my shoulders. Next time I have to renew my licence, I cannot pay a tout but will have to stand in line, brave the heat and get it done. Next time, if I have to produce a medical bill for official purpose, I cannot go to a chemist. Next time, I am asked to pay building fees for my children’s admission to a school, I will have to counter that. The list can keep growing.
Standing there at Ramlila which has witnessed several rallies during India’s freedom struggle, where Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and other top leaders have addressed crowds, I felt the era and the responsibilities returning back. The Gandhian policies were returning back. But at the same time, I wondered where they had disappeared for a while. I remember watching movies and serials where people who were shown as staunch followers of Gandhian principles being shunned or ridiculed by families and communities, because they found them to be a big farce, leading nothing but to poverty. Today, I felt it had come a whole circle as I listened to people echoing their consent on being truthful.
Yes, it is a huge responsibility indeed…but somewhere it has to begin. If I take my case, somewhere, I have to find a way to allow the suppressed voice inside me to shout. Somewhere, I have to find the strength to do the wee little today that may go a long way in bringing a dent in the ‘corruption empire’ that has been built over the years. Somewhere, I have to find the will so that someday if my children ask me about my contribution towards anti-corruption, I need not shy away.
