When I was browsing my friend’s album in facebook, I came across a photo of a girl with a C-program that eradicates corruption. She has been photographed almost certainly because of her coding. One of my friends who took part in a rally lamented on his wall about him being not covered by the media. In some other instance, we can see people proudly waving their hands to the videographer of some news agency that covered the ‘protest’ going on in Ramlila Maidan. In other words it is the matter of publicity-overriding-ideology.
We can clearly see a difference between Egyptian or Libyan protestors and their counterparts in India. Even they were shot by BBC, CNN and Reuters they vented out their sullen anger and not a victorious smile of being shown worldwide. This is the mentality of the real agents of change. Once again the people have proven that they are after the publicity and not after the real revolution. Majority of those who support Mr.Hazare do not know the differences between the two versions of Lokpal.
People are going frenzy after Mr. Anna Hazare, who is seen as the holy redeemer of the Nation from the wrath of the infernal scourge of corruption. For any rational Indian it looks like just another fever of the season. We can go back in time and explore many examples. During the 80’s we could see cricket clubs opened and shut frequently following the victory of India in World-cup. The very people who went frenzy after Lord Ganesha drinking milk hit the streets even in bare foot to witness the Corona and Bailey’s Beads of the solar eclipse. India against Corruption movement is one of those sorts. It will die off when Aishwarya Rai begets a baby.
One thing is clear for us. People want something to entertain them. They also want themselves safe and secured in the crowd and carve themselves a grotesque picture to get an identity. They need some popularity. It is all about making some display to catch the eye of the beholder like a street performer.
A five-year-old can avoid talking to his mother till he gets an ice-cream. It is not the way an adult approaches a problem. The ways like self immolation, self-starving etc are simply rabble-rousing stunts. It is the same media which popularizes the stunts of Mr.Hazare, criticized the students of Osmania University who were about to set themselves ablaze; and Lagadapati Rajagopal who went on with his hunger strike for united Andhra. According to Ernest Hemmingway the non-violence is the misnomer of self violence. And it is a crude way to approach a problem. Can I go on fast unto death till I get my promotion or increment in my organization?
What people need always are awareness, clarity of approach, correct path and a correct leader of course.