We The People -  Powerful or a Disaster?

History will judge the current day, a period where we are currently living, thriving and prospering, as the era of impotence. Where men and women were guided by their single-mindedness of ‘career and wealth’ to such an extent that they didn’t have the time or the conscience to do the right thing. Where men and women were so scared of consequences that it became fashionable to criticize and project themselves as patriots on social networks where as in real world not one soul remembers them after they were gone. In their selfish silence they became the perpetrators of the greatest disaster of humanity.

What is this greatest disaster going to be? Lets briefly take a peek into the current history.

The Gulf war in 1992 was a growing economic divide between Iraq and Kuwait. Kuwait’s decision to lower fuel prices took a toll on Iraq’s economy. People suffered though if all of them did it might not have mattered. In Iraq the divide between the rich and poor grew enormously. Guided by economic motives, a need for projection to people and Kuwait’s weak military, Saddam advanced.

Post the scams of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Shariff, someone in Pakistan decided that something has to be done to address the growing concerns in the population. Attention has to be diverted. A cause must be created. There it was – Kargill.

1984 riots in Delhi – Less than 10% of India’s population constituted middle class. The divide was enormous.

1992 Mumbai riots. 1992 was also the year of sweeping economic reforms. Backed by deals, corruption and scandals the rich grew richer.

2002 Godhra riots- The alienation of Muslim community in the tremendous economic growth is an unspoken reality in Gujarat.

It is not that the rich growing and the country growing is the problem. Not at all. It’s great. However when growth sprouted from corruption and malpractices takes centre stage, the aspirers are unable to see a way to emulate. The anger builds up. Some then react to provocation and we leave black marks in history.

Take a look at this - In 1991, the food grain available per Indian was 531 grams per day. In 2005, it had fallen to 437 grams. Meaning, the average Indian is consuming 100 grams less per day than he did 10 years ago at the cusp of liberalization – even though the middle class population has risen to 20%. You and I are growing, no doubt about it. The money isn’t reaching the economy as pointed out by the statistics. Where is it going and to whom?

You see whenever the economy rises backed by corruption and scandals, it gives way to tragic incidences – each worse than the prior. There were more people who died in 2002 in Godhra than they did in 1992 in Mumbai which was more than those who did in 1984 in Delhi. Certainly more in the current war in Iraq than in 1992 Gulf war and absolutely more in Afghanistan today than in the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

What is the greatest disaster going to be?

During Hitler’s regime there were people who became ‘monsters’. Some became monsters because they believed in Hitler. Some became monsters because they saw no other way of survival at the time. They must have had to do it or face alienation. During the same time there were people who became ‘lambs’. They joined the regime in the belief that by staying in the government, they will have the opportunity to muster support and plot Hitler’s downfall. In the end none of them made any constructive difference to the world. It is very hard to predict who did greater harm – the monsters or the lambs.

Examine the current crises in the country. Two of or our largest political parties in a lock jam. Sadly, not in a conflict of how to resolve the corruption, but in a conflict of who is the bigger monster. Common Wealth Games, Adarsh Society, 2G scam, Lang grabbing in Karnataka, Mining….. it is known that money has been illegally made. Corruption is proven. The Corrupt will never be held guilty. It never has been whether it has been Bofors, Hawala, Fodder or Tehelka expose.

All the scams named above are participated in equal by our corporate world or the society, directly or indirectly. Either they gave money for the scam to take place. Or in cases where the scam happened without the corporate world, the money is used to create a new company. These are companies you work in. You may be criticizing corruption in all of your conversations today but make no mistake that YOU are a part of it. You get your salary from it.

Telecom Minister gone. Chief Minster of Mumbai gone. CWG in crises. Chief Minister of Karnataka might eventually go. These monsters will be replaced by other ones or new ones will emerge because the buck doesn’t stop with them. It never did. It is unimaginable to believe that they weren’t accountable to the bigger monsters. The untouchable ones.

The other side of corruption – the corporate givers will not be really questioned. The givers are needed. The receivers will emerge.

The ministers leaving isn’t going to end corruption is a reality. What will?

I am not suggesting that everyone that these monsters report to is guilty. I do believe we have some real men of integrity within us. They are the lambs. They are in the government and in the parliament believing that by being there they will be able to change the world. The lambs guided by their larger purpose at times turn a blind eye or subvert in silence so they can hang in to change the world. The lambs may even have to make a few integral sacrifices to ‘be’ there. The lambs might be good at heart. I cannot make up my mind though that who is doing greater harm – the monster or the lamb. The lamb doesn’t realize that he or she is simply a useable instrument. One fine day the lamb will be food for the monster. Maybe he does realize.

Then there is one more part to this saga – the media. Media did a commendable job in all these exposes. The CAG report being the latest. Heads rolled and nearly all parties were threatened by the discomfort that more such reports will produce.

What perfect timing it must be to release at this very moment a few tapes to question the integrity of the journalists themselves? We are not talking any journalists – we are talking editors of leading channels, newspapers and magazines. What a diversion. This is just the first leak. Many more should appear. Why?

Suddenly after the release of these tapes, the issue of CAG is silenced on news channels. Nothing for the last two days. Zilch. None of the channels are even discussing the leaks that are targeting the journalists – they don’t know what next might be released – will it be targeted at them next?

Are the media professionals guilty? It doesn’t even matter. Some of them might well be. Some just playing lambs to get to a monster, which is my guess. Either way who has done more damage? The monster who is the perpetrator or the silenced lamb?

Our preamble to the constitution refers to we the people of India having rights to:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;

and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the [unity and integrity of the Nation

We the people have been made a joke of. The integrity of Justice has never been more in question than today. The Liberty of expression is just snatched away from our media. Do you have the liberty of expression to challenge your company on corruption? Equality of status and opportunity is limited to 20% of our population, if that. Unity and Integrity of the Nation is in the hands of the people who can barely stay loyal to a political ideology, at the hands of those who can hardly succeed in keeping a party together.

Peter Drucker said that the greater sin of the 21^st century is probably neither of the two ancient ones. It is not the monster and not the lamb. The greatest sin is the sin of indifference. In that we the people are the biggest sinners.

In our quest for career and wealth and guided by our fears of losing the same, through our silence, we will become the perpetrators to the greatest disaster in history. What will this disaster be? I don’t know though I do know each disaster is worse than the other and each modern day disaster has its roots in the economic divide, greed and corruption. A divide being created by monsters, tolerated by the lambs and participated in by we the people.

Abraham Lincoln said “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”

The monsters have been given the power. You can judge the character. The government as on date and the opposition as on date both have immense power – you can see the character. Even the lambs have power, they wanted it so they could make the difference when the time arrives – if the time hasn’t arrived, it never will. In that we can judge their character too. The media has power. It makes a big difference from time to time but can easily be silenced as we have seen. Character? We the people have power. We think we don’t but we do. We have the power to quit working for corrupt. If we all do, they will collapse. We have the power to quit using the products of the corrupt. If we do they will collapse. We have the power to quit voting for the corrupt. If we do, we will probably not elect anyone and force change of candidates.

l collapse. We have the power to quit voting for the corrupt. If we do, we will probably not elect anyone and force change of candidates.

We the people have power, yet we will remain silent in fear. It is safe to be indifferent. It is our character. It is our sin.

We would rather be a perpetrator of disaster than risk being a target for the monster. We would rather like hypocrites, blabber on these issues in all the non-threatening places than go out there and take an action to prove that it matters to us. Any action.

Why should we act? We constantly ask “what difference will I make? Does it even matter what I can or not do?”

Yes it does. A recent quote I read - The cynic says, "One man can't do anything". I say, "Only one man can do anything."

I write this today as an appeal to every Indian who is reading it to do something. I do believe that We the people of India is India. We have power. We will make a difference and not merely witness the unfurling of one disaster after another.

“We must become the change we want to see,” said Mahatma Gandhi not without reason. Don’t be a spectator. You don’t have to go out there and begin a movement. You can just choose to stop being a part of at least one corrupt activity. In that alone you will bring about an inspiration to change.  

Sadly, you can also choose to yet again be indifferent and silent and so you may. History will then rightly judge the current day, a period where we are currently living, thriving and prospering, as the era of impotence.

You do have the power to change it. Whether you will or not, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, will be the test of your character.

Yours,

Chetan Walia