The Lokpal upsurge

Anna Hazare’s much publicised crusade against rampant corruption and the manner in which he has been gradually enthusing popular support in Ramlila ground certainly adds to our democratic pride. However, drawing parallels between Anna Hazare, Gandhiji and Jayaprakash Narain, incidentally much in vogue in the national media, is nothing but a mockery of the two leaders. While Gandhiji was successful in his all inclusive mission against colonialism, Jayaprakash’s tirade against political corruption could not go beyond momentary sensitisation of our civil society. It is a sad commentary that India’s tryst with corruption has become analogous with her congenital devil called Casteism, and both, unfortunately, have fattened cannibalising on the very institutions and notions of democracy, secularism, literacy and modernisation that were meant to jettison them.

Undoubtedly, Anna Hazare has chosen the opportune moment to hold the Congress led UPA-2 to ransom when the regime was caught in the vortex of scams and scandals and, thus, paved the way for elements disgruntled with the party to jump into the fray. The saffron brigades were quick to join hands to fish in the troubled waters in order to propel the movement as an anti-Congress operation.

It is a truism that in the era of information revolution, mass mobilisation for a popular cause is not a Herculean exercise; nevertheless, sustaining the tempo so generated is, by and large, a difficult proposition. Modern history is replete with instances where electronic media through direct encroachment on the bedrooms have proved their power to carve quick but short lived opinions that eventually faded into the backdrop with the emergence of new issues. While anti-colonialism or the JP movements, even in the absence of organised media structures, could make deep inroads into every lane and bylane of the society, the Lokpal impact, despite a developed media culture, failed to generate the anticipated hysteria beyond Delhi and select urban centres. Curiously enough, those who joined the Anna bandwagon are neither aware of what the Lokpal is all about nor they have the decency that a parliamentary system warrants. The only attraction being the popularity of the issue and the tactic with which an excitement is orchestrated. Interestingly, corruption, though widely  perceived as an obnoxious curse, spared none on this part of the planet, as such, its annihilation remains a long cherished desire of the commonwealth. Anna’s growing recognition needs to be seen from this perspective.

Nehruvian values

Although, at the beginning, the pragmatic intervention of Sonia Gandhi, helped in arresting the uprise from acquiring a larger magnitude when the issue was pushed into the Lokpal Bill draft committee domain. The bizarre events that ensued following irresponsible statements from the Congress leadership not only landed the party into a situation of embarrassment but also added to a precipitation of the crisis.

It cannot be simply glossed over that the framers of India’s Constitution had taken utmost care in establishing institutions and procedures to deal with the complexities of the society. Nonetheless, lack of will and moral turpitude on the part of the powers gradually turned them insolvent to meet their ulterior designs. The trend was much evident during the mid-1970s that prompted Jayaprakash Narain to launch his ‘total revolution’. Fortunately, a retreat from the move began in early 2000 with Sonia at the Congress helm and a steady march towards Nehruvian values is visible in the Congress culture. Unlike the Indira government that dealt the JP movement with an iron fist, Sonia Congress resorted to persuasion, accommodation and dialogue - a gesture that the Anna team failed to reciprocate. On the contrary, in the euphoria of their mass popularity image generated by the media, Anna’s ‘responsible’ team of civil servants and lawyers, remained resolute that their word is final, thereby completely abandoning their duty towards the Constitution as citizens of a sovereign state!

Achievement to rejoice

Like the caste system, corruption has also entered the bone and marrow of our society and established as the most ‘secular’ phenomenon cutting across communities, including our insulated judicial system! Efforts apart, in realistic terms, fighting out corruption is not as easy as the Anna team claims it to be. Ironically, even in societies where draconian punishments are in practice, corruption continues to bloom uninterrupted. It is largely on account of the fact that the affluent and influential occupy a de facto place above law in all societies. This is, however, not to suggest that corruption cannot be done away with.

Mere legislation is definitely not the remedy, but ensuring its effective implementation without prejudices is the real litmus test. This requires determination, a mind set, vibrant civil society and a transparent governance culture. Are we really prepared for it?

Whatever may be the final shape of the Lokpal,, our confidence in a non-violent democratic path has once again been reinforced and that in itself is a big achievement to rejoice.

(The writer is Professor of Political Science, Dr K R Narayanan Center for Dalit and Minorities Studies, Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi.)

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