India's Arab Spring
The Anti-Corruption Movement that has galvanized the entire nation has aggrandized into one of the biggest challenges for the present ruling UPA government. This anti-graft campaign has percolated even to the remotest villages and has innervated the masses to courageously fight for a better tomorrow. Can this transform into India's own Arab Spring if not contained? The answer is not that easy. The main reasons behind the demonstrations across the country can be perceived as the culmination of the common people's frustration and anger against a political setup that was rampant with corruption. Mr. Hazare, as I mentioned in my previous post, gave the cause a face and has become the crusader against this war.
The battle has now transcended all socio-economic barriers as people from all walks of society, the rich and the poor, the young and the old, came united to support Mr. Hazare when he was arrested in the early morning hours of Aug 16, even before he could start his fast at J P Park, Delhi. This rare display of solidarity affirms the fact that people of the nation have the ultimate power in a democratic setup. This should serve as a wake up call for all political parties, who when elected to power should be more responsive to voters' needs.
India is a rapidly growing nation and is widely considered to be a developed country in the foreseeable future along with China, Brazil and Russia (BRIC nations). It's been posting double digit growth for almost a decade. Despite all this, India's majority of the population is relatively poor. The rich-poor divide is accentuating at an alarming pace. The rising middle-class have become frustrated having to cope up with rising prices that have threatened to push many families below poverty line.
Corruption has been a very contentious issue and the fight against graft has not been merited the seriousness it deserves. Many people in India are forced to bribe state officials in order to get their work done, even for basic necessities like passport for instance. In all these circumstances, one questions the entire setup that has been put in place. If the government is 'For the People, Of the People, By the People', why is it so reluctant to serve the People then? In the end, is this India's own Arab Spring? Not really, our intention is not to overthrow the government, but rather make it more accountable to the masses, who have elected them to power, and bring about a much needed transparency to the various government practices. More power to the People! Cheers!
The battle has now transcended all socio-economic barriers as people from all walks of society, the rich and the poor, the young and the old, came united to support Mr. Hazare when he was arrested in the early morning hours of Aug 16, even before he could start his fast at J P Park, Delhi. This rare display of solidarity affirms the fact that people of the nation have the ultimate power in a democratic setup. This should serve as a wake up call for all political parties, who when elected to power should be more responsive to voters' needs.
India is a rapidly growing nation and is widely considered to be a developed country in the foreseeable future along with China, Brazil and Russia (BRIC nations). It's been posting double digit growth for almost a decade. Despite all this, India's majority of the population is relatively poor. The rich-poor divide is accentuating at an alarming pace. The rising middle-class have become frustrated having to cope up with rising prices that have threatened to push many families below poverty line.
Corruption has been a very contentious issue and the fight against graft has not been merited the seriousness it deserves. Many people in India are forced to bribe state officials in order to get their work done, even for basic necessities like passport for instance. In all these circumstances, one questions the entire setup that has been put in place. If the government is 'For the People, Of the People, By the People', why is it so reluctant to serve the People then? In the end, is this India's own Arab Spring? Not really, our intention is not to overthrow the government, but rather make it more accountable to the masses, who have elected them to power, and bring about a much needed transparency to the various government practices. More power to the People! Cheers!
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