Tryst with Destiny
I grew up fighting and arguing with a lot of people around me that it was easy to pass comments from the side but very difficult to force your self to do the same thing. I used to argue, pretty passionately I should say, to a group of cynics. A lot of them were elder to me. They were not all from my parents generation, but many were. They were disillusioned about the society, about politics and the system. I was a young, optimistic, almost utopian kind of a person who believed that things can only get better. You just have to try. I am a few more years closer to 25 now, but happy that my attitude hasn't changed. Yes, I know that one has to work harder than ever before, but I still believe that things will get only better.
A lot of people have/had given up on the system. "Things will never change", I've heard that enough number of times. It is not surprising. People of the earlier generation were given hope. They were shown a dream. A dream that they (or their parents) had fought for. A dream for which many had laid down their lives for. After all the struggle, you expect something good. Something bright. You expect a future. People have been patient. But 40-50 years is a lot of patience for an entire country. This I feel had/has given birth to a lot of disillusionment.
Everyone knows this. I do not have to repeat it. But what I find new is the change in the attitude of people in the last 2 years or so. There is a heightened awareness about societal, civic and national issues. The Indian citizen is tired of waiting. This change is for the good.
A lot of analysis and understanding of the modern youth / generation has happenned. One common crib is that the current generation has no patience. He is not willing to wait for long, but wants things to happen fast. I think this is one of key reasons for the change in the mentality of the current generation towards issues of larger importance. (of course other than heightened media activity etc). He is not willing to wait for eternity for things to change for the better. He wants to work for it and also wants to enjoy the fruits of his efforts. Its great! Cannot ask for anything better.
There has been heightened activity among NGOs. A lot of Self help groups, volunteer organisations have sprung up. Support groups for a cause crop up across the world. Information is flowing across the world quicker than we can think. This is making RTI ( Right to Information Act) a powerful tool that is now being used across the country, successfully, to fight corruption. People are not stopping with small efforts, but are taking big and giant strides in the right direction.
Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. I think its time.
12 comments:
If u watch too much of 24 hour live news channels, u may probably get the feeling that "change" is happening !! But things are almost the same on ground level da.. An occasional Jessica Lal or some XXX case being bought to the limelite - what abt millions of others ?? The media - specially the TV one has 'selective' amnesia !! Remember all the hype abt Vidarbha and farmer suicides when Manmohan visited?? Did they ever follow up on that !! And as far as the NGo's are concerned - i donno the exact figure, but this came up in the World Social Forum in Delhi recently !! Around 2/3 or less are corrupt !! It's all cosmetic da - if SRK can bring electricity to a village in the big screen, our news channels do that several times a day on the small screen !! And the average middle class youth is happy abt it !!!
Well am a cynic and choose to be one !!
Anon:
Well, by making that last statement about 'choosing' to be a cynic, you have ruled out the scope for rational and involved arguement where I may present a case and hope to that you look at what I have to say in an objective way. But I just cannot not say anything so here goes.
Yes, change is happenning and that is true and real. How you want to look at it is your 'choice'. And I do not come from the camp of 24 hr news channels. Sorry buddy. I come from a camp where we believe that sitting and yakking about issues is is not an option. Taking positive action is.
I don't know if you have been following the news, but an RTI helpline has been launched by Manjunath Shanmugam Trust (19.11.2006). Well, I have been part of the team which has worked on building that helpline with people from across the country for over couple of months. With the little interactions I have had with activists, journalists, lawyers, government agencies and ofcourse media ( yeah media also!) has just strengthened my belief that there is change and it is happening. This belief comes from the fact that I am not reading from the 24 hour news channels but I am part of a group that has created the 'feed' for these 24 hour news channels.
Also, may be I should point out just one more thing. It is the media that covers the event/happenning once. There are people who have been and will be working at the grass root level for a long long time.
Further, About NGOs and corruption, government has blacklisted NGO's which can now no longer receive funds . The jessical lal thing that you are talking about, is a sustained campaign by a dad for 6 years and some other people for 3 years before it became a media trial in the last year. So the 9 years of work has been going on .
Yes, there are millions of other cases which happen and only a few come out. So is that bad? NO. Infact the few which come out are helping fuel better governance or better individual rights.
Its not media's job to follow a particular event and get justice every time, everywhere. They are private companies who at the end of the day have to make money. They will sensationalise and they will cover only the most 'happenning' events. The scope of the media is not to ensure justice to all but to ensure free flow of information to all and to make people aware of the issue. It is upto the govt. agencies/ citizen groups etc to act on the information if they choose to/ want to.
The common philosophy amongst the people I have met, who are working for social/environmental causes etc is that they dont believe that they are out to change the world but they are defn out to make a difference, a big difference. And if changing the world is an outcome.. great!
Hmm .. RTI Helpline - yeah i saw a passing mention about it in some news channel !! Ok, it's nice that u guys are doing something with the RTI act - but again being a cynic i think u may run into a brick wall !! These people are entrenched in babudom and beauracracy - it would take a generational change - maybe around 30-40 years (when our generation becomes the senior leaders and officers)... Hmm - the jessica lal case - how about a bet ?? i say that the accused will walk scott free and even the media will become tired of pursuing his case and leave him !!
"NO. Infact the few which come out are helping fuel better governance or better individual rights. " -
This part i wud never agree to .. Let's look at the kidnapping case of Adobe India CEO's son .. everyone from Mulayam Yadav to the local tashildar came running to his house !! Will the same happen if ur or my kid gets kidnapped ?? Heck, they wont even care .. Further to ur point - u think they wud crack down on these gangs ?? Fat chance - they wud tell them to lie low for some time !! Then the whole thing starts again !!
"Its not media's job to follow a particular event and get justice every time, everywhere.."
"Everyone knows this. I do not have to repeat it. But what I find new is the change in the attitude of people in the last 2 years or so. There is a heightened awareness about societal, civic and national issues. "
Fine - this is where the debate started !! How did the awareness come about - through the media !! And what did it lead to - NOTHING !! How many people after getting awareness have started doing something for the nation ?? And what good is awareness going to do !! From my personal experience, it just leads to more people leaving India and settling abroad !! Let's get this straight Ravi - the people who do good stuff are still doing it - media or no media .. And the people who were arm chair critics, cynics and disbelievers have more stuff to chew upon and criticise .. I dont work at the ground level and from my perspective things have changed very little .. And this new found awareness isn't helping anyone - just making people more angry when they hear abt things like Rich kids mowing down people at midnite to the whole administration from CM downwards bending over for a CEO .. If u think this 'awareness' is good, then i dont want to spoil ur party !!
BTW - u wud have known who i am by now .. Still will give u a killer clue - the guy who u unsuccessfully tried to stop throwing rubbish on the Road for around 4 years and who still does it with IMPUNITY!!
"Hmm .. RTI Helpline - yeah i saw a passing ... the senior leaders and officers)"
Well, what you say is cent percent true. We did run into officials who were so attuned to the system that they refused to change. But you know what gave us hope. Within the same system there were officers who helped us. Who stuck their necks out to ensure that the cause we were working for is not lost. You would ask me how many of these officials are there? I am telling you there are enough of these officials to change the system for the better.
"everyone from Mulayam Yadav to the local tashildar ... the whole thing starts again !!"
this is a high profile case, so the chief minister came running down. When you are promoting your state as the best place for MNC's to invest then you better not have a CEO's kid kidnapped.
Will the chief minister's son come running for your son.. hell no. But can we do something to ensure that kidnappings be reduced rather than sit around and talk.. Sure we can. That is where being proactive helps rather than being reactive. That is where trying to change the system comes in.
"How did the awareness come about - through the media !! And what did it lead to - NOTHING !! .. disbelievers have more stuff to chew upon and criticise "
Well what did awareness do? it got the nation sensitised on priyadarshini matoo's trial. It got the nation's attention on farmer suicides in vidharbha. Did the suicides stop, no. Did the number drop, certainly yes. Has aid reached them, may be not. But will it reach them, most definitely. Awareness is the reason, why you are quoting so many examples, from matoo to suicides to kidnappings. Is work happening behind the scenes? Well yes, a lot of it is. As you said, good work is happening regardless of awareness and media. Cannot agree more. So what is the difference now? well, more and more people either are willing to work for a cause, or atleast they know what to do/where to go when they have a problem. And this is because of awareness.
Would a single matoo case, or a poor retired employee getting his pension because of RTI change the world? Mostly no. But is it making a difference? Yes.
The only problem I find with your arguement MK (yeah, it wasnt difficult to guess who you were once you said that you 'choose to be a cynic') is that, you want to see the entire system change. You want to see a brand new world when you wake up one fine morning. You are cynical about how 'big' an impact this new found activism will have. You do not disagree with the fact that there has been some change but where we differ is in our viewpoints on whether this change is sustainable and can this be made bigger. The objective right now is not to overhaul the system overnight but to plod one's way forward at a decent pace. Even if it takes 40 years. And every small change in the way is a significant victory.
Oh and about the throwing dirt and muck on the streets, which you do so proudly, dont think I have given up on you. Bombay is getting a law where people littering in certain zones will be penalised by forcing them to clear up dirt and by making them do community service. Guess, MK, for you only a law like this would force you not to litter 'certain zones' for voluntary action is beyond your understanding.
He hee - the ever optimist Ravi .. I guess the more things change, the more they remain the same - u with your die hard optimism and me with my cynicism !! It's nice to see that you getting involved, but as usual - a word of caution !! It's a big bad world out there and i am always wary of this politician - babu - criminal nexus .. So dont get too involved with this RTI thing !!!
And throwing dirt on the street, He hee .. I still remember u when i do it .. But mind u, 2.5 years of "corporate" culture has made me sensitive enough not to throw things around in office campus or other "decent" areas !! It's just the wide world and our dirty streets which encourage me to litter more !!! And laws !!! He hee .. DOnt make me laugh .. The problem with India is not the absence of laws - but that of enforcement !! There was one called banning 'public smoking' in Chennai started a few years ago - look at where it is now !!! I can always get around the system buddy !!!(Every Indian can - something inborn ..)
i agree on the fact that there is a lot more awareness and action happening in recent times.. i think there is a lot of power in the youth of today..
-p
Hmmm... Change is happening... But wasnt change happening before too?? How can we say that these are the times of action? Would it mean that things were in a standstill before? Things were happening.. The previous generation too must have felt that their years of youth were the most active. Thats because we try to benchmark the rate of current change with that of our immediate past. Life has been leaning towards the radical.. Talking rosily about today's climate sidelining the past is a very lopsided view. I really dont think any of the fervour and activism of today is any match to what was happening in a country in the throes of a foreign rule.. The youth of pre independence era were more active, resourceful and the sense of community was a lot more profound despite the obvious lack of the means to sustain them... Their times too had the same propotion of lazy shenanigans, corrupt characters and et al. Every era has its share of optimistic thinkers, doers or both. Humanity just needs an alarm bell to wake up. This time the bell has the sound of coins clinking. Thats all. No big difference.
-Soliloquist
well said,cannot agree more.
But if you see, the context I have written is post independence and not pre independence. And this article in no way implies that past is forgotten. If today has action is happening , then that does not imply past never had action or did not have its share of action. The only intention is that if we were to insert more effort, then instead of giving our 'fair share' contribution from this generation, we can step change the thinking and the action and make a larger impact.
Secondly, every era has its share of optimists, has its share of radical thinkers and has its share of doers. The need of the pre independence era was different and the people rose up the challenge, similarly today also, for what challenges there are, people are responding. So I would not agree if you would use incompatible benchmarks of pre independence and now and say youth of pre independence were more active and
redsourceful. You throw today's youth in similar circumstances and you can expect the same or even better response.
The idea is not to say we are doing something which others have never done or have never thought about. If the past generations had not done their share of work, we would not be building on it today.
Again, I say the intention is just to say that we can do more than a 'fair share' contribution and things seem to be falling in place at this point in time to make that effort.
Every one needs motivation to do work which has a calling of larger than self. You say its 'clinking of coins'. I would beg to differ as you have generalised way too much. Btw, 'Clinking of coins' is not that bad a deal.
The pre independence youth example was just a parallel. Not an absolute benchmark. Depends on how far one wants to go into the past for want of a datum.what i was trying to say is, each generation in its prime of action has the tendency to compare with the decades of the immediately previous generation. And previous generation tends to hang on to the sense of nostalgia, and are reluctant to let go of their prime, notwithstanding the fact that the variables in their environment then arent exactly the same as confronted by their successors.Your post seemed to have this sort of a ring to it. So I had to drag in this parallel, at the cost of exaggeration. This whole idea of this being the right moment, for a surge ahead is overtly optimistic, and could be a consequence of an individual's (ala the author of the post) coming to terms with what his childhood and his adoloscence have seen and comparing it with his new abode of adulthood. Every moment has been the right moment, and will continue to do so, for humanity as a whole. Who knows, as one transcends from being a young adult to a middle ager, tables could turn. Life has often been likened to a cycle.
As for the coins clinking, yes it may sound leftist, but one cant turn a blind eye to the ubiquitous profit motive driving everything in life. The more people seem to have, the less they seem to spare. Self- indulgence has reached new heights. Sad to say, its more of a fact than an opinion.The 'fair share' of a large group now needs to be compensated by 'the more than fair share' of a smaller group. Coins clinking is not a bad deal at all. I dont hold any opinion as to the virtue of it. It was just an observation. Probably this time over, the driver is more tangible as compared to an utopian land of freedom and soveriegnity (pre independence).
NGO organisations like CRY have been around for more than the last decade and have been doing commendable work. Though the print media carried ads for donations et al... they rarely had cover features of their founders and their family backgrounds.. The new crop of NGOs which seek (or recieve without seeking) the media limelight dont seem to do much qualify to enter that genre.
Maybe this is a turning point in history, or may be it isnt. But all the hype and hoopla giving it a golden aura runs the risk of obliterating the reality that lurks behind it. The West had seen this happening when they came to confront their economic boom, and now its the turn of the Rising East.
--Soliloquist
" Every moment has been the right moment, and will continue to do so, for humanity as a whole. Who knows, as one transcends from being a young adult to a middle ager, tables could turn. Life has often been likened to a cycle."
Well if this statement is true, then someone is more than overtly optimistic or is extremely philosophical. I cannot but disagree with this statement., especially with the part that 'every moment has been the right moment...'
A lot of things have to fall in place for things to move forward and explode. The computer industry was growing no doubt, but it needed a Y2K situation to explode and put India on the global map. The people with brains and industry with resources were there in the country, but it required a 1991 financial bill to unleash the potential and the growth. Similarly, a lot of things seem to be working towards responsible and accountible governance.
The Right to Information Act is one of the 'bestest' laws to have been passed which gives common man access to information, the prized possession of babus, government officials and even government office 'chaparasis'. Media (print, TV etc) are helping the cause in their own way. (Though they do go overboard every once in a while!). The courts have shown that even a cabinet minister cannot escape being convicted and the most recent jusdgement that 'One does not require permission from babus and ministers to file a corruption case against government officials' are all substantial steps in the right direction.
So, I would once again say that it is the time is 'more right' today for action than in the past, cause there are factors that are conducive to achievement of results.
"This whole idea of this being the right moment, for a surge ahead is overtly optimistic, and could be a consequence of an individual's (ala the author of the post) coming to terms with what his childhood and his adoloscence have seen and comparing it with his new abode of adulthood."
I do agree that the post is overtly optimistic, may be it should have been cautiously optimistic. But the author's view are personal but I assure you that he has been circumspect and not utopian.
About 'clinking coins' and NGOs, I really do not see a problem if the foudner wishes to advertise his name to get donations or if NGOs or other organisations clamour for media and celebrity spotlight. The only lens for judgement should be the output they produce. If they are doing good work then it just does not matter if you do it in media glare or you do is silently. Lets get this fact straight, that running an NGO requires time, effort and more importantly money. So whats the harm if you go open in raising money. Yes if they arent producing the results, one has all the right to rise and protest.
"But all the hype and hoopla giving it a golden aura runs the risk of obliterating the reality that lurks behind it. The West had seen this happening when they came to confront their economic boom, and now its the turn of the Rising East."
So true. So we do have a model to study and understand. So do we have a precedence to learn and not to repeat their mistakes. So we do have a model to make it work.
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