Anna Hazare: new age Gandhi or media-fed megalomaniac?

As the drama unfolds, there are many questions that plague my thoughts:

1.                 Should I support Annaji?

2.                 Is he doing the right thing?

3.                 What will be achieved by fasting?

4.                 What am I doing to support Anna?

5.                 Should I take on the road with a candle in my hand and start chanting Vande Mataram or start fasting!

Somehow, I couldn't relate to either of the support methods. My views might be a little far fetched but are the ideal means of removing corruption from the grass root level. This doesn't mean that I am against any one or any other means, its just that I don’t see myself convinced that these means will achieve any permanent solutions to the evils that plague society.

So let’s get some facts clear. Where did corruption start? It started at our doorstep. We have laid the foundation. It is YOU and ME who are to be blamed along with the corrupt politicians and officials. Take any field... Education, Construction, Medical, Housing, Taxation, Law & Order, we are the ones who bribed the officials to get our way out and for our own benefit.

Those who wanted their children to get in to the best of the colleges so they started buying seats. We called them the donation seats. We kept the worthy students out and got non-deserving students to get their seats. The schools/colleges in turn forced the education ministry to increase the seats, offered them enough money to allow them. Seats increased, donations doubled. Builders in the Garb of big corporates wanted all the construction contracts, wanted to construct tall buildings to earn more money. If the FSI was for 10 floors, built 20 then filled our babus mouth with gold/cash/diamonds and offered them share in the buildings.

What intrigues me most is the enormity – and absurdity – of the belief vested in the gospel according to Anna. It has been projected as the instant answer to corruption. Pass his version of the Bill, and this omnipresent monster will disappear. Reject it, and rot forever in bribery’s greedier maw. Am I the only one who thinks in this simplistic manner?

We can see that it’s the educated masses out there, not some lumpen mob. Yet, is anyone ready to give pause to the lusty slogans and lustier bhajans, and question the naïveté of this assumption? By now I know, Anna-ji is the potent symbol of public rage and frustration. But symbolism needs only one small step to fall into tokenism.

I am intrigued by the so called Gandhian as much as the next person however, i continue to have a problem with the posturing bunch he has around him, starting with a former top cop known for her brutal enforcement of the law but who on Tuesday did nothing short of inciting the police by disobeying orders. Since when has blatant flaunting of law and order begun to be idolized in our Democratic set up. Why do we always misuse our freedom and rights under a Democracy?  His ideals may be correct but there is no Method to this madness, and what examples are these so called people in media light trying to set for the others. I agree that in a democracy people must be not be passive recipients’ but active participants and set the agenda for the government but the prerogative of legislation is always with the Parliament and the educated masses have been taught that since primary school. The era when charismatic and silver-tongued leaders could change the public mood with just one stirring sentence appears to be over. The Prime Minister, well-intentioned though he might be, was hard put to make himself heard above the din in Parliament when he tried to assert the supremacy of elected bodies as opposed to street corner rabble rousers. He certainly had a point, the problem is that no one is willing to listen anymore.

I am deeply concerned about all the protests and fasts: one needs to practise not bribing in daily life rather than waiting for someone to remove corruption: No bribes or chai pani to traffic cops, telephone linesman, house registration, passport office etc. 

Team Anna should be grateful to the government for its ham-handed actions have saved their day. In fact the government by giving so much credence to this movement has turned them into the neo martyrs of the faux freedom struggle, and the cycle of arrests-release-refusal has deferred the problem of actually delivering the end of corruption. the government bungled by arresting Anna Hazare, though I believe that the Jan Lokpal bill that Anna wants to impose on the nation, is as dangerous, impractical and unworkable as the one the government has created. The reason I say this is that in any democracy, the intent is to empower people, not to create another ‘super elite’ or a pseudo centralised power structure that one imagines will resolve the problem of corruption that has seeped into the very roots of our country. It is naïve for people to believe that once the Jan Lokpal bill is green-lit, corruption will be rooted out and India will become a country free from the vice of corruption. Anna’s bill will take away power from the people and make the process a law unto itself with absolute power. 

I once again say that his ideals and his goals are not the problem it’s the chosen means for achieving this goal that is becoming nuisance and the day to day life of the masses. However, Annaji u need to be worried about the so called personalities who are hitching a piggy back ride with you, and grinding their political axes by shooting from your shoulders.

Why does Annaji need a venue to fast? So he can gather public support and incite more public furor? Common its not as if BJP that is the alternative choice to the Congress at the Centre is any clean. Not that I am not against corruption but sitting on a fast and defying law and order is not the way to achieve CLEAN INDIA. 

Yes, corruption is a major issue and the government has failed to deliver on it. So there is place for people like Anna. But let’s back the cause and not necessarily follow the person blindly. You can’t find solutions in a virtual world. Every Indian will have to get into the crevices of the rotten system and do his bit to fix it.

Like Mr. Mahesh Bhatt said in an article titled Anna Hazare: new age Gandhi or media-fed megalomaniac? in todays Hindustan Times “ I have nothing against people believing in their God, but for God’s sake, don’t impose ‘your’ God on me. You can follow Anna and his team, but allow me the freedom of not following him”. 

The essence of being a Parsi

The term Parsi refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities, the other being the Irani community.

Although the Parsis originally emigrated from Iran over 10 centuries ago, they have lost social or familial ties to the people of that region, and do not share language or recent history with them. Over the centuries since the first Zoroastrians arrived in India, the Parsis have integrated themselves into Indian society while simultaneously maintaining or developing their own distinct customs and traditions (and thus ethnic identity). This in turn has given the Parsi community a rather peculiar standing: they are Indians in terms of national affiliation, language and history, but not typically Indian (constituting only 0.006% of the total population) in terms of consanguinity or cultural, behavioural and religious practices. Genealogical DNA tests to determine purity of lineage have brought mixed results. One study supports the Parsi contention (Nanavutty 1970, p. 13) that they have maintained their Persian roots by avoiding intermarriage with local populations. In that 2002 study of the Y-chromosome (patrilineal) DNA of the Parsis of Pakistan, it was determined that Parsis are genetically closer to Iranians than to their neighbours (Qamar et al. 2002, p. 1119). However, a 2004 study in which Parsi mitochondrial DNA (matrilineal) was compared with that of the Iranians and Gujaratis determined that Parsis are genetically closer to Gujaratis than to Iranians. Taking the 2002 study into account, the authors of the 2004 study suggested "a male-mediated migration of the ancestors of the present-day Parsi population, where they admixed with local females [...] leading ultimately to the loss of mtDNA of Iranian origin".

The definition of who is (and who is not) a Parsi is a matter of great contention within the Zoroastrian community in India. Generally accepted to be a Parsi is a person who is:

a) directly descended from the original Persian refugees; and

b) has been formally admitted into the Zoroastrian religion. In this sense, Parsi is an ethno-religious designator.

Some members of the community additionally contend that a child must have a Parsi father to be eligible for introduction into the faith, but this assertion is considered by most to be a violation of the Zoroastrian tenets of gender equality, and may be a remnant of an old legal definition of Parsi.

It’s not easy, being a member of a community about which the doom-sayers are always predicting rapid annihilation, unless they change to embrace radical concepts of inclusionary existence. Even so, it is a blessing to belong to and be recognized as a Parsi, with all the  history that the term connotes.

Until the age of 23 I was surrounded by people who knew who a parsi was, or at least had a vague idea of us being ‘fire worshippers’ and having a unique system for disposal of our dead.  It was when I went abroad (UK, WALES) for my further studies I realized that I was a novelty.

I was Indian, by virtue of the fact that I came from India, but I was not Hindu or Muslim by religion. So then what was I?? Was I Persian? Hispanic? Asian?? The opinions were many but no concrete answers. My origins were subject to much scrutiny and wonder and when I finally said, “Parsi Zoroastrian,” I got the proverbial blank stare and the, “Whaaat…Zoro-who?.” And that became my first foray into explaining the who, what, where, of being a Parsi Irani Zoroastrian. People were always in awe of meeting a Zoroastrian; it was almost like people felt I should be placed in a museum as a species preserved!  Besides gaining a greater understanding of who I was, I learned a great deal about what was unique to being Parsi Irani Zoroastrian and why it mattered to me.  Especially in Europe where I realized that though the general public knew very little about my religion / community, my university had a course on Zoroastrianism which is not there anywhere in India.

I remember meeting up with Peter Clark who was then teaching the religion as a subject to the undergrads at the University of Wales, Cardiff and who had written a book “Zoroastrianism "An Introduction to an Ancient Faith”.  I first met him at a pub in cardiff and the gentleman was smoking with a glass of “guinness” ( for those not aware is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness (1725–1803) at St. James's Gate, Dublin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness) in his hands. On seeing me approaching him he instantly stubbed the cigarette and apologized for smoking in front of a “fire-worshipper”. Little did Mr. Clarke know that so many of the Parsis smoked themselves. He was most inquisitive about how we practice the religion and what our customs were and how we managed to maintain our identity even though our population was so minute.

Back in Mumbai (the epi-center of all things considered Bawa / Parsi) surrounded by a community that has engrained itself within the Indian mosaic, but with a youth population that is disenfranchised from this Parsi Irani identity that we have so hard tried to maintain.  The community adults are torn between the politics of today and a religion of yesterday and the youth seem to find this in-fighting as a legitimate excuse to keep away.  The Parsis have lived in India from the 10th century, escaping persecution and the Arab invasion what is modern day Iran, and settled in India.  Over the centuries, Parsis have been known for their ethical and moral value system, for their professional drive for excellence and for their ‘sweetening of the milk cup’.

Playing a vital role in creating modern India, from industry to trade, finance, medicine, government, art, architecture, society and many other avenues, the Parsis have left their mark all over India’s financial capital, Mumbai, as well as the Indian sub-continent.  But as a young Parsi, I have to ask what next? How long will we rest on the laurels of our ancestors before we create a history of our own.  In the 21st century, what does the label Parsi Irani Zoroastrian mean? When is the gen next going to stand up and be counted?

the Vaseline Gate Controversy

Laxman, a  wonderful player from down South, who has been one of India's batting mainstay for the past decade in this format of cricket. This unassuming player who perhaps has never got his due. Despite VVS Laxman's assuring presence in India's middle-order, the question of his retirement would continue to crop up till he actually calls it a day.

Ditto for Rahul Dravid, the Wall.  It was same for Sourav Ganguly, who at the twilight of his career faced more questions about his impending retirement rather than mentions of his heroics with the bat.

When Laxman finally packs up his bat, he will be remembered more for his 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens that immortalized him, but on the personal level, he would perhaps remember that innings as the one which cemented a permanent place for him in the Test squad.

Although he will be best remembered for that innings, there are quite a few which would rank quite high on the list of great Indian knocks. He has always preferred remaining low profile, and perhaps that's why he has been overshadowed by the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly through out his career. Laxman would always be the last name taken when India's Fab Four of this decade come up for discussion (Only the Aussies might prefer placing him right after Tendulkar).

Even the 91 at Ahmedabad, which helped in earning India a draw against New Zealand, was overshadowed by an unlikely Harbhajan.

There are many such performances from Laxman that are worth a mention. The century at Adelaide in 2003-2004 is one of them. That match-saving innings was by no means inferior to the Kolkata miracle, although not as dramatic. Again, it was Dravid giving him company. Laxman has a particular liking for the Aussies, and as Ricky Ponting would say, never underestimate him when the Baggy Greens are his opponents. 


Late last Saturday afternoon, when India were just about effecting a strong but eye-pleasing fightback, VASELINE inevitably made its appearance ( it seems to be making an appearance everytime ENGLAND or  AUSTRALIA play). V. V. S. Laxman, on 27, jabbed at a swinging delivery and missed it; the bowler, James Anderson and the slip cordon promptly went up, claiming an edge. Umpire Asad Rauf had a long look at it and shook his head. Not out. England were not convinced though: they sought a review. Third umpire Billy Bowden watched a few replays, enlisting the HOT SPOT technology too, but just couldn't detect the edge. Laxman survived again. This should have been the end of it,  however, commentators mostly former England players, were also certain that he was out;  the 'snicko' that the broadcaster was using, flashed the tremor indicating that the ball had hit the bat. They were obviously not going to let it go; they argued that the Hot Spot was not good enough, that it didn't catch the fainter nicks. Micheal Vaughan, however, took it to another level by tweeting: "Has Vaseline on the outside edge saved the day for Laxman?" 


What cheek to indirectly label someone a cheater? Maybe like Ravi Shastri said this is what he did when he played and hence he knew best what was happening. 


Vaughan, realizing that he had stirred a dangerous pot this time, claimed that he was joking on Sunday. "Friends from India, I didn't accuse VVS of using Vaseline," he wrote. "Even if batsmen do, it's not cheating," he added. There is, of course, no law against applying stuff on the bat, unlike on the ball. 


The Irony of it is this controversy and useless needless controversy on the day on which India taught the cricketing world a lesson in sportsmanship.


England's hat-trick hero Stuart Broad later said that he even had a feel of Laxman's bat to check if there was vaseline or any liquid in it but found nothing. What cheek?

Ganguly was scathing in his attack on Vaughan, saying that the former England skipper was trying to play a psychological game against the Indians which he said will no longer work on the world number one visiting side. Talking about Broad's reaction at the end of the second day's play, Ganguly advised the youngster to rather concentrate on his cricket. "Broad has just played two Tests. Before this, there was talk of him being dropped. He should not only try to earn world's respect but also the respect of fellow players," said Ganguly. 


 Phew.. what methods people adopt for some publicity!!!