My Life, My way….

This would be the attitude that a lot of us have today. We may follow a set of rules for a while, yet mostly would find a way to bend it to suit our way. In such an age, it’s a constant struggle, suddenly to be faced with so many people who are astute in making you do things and you are equally good in reading it, yet not knowing a way out, or at least sometime. The fundamental need for every ‘average’ human is a degree of financial security, a house, a small car and a reasonably presentable spouse. Thanks to the advent of globalization and Indian Economy being ‘Free’ and Open, which has in turn brought many opportunities which would not have been there; say 20 years ago. This means that earning big bucks is no longer an issue. Yet some how we still don’t have the house, a home loan of 20 years is certainly not for your retirement plan, and I hope so. We have the worlds cheapest car, thanks to lack of hind sight by Tata, Budha and good sense yet ill timed one of Mamata it is only slightly cheaper than say Maruti 800. So to own a car would mean that we have to shell out almost 1/5 of our take home, not even taking into consideration other expenses that a car brings with is, one of them being long drives (remember the petrol/diesel prices) Ok so we have a home loan, a car with no petrol, what about the financial security? Well when your month salary is almost what your dad earned in 6 months, you gotta be doing well. Yeah you would think so, only if everything you want cost so much more now. Good pair of jeans (which does not last forever like before) cost you 1/10 of your salary. Watching a movie with family, followed by dinner at a decent (not even up scale or posh) restaurant would cost you enough that you would consider it was someone’s birthday and you were the guest there. So what about the presentable spouse bit, if you don’t have tall dark handsome, government employee, engineer and bla bla bla as your expectation you got to be getting a match with ease. And with the zillions of social networking sites, parties, discotheque, pubs, clubs, parks. You ought to have found a match. Well yeah, of the same sex. With it being 4^th on the list of priority and the financial security and home seems to have got you in a vicious cycle of waiting for pay day, everyday. So we don’t really have time to really spend on either of these avenues. So what good has this globalization has done. Well you have so many comforts. Flat screen TV, DVD with home theaters, automatic washing machine, microwave oven, mobile phones which are strangely called ‘tablets’ perfume from all over the world. But you see I don’t have any cash left after paying the huge insurance and some investments to try save some tax. Well why worry when every other banks credit card is there in your wallet. Yeah right, I should take advantage of these big sales that these big mall are having. Wait a sec, am I missing something. What? The fact that they have set the prices so high that even after 50% discount you need the plastic? So what as if you have to pay now. You have up to 50 days to pay back the full thing and you pay no interest. You’re smart and I know you would be able to use borrowed money for free, so shop away. Get all that your heart desires. Ok! What if suddenly something came up and I can't pay the entire thing, well then you can always pay the minimum. Wait a sec, does that not mean that I would be charged exorbitant interest rate? Well that's a risk you need to take. Look at the flip side, you can have it all. And say 'My Life My Way!' So why is it that I am soo worried all the time, keep tap on the world news more than what's happening at home? Not likely that China would attack us, they only want a parts of our land. Why is that I follow the distant European Markets or the US Job figures. My life is not dependent on their stats, not directly at least. My life, my way, only on weekends or when I am off. My life my way, only when I am not worried dead with the debt. Today I have a need for things that I did not even know existed 20 years back. Today I worry about things which were not even invented 20 years back. So how is it better? Is it my life my way, remember.

Anna Harare with me or against?

I may not know much about the constitution or how there are loop holes in the judiciary which allows the politicians to cheat and get away. How ever I am really proud of the fact that we are part of the largest democracy in the world. I hate corruption, more so when it has something to do with our national security, food, medicine & health, above all national pride. I would love to live in an ideal world where you were punished for your crime in a methodical manner. As they say justice delayed is justice denied, which is mostly the case in our land. Coming back to the national rage call ‘Anna’ well I somehow did not like the guy from the beginning and some of what I write has something to do with it. At face value he came across as someone who is pretentious, hiding behind a time tested name and idealism called “Gandhi” impact of the name is so great that even the Great Empire fell, not without collaterally damage though. By product of which is the perennial problem which engulfs the sub-continent today. Our PM is a mild mannered man, again I have not met him personally as with the case with ‘Anna’ atleast that is what he comes across. Now the question? Am I for or against the ‘Anna’ version of the Jan Lok Pal Bill or the Government Version. My response I don’t know what either would do for us or the country as a whole. If it would really bring back all the black money, allegedly hidden in Swiss Accounts? Whether it would mean that we would not have Politician with corrupt record? Whether it would mean that we would have to create an incentive program just to get some politicians, since it will no longer be a lucrative industry. Behind my ignorance I have a very vague understanding of the promise the self appointed public face claims. How we would have Lokayuta, with power in each state. How they would have power to investigate anybody? And how that would ensure that we have corrupt politician brought to books. Well I am loosely following the Karnataka Saga. How after many many attempts the CM has let go of his seat, not before placing his proxy in it. I know how Bellary Bros continue to prosper. I am certain there would many such rules that are being flaunted everyday in every state in our country. I wonder if there would be civil war if we start prosecuting each and every corrupt politicians? Since after all they have a majority mandate from 1.2 billions Indians, compared to less than 0.5 percent held by ‘Anna’

So my question is not the intent, which seems too rosy to be true. Since in a famous movie it is said, if something seem fishy, that is cause it is fishy… Well now let say these few lakh people manage to take the government hostage and win at the end, albeit with the help of major media houses. What next, would this be the precedent then? Organize a few lakh people to believe in your cause and shout slogans? The Anti UP- Bihar brigade in Maha have much greater number. Or even Save the Tiger campaign. So would we go to war with China if enough Tibetan people go on hunger strike? Or would we agree to Autonomous Kashmeer if they do the same? Answer would be with jerk of your shoulders “obviously not!” well you would say you the cause needs to be logical and reasonable. What is logical? What is acceptable? Do majority of Indains want Hindi as our national Language? The true question we should ask? Should we allow this much power to anyone? The gay right have more supporters and makes complete sense? Why does that not get enough time on air? Well that is not what would make good watching? So what am I proposing, stop these movement? No! Do think there is a solution to this problem? Yes, at least in theory, as is this Bill. Well this is great that we have a voice against corruption, now what we truly need is a grass root movement against it. Not up down but the other way around. Every citizen says no to corruption. Each time we witness something wrong happening, we get involved. Be it drug peddling, liquor sold to minor or in black or a girl being kidnapped for trade. So am I talking about Citizens Justice? Would that not create a parallel policing system? Would that not mean taking the law in our own hand? Well no country can be safe if we only wait for the cops to take the lead. It is not just possible to have a cop in every street. The more cops we have, the lesser we would pay them, hence increasing the chances of petty corruption and that is how is starts. So what I am saying is we act as partners with the cops. If say we are traveling to work and see something happening on the road, we mostly feel and move on. Use the citing as a topic to start the day with. Instead we should be moving towards a way of life that would encourage an individual to take a stand and not just feel sorry and reach work on time.

What we need is be active when we live on the streets and not only when we attend a rallies or watch TV or participate in impromptu debate over tea and biscuit. To be honest we would stand admire ‘Anna’ if truly move towards a cleaner country. I know the man has built a model village, which creates its own energy. I know there are a lot of great names supporting his cause. I wish we have a national movement on this. Well as said in Shaitaan, screw the tiger save the parsi… I say lets put everything second and national pride first. As it almost happened leading up to our independence. Enough for one day, if this has value would write more soon…