If you select a class of 100 students randomly, you’ll find at least 5 students who would copy during a test, even if the punishment is ‘to be hanged by neck till death’. In the same class, you will also find at least 5 students who will never copy even if the test is of extreme high stake and there is neither supervision nor punishment. Now, the case of the other 90 students is very interesting. If the exam conditions are favourable to copying, they will copy. And if the supervisor is strict, they will mind their own business (and not copy). Their actions depend on the environment. They like to orient themselves to the favourable conditions. In short, the middle 90% flows with the flow.
Up till 5th of April this year, the stories of corruption had been very loud in the news media as compared to the stories of fight against the corruption. Back to back scams from 2G, CWG, Adarsh society to black money laundering, fake pilot-license and cash for vote grabbed the national headlines. In the recent times, there was nothing new except the increase in the scale and frequency of scams. Such events had strongly reinforced the orientation of the middle 90% of population towards corruption. These people had adjusted their lives in a corrupt society and had accepted corruption as a way of living. Clearly, they were flowing with the flow. Corruption was considered as a pragmatic approach and an art of getting things done smoothly.
However, since 5th of April 2011, the poles have started reversing. India witnessed something unprecedented. Anna Hazare, one of the social activists of India Against Corruption, sat on fast unto death at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding formation of joint committee of parliament for Lokpal bill (ombudsman bill or anti-corruption bill). This was supported by many national social workers, including a star activist, Kiran Bedi. Maybe because the world cup was over and there was still time for IPL to begin, or perhaps because they saw something bigger than cricket or bollywood, the media started broadcasting the anti-corruption campaign nationwide. The 5% of population, whose voice was undermined for so long, who always lived a life with complete integrity and honesty, whom others called ‘misfits in today’s times’, who refused to compromise on ethics for having few rupees more, had finally found some resonance on national media. Now, this 5% of people, who otherwise lived in pockets of society in isolation, are synergizing and uniting and are raising their voice louder and louder. The flow is now gradually altering in the direction of anticorruption. For a long time the individuals of this minority had stood against the inundating forces of corrupt fellow citizens all alone. But now they have found an opportunity to unite and to change the orientation of the middle 90% population from corruption to anti-corruption.
The Lokpal bill has become an existential issue for this non-corrupt minority. If it does not get through, they will feel they are (and were always) misfits and there is no place for them in the present Indian society. On the other hand, if the bill gets through, this minority will strive even harder to make anti-corrupt behaviour a norm of the Indian society. The implementation of anti-corruption bill will make PM and his ministers directly accountable to the citizens of India. And perhaps someday, the trickledown effect will establish accountability in our bureaucracy and public officials.
Irrespective of its outcome, Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement has done a great service to the non-corrupt Indians, who, now, know for sure that they are not alone. In addition, the middle 90% now have a chance to listen to their conscience and to identify themselves as citizens of a non-corrupt country by altering their orientation to anti-corrupt behaviour.
The following video: Bhrashtachar - The street play by Asmita Theatre Group
The following video: Bhrashtachar - The street play by Asmita Theatre Group
I welcome your comments....
kathan its good and i am happy if somehow i will contribute in this
ReplyDeleteif you have planned something please tell me if i can do something for my nation and i know that i am falling in that 90% of people but then also if i will, i do.
You are being very candid, Dhiraj. This kind of honesty is what we need...
ReplyDeleteAs far as the movement is concerned, there is a mass gathering at Vastrapur lake at 7.30pm (people will rally holding candles). Also, people are fasting at Town Hall. I am contributing through writing and spreading the word.
Gr8!! once again you come up with a fantastic article. I really wish that this crusade against corruption spreads throughout the country and it will bring change to the system. I don't know whether lokpal bill will be passed or not but at least the people and especially the youth of India has a hope that they can do something.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nirmit for kind words. And Congratulations to everyone; Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign has been a success. It's a great beginning, but we have a long way to go...
ReplyDeleteKathan again Good on you for voicing what you believe in and trying to bring about a change.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that people should keep on trying to change the world and make it a better place to live cause if all stop trying the world would not be liveable. The 5% as you say make the world a better place to live in.
Kathan but you do need to look at the Maslow's needs pyramid only when the top level is reached can a person move on to voicing whatever they feel or even think. Out of the mass or 90% as you say 50 % are struggling to survive and make ends meet and the other 40% are trying to make a better life for themselves (or earn more money).
Once again keep up the good work.
Thanks Ritika. You have brought here a new interesting point. I think there can be an article on it. But in short, I understand that need-satisfaction is individual thing. Anna Hazare himself doesn't have any properties or bank balance, yet he has taken a high moral stand. Most of the activists, philosophers, scientists, thinkers and intellectuals in-general are not always from aristocrat families, but are from all kinds of diverse backgrounds. I see it this way- if a person is able to satisfy him/herself with lesser material, s/he will be quickly able to move up the ladder (of Maslow's need hierarchy). In the present article, I am not expecting masses to become enlightened. But, I think that the masses will follow the social atmosphere; and if the 5% minority can create an atmosphere of integrity (anti-corrupt behavior), the masses will naturally flow with the flow. This is something that happens in most of the developed nations. I don't think every individual is enlightened there, but still they practice non-corrupt behavior as they follow the social norm.
ReplyDeleteWell said Kathan and again I do not disagree that we should not stand up against corruption as you never know when the change might happen.
ReplyDeleteBut in today's world where people do not do anything without a motive it is hard to believe that some one is trying to make the world a better place to live. But that's my thinking again and my views are based on my experience only.
Whereas developed nations are concerned, they are no better than India, no nation is free of corruption, infact I believe India is just open about the corruption and because of the population the corruption rate seems to be higher but it does exist in every place and every country.
Yes I do agree the need satisfaction is individual based and not all are form aristrocratic families but I think again the same as above applies , some do it for name, some for fame and some for money but there is always an ulterior motive.
kathan sir,
ReplyDeletehistory is repeating again....!
we are witnessing the freedom struggle and the suppression of the same by iron hands ..the only difference is that it is not a foreign hand now...! the arrest of anna puts every into a dilemna...where is democracy in india?
the history of revolutions clearly depict that exploitation and disatisfaction in people leads to a movement..then gains the momentum and slowly simmers as a revolution. but why isnt that happening in india? do we have too much of endurance or tolerance ? or is it sheer indifference? ... i suppose we still are waiting for a cause.... !
@Akhila Ma'am- the current protest is far fetched, according to me. Everyone is reacting to emotions. Anna and team have impeccable record of honesty, but I don't think they are the only competent people for drafting anti-corruption bill. What they are doing now is like - 'my way or high-way'. Having said that, the UPA government has completely lost its mind and seems clueless and completely disconnected from the masses. Both sides have fault-lines but the Congress-government is the biggest looser. In final analysis, I would thank Anna and team for generating a much needed discourse over anti-corruption nation-wide.
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