India against Corruption Campaign gave me an opportunity to reach out to millions of people across the country by joining the fast-unto-death along with Anna Hazare.
Anna Hazare, at the age of 73, inspired, motivated and stimulated thousands of people to take to the streets in different parts of the country. The government was forced to accept our demands for the “Jan Lokpal Bill” against corruption.
Some people through their greed, passivity and indifference have, in a way, let down the nation. This is evident from the scams the media unfolds daily.
We easily point a finger at our political leaders, bureaucrats for corruption. I think, we young people should look beyond the blame game and find out what we could do to cure the disease rather than finding mistakes in others.
In every country, there are people who stick to their values. We are lucky to have such a person in Gandhiji who brought about a change in the country with his peaceful struggle for freedom, justice and truth.
During the fast, Hazare and thousands supporting him followed Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, as the role model. We practiced non-violence and ‘satyagraha’ in support of our demands.
We have people who can break any law for personal benefit and manipulate the entire system.
But I always ask myself why is it that when Indians go abroad, they follow all rules of the foreign nation where they live.
Then what makes it happen so in India? Is it the system or the people at fault?
I have heard from my friends regarding donations for school admission, tips to the peon in the office to move the file faster, bribe to the traffic police, cheating in the exams and jumping the queue. These and many more things which just happen in the flow have become a part of our life.
I wonder how many of us can claim not to have given up or done any such thing in our life time.
In the words of Gandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world”. So, the change in the country should begin from within us or else we will need another ‘Anna Hazare’ to remind us of human values and ethics.
Also, this reminds me of Jesus Christ who said in John 8:7 “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” from the parable of a woman, who was caught in the act of adultery.
Jesus very rightly says that if we are unclean then how can we clean others. It’s a reminder to all those who are talking about corruption to check themselves first and then be the change they wish to see in the world as Gandhi said.
I also think that we individually and collectively have to decide that we will never extract anything unlawfully from the society or government. This is something entirely in our control. Before you get comfortable using the “Jan Lokpal Bill” to your advantage, you need to make this commitment.
What I find irritating and worrying is that no individual admits that he/she is dishonest and yet we find the country riddled with dishonesty.
Many of us might think that we have done our bit by achieving the demands put forward to the government.
However, we have miles to go before we sleep. In Nazi Germany, the holocaust would not have happened without the active involvement of its citizens. Similarly, this state of dismal governance and ethics cannot continue.
It is time to shake off the silence and take the first step toward being responsible and alert citizens.
Source : http://www.youthactiv8.org
Courtesy: http://powerodisha.blogspot.com
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