FOCUS

INDIA @ 65- OF ANNA, OF RAMDEV & 

OF UNEDUCATED GRADUATES

It was in 2006, sometime in August, former Supreme Court Justice V R Krishna Iyer wrote in the print media “In India, a socialist, secular, democratic republic is over a billion strong, and is perhaps the world’s first in its ancient heritage, second in primitive poverty, third in contemporary crimes, twelfth in total wealth. In the context of institutions and the developmental dynamics desiderated by modern technology, India can be a Kohinoor diamond and can be rich in resources if creatively catalysed. Yet is a frustrated fraction of mankind because of environmental, colonial, corrupt and stultifying contradictions. Our creative statesmen can transform the country if they wished to do. Feudalism, Capitalism and Marxism co-exist in a Bharath, which is plunged in widespread socialist injustice. Perestroika and glasnost, and a do or die struggle for systemic transformation, are the militant urgency of the hour.”
How representative is this statement of, one of our most respected judicial luminaries? Being a celebrated Apex Court judge, he has weighed every word and is certainly illustrative to a great extent the country’s dilemmas and ground realities, even @ 65.
His exhortation about the militant urgency to take on the issues plaguing the nation was a clarion call in all its seriousness. The kind of socio/political divide this country is having always had the problem of uniting our people. There had to be someone like Jayaprakash Narayan, one of the tallest men of his time, to lead the troubled nation of those days. That was in 1976/77. Today, the country is again passing through an unparalleled void in the governance or the lack of it. Corruption is rampant, in every conceivable form, shape and size. Black money, which personifies corruption in its gargantuan form, has taken the centre stage in the national discourse. Suffering of vulnerable and marginalised, women and children has occupied the public space which made the county painfully aware of the shortcomings of the ruling dispensations whether at centre or in states. Factors and reasons could be many. Power that be, spoke of the WHYs and not of WHY NOTs. There is an air of desperation all over, due to the uncertainty of all kinds with no solution visible in the horizon. Something radical had to be done. In the circumstances, people who were inspired to do something, going in circles, not knowing how a national impact can be made, hit upon the idea whose time probably had come. That is probably how Team Anna emerged. As the cliché goes, rest is history.
Team Anna caught the imagination of the nation overnight. Everything that is new has its moments in the Sun. Of course, it was probably the desire of Team Anna to be in the lime light all the while, and who doesn’t like to hog the lime light! That was its undoing. They had served the purpose for which they had come to-gether. Having put the ball in the government’s court, they should have gone back to Ralegaon Siddhi. They could have drawn a newer road map to keep the issue of corruption and allied issues of electoral reforms etc. alive in the public domain. They should have gone around the country, not just big cities, but also the country side. In a country like India, it is the countryside which changes the governments not the city folks.
Instead they harped and harped on politicians and their corruption in cities. They spoke selectively about political parties. Of course, media, has a very important role in influencing the public response and reactions. They too have been selective in their approach. Evenhandedness, unfortunately, was the casualty. Overconfidence of Team Anna coupled with the media being ambivalent in their handling of Team Anna related news, brought about the decreasing participation of general aam aadmi. Suddenly life  came full circle for Team Anna. Was it the overreach that ruined their day in the sun?!
When suddenly Anna Team burst into a huge public reception last August in 2011, the other anti-sleaze crusader Baba Ramdev, a rich guru with a huge fan following also jumped into the arena to fight the same battle. Prima facie it was little too early, immediately, after Team Anna’s successful ‘fasting protest’. Baba could have waited for some more months. But he too was in a great hurry to hog the lime light rather than fighting sleaze. ‘If a man with no bank a/c, could bring the political bosses to their knees, what about me, worth over Rs: 1000 crores!’ was his logic. His ego unfortunately ended up with his attempt to escape in a salwar kameez when police swooped on his protest site. That was indeed a great fall.
Since then, much of the water had flown down the Yamuna. Govt’s ham handed proposal on Lokpal bill did not see the light of the day. The general perception that government is not serious has somehow come to stay. They just reshuffled people and issues and led everybody down the garden path. Entire political class was hopelessly divided. Everybody tried to play it up according to their own agenda, and nation’s interest came a cropper.
But elections do come every five years. Activities of myriad kind occupies the landscape across the country. We do have a functioning democracy, however chaotic, disorganized and group centric it is. Life carries on, despite all the problems highlighted by Justice Krishna Iyer. The struggle for systemic change has to go on.
So both Anna Team and Baba Ramdev are back with their brand of activism. Anna Team may be selfless but things are not very clear. They appear confused as to the future course. That suited the central government. But the intention of Anna Team is honest. They need support of the people especially educated class and ofcourse the media. Both supports are crucial for any movement to succeed.
Team Anna has to go on a country-wide trip. The entire core team has to travel all over India to test the pulse of our people. Only then, they can become acceptable to those without any political affiliation and to those who are fence sitters.
That there is a need for a strong third alternative was never in doubt. The question is what kind of a leadership that this alternative can give. Surely anything that has the blessing of Anna and his team shall be more than welcome in the political landscape of this country.
Coming to Baba Ramdev, like Team Anna, he too tried to refurbish himself after the Salwar Khameez fiasco. Lied low for some time and is back, middle of this month, at Jantar Mantar with his symbolic fasting for 3 days.
Of course, once bitten twice shy, the government in New Delhi didn’t bite the bullet. In the meanwhile, the dirty tricks department of the government was activated to find out, if there is anything hanky-panky in the financials of Baba Ramdev. Of course their ham handed attempt at getting even with Team Anna did not take the govt anywhere. It may not be the same with Baba Ramdev. With his big line of Ayurvedic products, yoga camps and other related activities, it’s a huge financial empire, unlike Anna and his team. Wherever there is large amount being dealt, it is quite possible, there could be areas of commission and omission with or without the intent to deny the government, its legitimate dues. In the event, the tax authorities have come up with claims of tax evasion and other financial misdemeanor. Surely Ramdev will have enough muscle to see thru the case, so also resources to pay up any claims the govt may succeed in imposing on him.
But, it was the sudden activisation of the government apparatus against this Baba, that has raised hackles. He did not run away, he was always there for you to investigate. But only when he became a bit of discomfort and irritation that the govt. decided to let the hound on Baba. That is a sad reflection on the vindictive nature of this government.
So in this emerging India @65, there are these forces led by Anna Team and Baba Ramdev, who if joined to-gether, can become a very formidable challenge to any political arithmetic. This is without any shadow of doubt. They may have to work to-gether to build mutual trust in each other’s leadership. Baba Ramdev, apparently has a tendency, to be a bit overbearing. Same may be the case with Arvind Kejriwal to some extent. Both have their own areas of strength, so also their weaknesses. The more matured ones among them may have to get more involved to a common purpose and a larger goal. Of course, beyond any shadow of doubt, none in these dispensations, so far, has shown any inclination towards personal enrichment at the cost of nation. This is an extremely important factor in a scam tainted Indian socio/political leadership. This integrity alone is the single most important factor that can truly make them attractive across the length and breadth of India.
But then there are these newly educated class of Indians, who truly form a bulk of the voting public, which is a major cause of concern. The literacy that these youngsters have acquired has somehow did not make them responsible and responsive towards their duty and to the country.
We all recognise that civic knowledge is a corner stone of any strong democracy. Lack of the civic knowledge provides ample concern for the future of our democracy, as it has an effect on civic participation and one of the most critical civic acts – voting.
There is a certain degree of dichotomy in the pattern of educated individuals responding to their civic duties, especially voting.
William A Galston, writes in his book “Civic Education and Political Participation’, on the pattern of voting in U.S. election. He grouped his observations under age, education, literacy levels, knowledge of public affairs and income.
According to him, the youth between age of 18 & 24 voted less than half. But those between 55 & 74, almost 75% went to polling booths. In India, those between 18 & 24 may vote in higher numbers, since their right to vote has just begun and therefore are excited about exercising this right. So also those in the higher bracket of 55 & 74 too go for voting in large numbers. But it is the young between 25 & 50 who are a major source of concern.
In the U.S., book informed, that school dropouts voted less and those with advanced degree voted close to 80%, which is unfortunately not so in India. While there is no data or information available on school dropouts, it is for certain that those who are graduates and post graduates, are unfortunately have failed to respond to their civic duty of adult franchise. There is this classic case of a candidate-one Dr Ashwin Mahesh-who stood for election to the Karnataka Legislative Council. He was contesting from the Graduates Constituency in Bangalore. With him were two more candidates. One was the sitting member, Ramachandra Gowda, from the BJP. The other was from JD (S) of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. Ramachandra Gowda, was MLC for four terms, that is, he was already enjoying the political power and perks. But as usual, when it comes to political offices, you may be very tired but never retired. The lure of serving the ‘aam aadmi’ and of course the country is such, these luminaries never want to lose an opportunity. Even in his political party the BJP, there may be younger party men who have worked tirelessly for the party, but no God Father to push their case. Now coming to this Ashwin Mahesh, he was reportedly contesting on Loksatta ticket. Loksatta is a political party established by Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, a Physician turned IAS, but resigned to float Loksatta to promote clean politics and equally clean politicians. So comes along this Ashwin Mahesh ready to plunge into the electoral politics. An educated, also obviously a man of integrity, this Ashwin Mahesh was reportedly endorsed by no less a person than the former Supreme Court Justice N. Santosh Hegde, who was also the Karnataka Lokayukta and a Anna Team Member. That was a formidable support which electorates simply couldn’t ignore, for the kind of public image Justice Hegde had in the course of his assignment with Karnataka Government. That was the best certificate any prospective candidate could have hoped for. Naturally upbeat Ashwin Mahesh, apparently goes about enlisting the support of graduates from the Bangalore city constituency. In few months, he reportedly manages to register 15000 graduates in his constituency. All that he wanted was about 50% from this group. Of the three candidates, he was the dark horse. Ramachandra Gowda was the sitting member of BJP. Earlier in his term, he was a minister, but had to resign on questionable favouritism, probably involving money changing hands. So he was clearly somebody, who, ethically speaking, should not be voted back. The other candidate supported by JD(S) was also a formidable candidate to turn the table. But Ashwin Mahesh, being young, well educated supported by Justice Santosh Hegde, enlisted 15000 graduates support, clearly had a good chance. But the graduates of Bangalore unfortunately had party affiliations. They got polarised between two established parties. In the event, the tainted former minister was declared elected after a ‘sea-saw’ number uncertainty, a margin of mere 242 votes. Unfortunately for the graduates of Bangalore the integrity and education of Ashwin Mahesh was no big deal. They did not consider him a better candidate with cleaner record, somebody who would have been endorsed by Team Anna. And those who voted for BJP and JD (S) candidates probably thronged Freedom Park, the Hyde Park of Bangalore, in support of Anna Hazare movement. But when the crunch came, they ditched Anna. They plumped for established parties, doesn’t matter the scam taint of the BJP candidate. This election of Ramachandra Gowda was a slap on our social conscience. How can anybody vote for such a man when we have cleaner alternatives?
If a section of graduates have voted for a controversial candidate, neglecting and ignoring a better claimant, those who could have voted for Ashwin Mahesh have also ditched him. As claimed by Ashwin Mahesh, he had enlisted the support of 15000 graduates in and around Bangalore, which was his constituency. Reportedly he could muster only 4349 votes on the day of voting. But over 10000 probably ignored their civic duty to vote and sat at home or more blatantly, since it was a paid holiday and weekend, they took their family for an outing. In both cases they have let down the nation so the question that rankled most thinking Indians, can we trust this uneducated graduates, who are too selfish to know their civic responsibility in nation building? Voting perhaps the most easy form of civic obligation. If our educated, young and old alike, cannot perform even such a simple task, what more can we expect of them. Of course, surely, all graduates are not birds of the same feather. But if they cannot ensure the victory of a better candidate in their exclusive constituency, can they be trusted to guarantee the victory of a good candidate in general constituency in general election? Do we remember Arun Bhatia an IAS activist, who lost, of all people, to Suresh Kalmadi in Pune?
This victory of Ramachandra Gowda and therefore the defeat of Ashwin Mahesh is a very sad reflection on our emerging youth power, who are educated and well networked.
If those faceless graduates did not rise to the occasion to return a good candidate victorious at the hustings, this Ashwin Mahesh too is sending mixed signals, on his commitment to make a difference to the prevailing socio/political scenario. It is true Ashwin Mahesh fought the election to the Karnataka Legislative Council. May be it has cost him some money. His party may not be rich to fund his electioneering. He lost the election, but he could have gained some good will if he was more alive to his environment. Goodwill is something, he has to, perforce, nurture, if he has any desire for public office or public service. Not only media did not make any story on his defeat, even he himself did not serve his cause by even ignoring overtures of concerned individuals. In particular, this periodical made many attempts to speak to him to get his side of the story, his experiences at the recently lost election to the Legislative Council. Deeply disappointed that our silicon valley graduates have let down principled politics, this periodical tried to find out, how to get to this man, so that his story can be told and retold for our educated voters, to make them understand how their indiscretion led to the continuation of a person who was already there for 24 years. This man, who had, according to information in the public domain, had to resign his ministership in disgrace, was allowed to continue for another 6 more years. Now isn’t this bad and sad!
So, this periodical, in its wisdom, thought it fit to make a story on the maiden political debacle of an earnest young educated citizen of our country. But sadly he too did not measure up to our expectations. First he didn’t respond to our mail, after searching him on internet, Facebook & Google. Then we contacted Justice Hegde on email for his mobile number. Perhaps Justice Hegde reprimanded him for his indifference. Within minutes he came on line “My number is ……. Please tell me a little bit about what you want to discuss, and we can then schedule a time”.
We responded, rather a few days later, with purpose.
Dear Dr Mahesh
Sorry! for the delay in responding to your email. It is just that we wanted to make a story in our monthly ISSUES & CONCERNS your attempt to contest the MLC election, and how you went about your campaigning and how you felt disappointed with those graduates whom you had listed, but didn’t come to vote. Shall appreciate your early response.
Pls. see our blog www.issuesandconcern.blogspot.com
Our latest upload: ‘Democracy My Foot!’  – Regards - J. Shriyan
Believe it or not, he neither came on line after that nor did he respond to our repeated calls on his mobile. Then the question that cropped in our mind was, what if he was elected, he too could have been like any other elected member of assembly or parliament! We are all privy to the knowledge and experience how politicians behave before election and after the victory. Before election, on their tour of their constituency, seeking votes, they are embodiment of humility. But after winning, they make you go in circle. We honestly wished Ashwin Mahesh was different. But alas, he did not measure up. Political and Educational philosophers such as Jean Jacques Rousseau and Robert Hutchins have warned in the past that civic apathy may lead to the ultimate death of democracy, or the moral and social decline of the state. Could this be the lot of India @ 65?!