Alpha male to omega limp

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Mistakes are not the exclusive preserve of government. It is only fair that opposition contributes its share, even if it is only a trickle versus a flood. Enthusiasm clearly got the better of common sense in the eminently sensible Kiran Bedi, a ranking confidante of Anna Hazare, when she called Anna India, which is preposterous, and India Anna, which is pretentious. I could almost visualise the simple, but not naïve, Anna Hazare cringe at the echo, for Indira Gandhi’s sycophants equated her with the nation in order to justify the imposition of dictatorship in 1975. Power is a beguiling intoxicant; when a peg hits the head, it tends to encourage notions of divinity. The management of power, whether through the sinews of office or the roar of a crowd, is a test of balance on a tightrope across a fall.

An opposition’s mistakes, however, are never as expensive as a government’s. Kiran Bedi’s blip is already forgotten. The mistakes of Congress are embedded in public memory. There they will lurk, awaiting an election. Kiran Bedi lives among the people. The ministers of Manmohan Singh’s government, prime downwards, are imprisoned in high-security bungalows and cars, their sanitised routes cleared of popular presence. Even if our rulers noticed them, they would barely recognise the emotions of young men careering through Delhi’s streets on motorcycles, wearing the Gandhi cap as a martyr’s band, a tricolor flying overhead. The young are claiming back their country from the political class – from the whole of it, not just a part of it. Even those political parties who will benefit from this spreading anger would do well to factor in caution into their plans.

The young have mobilised to question the obduracy of a government that proclaimed victory when, with a sneer and a giggle, it threw a frail Anna Hazare into Tihar jail. When reports last came in, the same government was genuflecting with an agility which belied the average age of the Cabinet. Manmohan Singh’s government descended, within 10 days, from Alpha Male to Omega Limp. It doesn’t take all that long for Delhi’s high and mighty to get neutered.

Anna Hazare came to Delhi to change the law, not change the government. His second fast for a Lokpal Bill was an option of last resort, not first choice. Shorn of bells and whistles, what he wanted on day one was what the government offered on day 9 before it changed its mind once again on day 10. The Prime Minister’s critical mistake was to channel the government’s response through the belligerent partnership of P Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal. Power does different things to different people: in the case of Chidambaram and Sibal it brought out the teenager in them. They thought they could bully Hazare. Instead, in a dramatic counteroffensive, Anna has left this government writhing on the mat. Anna merely looks fragile; his strength is in his will, not muscle. It is a dangerous to dance around a yogi sleeping on a bed of nails.

A popular insurgency is always hard to read, even more so when the lava has been long lost in the heart of an invisible volcano. Whoever thought comparisons were odious never knew the half of modern journalism. Comparison is the stock in trade of journalists in a hurry, particularly those trying to make sense of a strange land in which activists wear pointy caps and popular discourse is controlled by a man who refuses to eat rather than one who presides over dollar-plate dinners overloaded with rubbery chicken. If apples and oranges are sold from the same fruit stall, who can resist comparing them? If there was an Arab spring in January can an Indian summer be far behind?

Anna Hazare and his youth are not demanding the fall of a Pharaoh; or an abolition of parliamentary democracy. They insist on a cure for a cancer eating at the body politic. Parliament is in question only because it has not been able to pass a Lokpal bill in 43 years, or indeed been able to debar criminals from contesting elections for ever. When a quarter of MPs have a criminal record, indifference is the preferred strategy of the establishment. The streets are screaming against this indifference.

I don’t know how long this confrontation will take. But the toll of this conflict is already significant. Quite coincidentally, while writing this column, Begum Akhtar’s voice came wafting over FM radio. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh knows Urdu, and is familiar with its poetry. If he wants to find out what the Indian middle class now thinks about a prime minister it once admired, he might find a minute to absorb the meaning of this couplet:

Hum to samjhe thay kay barsaat mein barsegi sharab

Aayee barsaat to barsaat ne dil tod diya

The columnist is editor of The Sunday Guardian, published from Delhi, India on Sunday, published from London and Editorial Director, India Today and Headlines Today.

5 COMMENTS

  1. pakistani ji who told y that shabana azmi and other muslims can not hire or purchase properity in mumbai,pl read last week's Times of India (on web site) where are all these stars Mostly muslims are living and how much they are now willing to pay_AaAmir Khan is ready tyo pay RS 100 crore that is 175 Crore pakistan__for a house.Shahrukh khan has the most expensive houses in MUmbai,Delhi etc.__ How many non muslims are allowed to carry their religious symbols on their pvt Vehicles (if they have any)in Pakistan.Dinesh Kanaria had to become Danish, Yousuf Youhana became Mohd Yousuf.BTW the Herad of Army Command is Kashmir Is Lt Gen Hasnain , a muslim he did not have to change his religion,there are around 30 to 35 Muslims VC of universties. The List is endless. Pakistan is 98 percent muslim country still you can not tolerate two percent minority.You want rights every part of tyhe world but when it come tyo yourself then Islam take the seat rest are all Kafirs

  2. I had been a great admirer of author. He had always been fair, unbiased and backs his point of view with facts and examples. This is just another example of his great contribution to journalism in India. I support his views. As to why the parliament had been so indifferent to such a burning issue that affects all sections of society ? Why the parliament left such a void that a 7 grade pass retired army Hawaldar could lead the agitation. If those sitting in parliament don't understand the pulse of public why do we need them? Anna did a great job and I support it.

  3. Anna's agitation will put many self proclaimed intellectuals, thinkers, social activists and political leaders out of business. What these intellectuals have given to India except exeggarting problems, writing book getiing rewards and what politicians have given who have only polarized society in the name of religion and caste and led several bl00dy and violent agitation for sake of one section of society. Corrpution affects all of us and the agitation was peaceful. It is turning point in history of India.

    • "writing book getiing rewards " Most desi rewards are fake "you scratch my back I scratch yours" variety. Others Anglo ones are payments for helping them to plunder the locals by "harvesting souls" with their Snake Oil which we erroneously call as religion – wherever these religions have come people have been shipped as slaves in the past but recently it comes with AK47 to be armed bandit to rob and kill your own. They are the most unpeace activists in the world. Thanks Ganesh, core of India is still Dharmic otherwise each city of ours would have turned into Kabul & Karachi by now.

  4. @mazhar85
    writer is good effort we appreciate his fair and want to share some things about Pakistani nations.
    Pakistan currently faced with a dire and painful period in its history with rampant corruption and terrorism destroying the very fabric of the community,politicians have snatched, robing nation wealth,bankrupted institutions.

    In India Aana Hazare is coming on street and call to the people not for vote and other personal issues but when people listen that he is sincere to nation all youngest coming on one agenda is that we not accept corrupt leader the main purpose is the reason of people to unite and save public wealth.

    Almost two people claim after holy month pass we start movement same in India,i ask both persons why they are wait “are our Muslim leader wait to save health in this month stuff price increase no re leaf for public in this month” .I am not criticize my brothers but I want to start now its mater not take time or nay planing only vice of truth.

    Chair man Ansar Burni trust Mr Ansar human rights personalty very honest man he is the respectable person also said after this month we unite against corruption.

    Jahnageer Akhter belong Islam Abad he also prepay to passing Ramdan and he will start movement against corruption.
    I am also waiting to participate in this movement because it is the good step for Pakistani nation.
    Now civil society have to take steps to rid the country of this evil before it is too late.

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