After having looked at hartals and strikes in the context of the politics of violence, murder, paralyzing fear, and deteriorating law and order, that practically strike at the root of hard-fought freedom, it is important to reflect on what we, in our turn, need to do to preserve this freedom from tyrannical politicians and autocratic, blind, and hypocritical religious leaders. These self-centered, narcissistic leaders sap our vital energy and stealthily tighten their noose around our necks. The great irony is that this precious freedom that was won from the colonizing oppressors and imperialists at incalculable cost to lives, limbs, and livelihood is trampled upon by our own religious and political confreres who claim to know what is good for us, and who are trying to save us from ourselves because they think we do not know what is good for us. I say: “May God protect us from such arrogant, misguided, corrupt, rotten leaders who are sheer charlatans”! Psychologically it is not uncommon for the abused and the oppressed to become abusers and oppressors in their turn, and that too with great vengeance. For humanity to survive and to evolve to its full potentials, this cycle of vicious violence needs to be broken.

             The framers of the Indian Constitution, chastened by their untold suffering they underwent in order to free themselves and the future generations, that is us, from the weighty shackles of oppressive British colonialism and native bigotries of religiously sanctioned caste system and discriminations, were wise men who, seeing the dangers of unbridled capitalism of the West and the totalitarian communism of the Soviet Union, settled for a socialistic pattern of egalitarian, democratic society in India where everyone as well as his or her contribution is accepted, valued, appreciated, honored, and celebrated. It may be important to note that India had to be liberated from the vicious stranglehold of three evils: 1. enslaving foreign occupation and oppression, 2. enslaving religious bigotry and the evil caste system, and 3. The six hundred odd unscrupulous, native Hindu and Muslim kings indulging in unparalleled, mocking luxuries in the midst of their people dying of starvation and diseases. Which was the worst of the three evils? It is very difficult to say; because all of them were debilitating and fatal cancers. The framers of the constitution, that contained the unique Indian genius, drew their inspiration to a large degree from Mahatma Gandhi who refused to divorce politics from his belief system (religion purified) and spirituality.

On a New Year in India

             As the year 2011 has come to an end and 2012 has broken in, a few questions and thoughts come to my mind for soul-searching and reflection. The Lokpal bill has been debated and passed in the Lok Sabha. Anna Hazare is fasting for a strong bill. In a democracy the government is going to be only as good as the people. A coalition government with divided loyalties is not likely to pass a strong bill as compromises to accommodate partisan and vested interests are at work. We cannot have a parallel government outside the purview of the parliament. It is almost impossible for a parliament with so many factions and divisive issues to govern. Are parties that cannot see anything good in other parties and spew vitriolic criticism at opponents at every opportunity objective or interested in the common good of the country? Is Anna Hazare, whose cause is certainly sublime, too impatient? Does he as well as his team have the necessary purity of intention and clarity of purpose as he is getting into uncharted waters as to the mechanism of administration of a Lokpal to eliminate corruption? Who are these corrupt persons? Are they not our parents? brothers? sisters? wives? husbands? children? neighbors? ourselves? Do we benefit from the corrupt practices? Who are the people who bribe others to get benefits or favors that they are not entitled to, or that go against common good? Recently there is a report of a relative of the previous chief minister of Kerala getting some special land privileges, and the then chief minister saying he did not know anything about it.

            Another report of some NRIs and thousands of government officers getting into a list of BPL (below poverty line) persons. How did that happen? Is anybody doing what he/she is supposed to do? I myself was a victim of intense emotional abuse and considerable property damage from a local religious body for standing for my human rights. Lies, cheating, human rights violations are taking place in our very families and in front of the very police officers who are supposed to protect the innocents. Can a strong Lokpal bill do much? I doubt. But certainly it is a good start. What we need is a sea change. A pervasive conscientization and value education are needs of the time. Human rights and freedom of women are required. A secular society needs to stress human values and spirituality rather than narrow, vested religious interests. At the end of the day, I need to examine myself. Am I corrupt? opportunistic? Do I do double-talk? Do I enable corruption in others? Do I have anything to hide? Am I ashamed of any behavior of mine that I do in secret, and that I do not like to come to light? Do I look for privileges that I am not entitled to? After all having said and done, the change in others is often a response to change in myself. Am I courageous enough to change in areas that I need to change so that this world is a better place for all in 2012?