The note accompanying the photograph mentions, among other things how…

After a decade of meritorious service in IAS, today, Narayanaswamy is being forced out of the IAS profession.

Leaving aside the fact that it is practically impossible to force anyone out of IAS, let us continue with the note (emphasis added)..

…Mr. Narayanaswamy is on the verge of leaving IAS to go to Paris to take up a well paid United Nations assignment. The politicians can laugh thinking another obstacle has been removed. But it is the helpless people of this country who will lose – not Narayanaswamy. But you have the power to support capable and honest bureaucrats

…You have even the power to replace such politicians with these kind of people dedicated to the country. The question is will you do the little you can do NOW? At least a vote or word in support of such personalities?

The bit about the “helpless people” got me going.  I have often lamented the loss in confidence and fatalist attitude resulting from six decades of pathetic leadership and governance. This was the latest manifestation of that..This is what I wrote in response:

1. Raju Narayan Swamy continues to be in the IAS*. This year, he will complete his 20th year in the service (he is from the same batch as me). If I am not mistaken he is currently a Secretary in Dept. of Youth Affairs in Kerala.
2. In a democracy, the “power” lies with elected representatives – as it should be.
3. It is up to us – the voters – to make them do our bidding and up to us to stand up to them as citizens and make them accountable.
4. “Helpless” people of the country lose because most are unwilling to participate in public life, in civic discourse, in political affairs.
5. “Politics” – the noblest of all professions has today become a dirty word. And most people have zero interest in any discussion on “politics”
6. We – You and Me – are responsible for this state of affairs – not the politicians. We elected them – they have not descended from heaven.
7. My final point: If you – and your colleagues, friends and supporters in IAC are serious about political reform and systemic change, we will have to do more and go deep…beyond facebook, twitter, fasts and marches..We will have to prepare for a political career…

Here is a an invitation to all of you…Join me at 8pm on 26th Jan for an online discussion on “What can You and I do to bring about Systemic Change?”. Are you ready for it? Do you have the fire in you to prepare for the long war? If yes, join us in this fight…Jai Hind, Jai Bharat! – Shantanu

P.S. There have been a few other notables from my batch. Pl google for “Marie Lou Fernandes” and you will know what I mean. * I know at least half a dozen colleagues from IAS from my batch who left the services..Marie Lou left too..and I did as well.

A day after I left this comment  on IAC Indore’s wall, I saw this on IAC’s wall (apparently posted around 10pm on Sunday):

There is..need for political movements tht can change national consciousness

Finally, wisdom appears to have dawned on IAC. Better late than never, I think.

Related Post: Now, not just worried but also angry with IAC and Anna

P.S. Stay tuned for more details of the chat on 26th Jan. It is very likely to be in the evening, most probably from 8pm – 930pm IST.

As an example, see this recent news-report about pending RTI applications…

Staff shortage results in a pile of 19,000 pending RTI appeals in Maharashtra

Does this surprise you? Probably not.

Which is why I keep making the point that the real solution must be to focus on “Open Government” rather than another law or more babus…That is how things should be..We don’t need a law (RTI) and then additional bureaucracy (staff to deal with RTI applications). Far better to insist on openness, transparency and easy access to information.. Does this remind you of something?

Tavleen Singh made the same point in her Op-Ed piece today (emphasis added):

Had our political leaders been less duplicitous, they would have admitted that it was lack of transparency in governance that was the root of corrupt practices but they did not.

The only way of reducing corruption in India is by making governance simple and transparent.

Sadly Team Anna does not understand this (or more likely, *pretends* not to understand; although Arvind Kejriwal has at least once alluded to this)..and so we see fasts, rallies and protest marches for Lokpal but Tavleen Singh gets booed for speaking the blunt truth.

So this year, please make a resolution to go deep and below the surface to understand the real causes of what ails India and help others understand them too…We have to do this as our schools and mainstream media have failed to inculcate in us the habit of thinking & deep thought…and until we do this, all we will get are quick-fixes and band-aids – which are pretty much useless in dealing with the cancer of corruption..

P.S. Here is a brief snippet (~2mins) from my talk at IIM Indore in which I made this point.

Related Posts: A great model of good governance and Prof Sh Lalu Yadav, Railway Berths and RTI

Also read: Do we really need a Lokpal?

Image courtesy: Zenoss

I believe and I claim that you can count the number of corrupt leaders of the political class.

Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi

केजरीवाल ने बताया कि जब भी कोर कमेटी का विस्तार होगा, उसमें दलित व मुसलमान को भी शामिल किया जाएगा। बैठक में तय हुआ कि अब पोस्टर हिंदी के साथ उर्दू में भी छपेंगे।  [

[loose translation] Kejriwal said that whenever the core committee is expanded, it will also have Dalits and Muslims. It was decided that the posters will now also be in Urdu, along with Hindi.

and..

केजरीवाल ने संवाददाताओं से कहा, “भ्रष्टाचार से वैसे तो हम सभी त्रस्त हैं, लेकिन सबसे अधिक गरीब और समाज के दबे-कुचले लोग परेशान हैं। चूंकि हमारे मुस्लिम भाइयों की आर्थिक स्थिति कमजोर है, इसलिए भ्रष्टाचार से वे ज्यादा प्रभावित हैं।”

[loose translation] We are all affected by corruption but the ones most affected at the poor and the down-trodden. Since our Muslim brothers are economically weaker, they are more affected by corruption.

and finally…

उन्होंने कहा, “अल्पसंख्यक समुदाय के प्रतिनिधियों के साथ बैठक में सभी की राय यही थी कि जाति, धर्म और सम्प्रदाय से ऊपर उठाकर देश के लोगों को भ्रष्टाचार जैसी बुराई को जड़ से उखाड़ फेंकने के लिए आगे आना चाहिए”।

[loose translation] He said, “It was the opinion of all at the meeting with representatives of the minority community that people of the country should rise above jaati, religion and dharma to root out corruption“

I am now convinced that Arvind would make a wonderful politician! It is a shame he is not thinking of contesting elections

Related Posts:  While you were worrying about Anna and Corruption.. , Now, not just worried but also angry with IAC and Anna …

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The complete video of the talk is here.