New Delhi, 28 August, 2011

(This article is by Shaian Dethalia. It is in continuation of earlier article I am for Annna, I am Anna and the Advent of Fifth Pillar from same author)

Let me start the article by quoting Machiavelli.

The people indulge in extraordinary revenge against those who have robbed them of their liberty…., which shows that the people will avenge their lost liberty with more energy than when it is merely threatened. – Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517.

The energy of people got channelized through one man’s crusade. Anna Hazare, an ex-Army man whose miraculous survival made him wonder the meaning of life and devoted whole of his life for social cause. His only weapon non-violence and his WMD for evil Hunger-strike. When JP and his team were fighting their decisive battle against Indira Gandhi which gave India their first non-Congress Govt., Anna Hazare the current crusader was 38 years old and had just began his fight with Legislators and Govt. employees on corruption at India’s western state Maharashtra. He has now become such a driving force, thanks to his simple words, humble living and his team, which has impeccable record. In his own words while explaining working for society is important, he had famously said “A grain that goes back under the earth does not die but becomes immortal as that single grain gives birth to many more grains”. (from the book A New Freedom Struggle – on Anna by Sanjay Pathade).

But still, he was not the only one. Before him, many people came and went. Delhi has seen it all. Then why is it so enormous and special this time?

For people who live outside Delhi, they must be wondering what happened at ground zero. With confusing reports, un abetting people visuals and media spin that change every hour, it would be difficult for periphery to understand what is transpired at the core. Let me give you first hand account as an insider. For my office is on Connaught place, I go there on a daily basis to pay respect to him and his team. Why I do this? I had explained in my previous post in April when I visited him at JantarMantar. Since then have been watching with helplessness and frustration Anna and his team is tortured. Even during the run-up to his announced fast, they were treated badly by Govt. The last straw was PM’s 15th August speech. While listening to it, I had an ominous presentiment. And on the fateful day 16th August had a huge sinking feeling when on radio while driving to office I heard Anna is arrested. Many TWEETED, India lost her Freedom on 16th August and I could not agree more.

But sometimes Truth is stranger than Fiction.

I must admit I was not so courageous as some fellow other citizens when the moment arrived. Something unbelievable happened. The alert and more fearless went and camped outside Tihar Jail, where he was taken. The rain, police barricade, Govt threat nothing stopped them from camping outside. And their faith was not wrong. The plan for Govt. was to make Anna agree to disgust demands and make his campaign teeth less. But the 74 old man inside proved so steely that he shook whole Govt by refusing to leave Jail unless all his demands are accepted. The number of people outside Jail and their faith in Anna increased exponentially with this. By evening, Govt was on knees and virtually agreeing to everything Anna asked. Next day Cornered Govt people instead of genuinely apologising were at their shameful best trying to defend illegal actions. Thus the Fast unto death at Ramlila started. The old man was already in his fast at Jail and he was ready for long battle. People kept on flocking in. Visual Media camped outside. And the turning point came on long weekend of 20th. Even though I go there everyday and try to do my humble bit, let me share with you what happened where by official count Hundred Thousand people were on street. (Actual count was 2-3 time more)

We parked our car after taking several rounds at CP outer circle. We did not need to ask anyone where is Ram Lila Ground. Literally all roads were leading there. The Minto Bridge, which connects Old and New Delhi, is wide one. But it was not enough to hold the ocean of people. There was a festivity mood almost akin to Soccer WorldCup victory euphoria in Latin or European country. The emotion If I can describe were like this. “I broke my silence of years and came out spontaneously, now I don’t fear anything and this is my fight as well as victory over me”. The stranger next to me is no more a stranger, he or she is also equally suffering and that this is our fight. There was no fear of police as evident in the intelligently weaved slogans as I will cover it later.

The Dynamics of Slogan:

Since April, when the first protest by Anna was curbed (as I had suspected would be in my last article), people have been watching with horror how the politicians and leaders from ruling party are covertly and overtly ridiculing, humiliating and threatening Team ANNA. The same people were compared with Rats, Street Dogs and Wild Baisans. Kapil Sibal and Manish Tewari were the flavour of the month. So you had slogans like Hoo Haa Hoo Haa, Kxxxx Sxxxx Chuha. or Gali ka Kutta kaisa ho, Mxxxxx Txxxxx jaisa ho. Chidambaram, PM ManMohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi none were spared as expected. Media would not do their job so it was upto people to let them know what they think about them. Off course they were not compared to animals but something like this. Sara Youth yaha Hai, Rahul Gandhi Kaha Hai. (When Youth of the country is here, where is so called Youth Icon Mr. Rahul Gandhi?). Yeh Sarakar Nikammi Hai, Sonia jiski Mummy hai (Sonia Gandhi Blessed Govt is Useless). I am sure Media would have tried very hard not to let those slogans reach wider audience for obvious reasons.

It was the job of media to call the spade, but some section of media always played anti-people rant. They have paid their price heavily. NDTV and IBNs are known mouthpiece of Govt and very apt at appearing elite while distorting facts even falsely (they also have record of showing wrong Twitter comments shamelessly (http://www.mediacrooks.com/2010/12/cnn-ibn-using-fake-tweets-twitter-ids.html ). The same guys lost very heavily on their business this time. All the vernacular news channels and TIMES now stayed with people and reaped the benefits with TRPs soaring. (business standard :http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/news-channels-strike-it-rich-amid-anti-corruption-stir/447092/ ). One man Arnab Goswami of TiMES NOW deserves Kudos for all his efforts. If there was any conscious journalist during this two weeks it was him.

Captain Captain Change the Sign:

Coming back to the protest. We are still on Minto Bridge barely 500 mtrs from where we started and we saw huge Police Van and many policemen standing. Interestingly, the slogans changed whenever processions pass through police. The hatred to politician would change into “police is also one of us”. No one knew who gave that call, but everyone was following. This was incredible. In the childhood, we used to play a game where everyone will do same gesture and one person who is appointed Captain will silently change the act, which others will follow. It was so refreshing to play that game in here. Only difference was there was no captain. Moment you pass through police the slogan will instantly change to Yeh Andar Ki Baat Hai, Police Hamare Saath Hai (Its an internal secret Police is our Friend) . Followed by Vande Mataram. But the most potent slogan and which has became war cry is “Main bhi Anna, Tu Bhi Anna, Ab to Sara Desh Hai Anna” (I am Anna, You are Anna and now the whole Nation is Anna). It was almost borrowing a slogan from Amish’s bestseller Secrets of Meluha. Har Ek Mahadev Har Har Mahadev.

Why Two to Three Hundred Thousand people on road and still Drop in Crime-rate? India Breaks many myths.

The protest was being run in the most peaceful manner as possible. Which in turn created extremely goodwill and virtuous feeling. Else how do you explain ToI article where police claimed 35% drop in crime rate. If I quote the article “A city that is used to witnessing at least seven heinous crimes a day has not seen even one major murder or rape in a span of six days is quite puzzling”. (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-21/delhi/29911443_1_crime-rate-delhi-police-claim-cops )

Let me give you my take on this. The biggest unknown fear in city like Delhi is fear for stranger. You are bit apprehensive to talk to. Even the announcement in METRO station while waiting for train says. “Do not befriend strangers”. The mood at epicentre was totally different, every person however stranger he or she may be, if has Anna Cap on, will be greeted with smile as if they know each other for ages.

But then did all of us understand the meaning of this Janlokpal or Ombudsman bill that Anna and his team is fighting for?. We in the middle-class whom Govt presents to the world as prized possession and lures world money by saying look at them they are your market. But inside our own country, we suffer both from Faulty govt policies and absence of Governance. As argued in my last article, We rarely vote as we don’t have hope from anyone. So the whole point in this struggle can converge on two points. (1) I don’t care who is in Govt. But as long as they are there, I need transparency in Governance and accountability. (2) Now I don’t fear anything as I have the Anna Cap and I am also a crusader to fight against daily corruption. The following stories says it all.

A shopkeeper’s belief in Anna Cap:

As I go everyday and meet many people, let me share what is the take of common man on the street with this fight. This shopkeeper is so tired of bribe harassment by police. His little encroachment on the footpath was the cause of problem. He figured out by paying official penalty of 600 rs to MCD. Now he can officially do his business for 6 months. We asked him, what happens if police still asks you for bribe in spite of receipt. He proudly pulled his Anna Cap and said I will put this on my head. Lets see what he does then. It is this section of society that was hope-less suddenly got Fearless. I heard the same thing on 12th Day being said by Kiran Bedi to everyone. Till then as she said slogan should be Aao Hum Sangharsh Kare, Anna Hamare saath hai. (It is now our Struggle and Anna is with us)……..

Anna Ki Kasam

One professor told me that during these days, he used auto and on return he gave 20 rs more than the Auto driver asked with condition that driver will charge that much money less from some needy person. Driver smiled but Professor had his doubts so he asked him, how do I believe you will do it? The driver’s reply was spontaneous, without blinking and in sure voice he said. Anna ki Kasam (I sewar on Anna). Professor did not require further assurance. This was another example of simple Anna Magic.

PostScript: With his fast breaking, there is huge relief overall. For common man, the nitty-gritty of Lokpal does not matter anymore, he has found out first time that he can ask for accountability and is not dismissed.

And that is where the next challenge arises for team Anna. Already the extremely left leaning credentials of Retd. Judge Dr Mehta is being suspiciously looked into and the way Center appointed Governor chose to appoint him. If Ombudsman is going to be one more hindrance in Governance, will we ever serve our purpose? What is expected out of him or her would be neutral standing. The onus on eminent members like Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan is going to be so enormous, as people will be seeking many answers going forward. How do they decide which evil is bigger than the other. Which state they choose first, which problem they lay their hand on first. If they just go about with Sword in their hand saying anything and everything that is done in the society is bad and not show the right example of virtue, this will lead to huge chaos. My humble suggestion would be to show non-corrupt officers, efficient development work, technology as enabler changing the way making things transparent. I guess this mirror to the society will be more useful if you want second revolution to be successful. Probably it might boil down to the point where what Narendra Modi says “To get Maximum governance Have minimum government”. (Jitna A-sarkari, Utna Asarkai).

But for a while It is Jay ANNA and Jay Team ANNA. Our salute for selflessly leading this movement of second freedom.