In which I appear alongside Vidya Balan…
..or Notes from the Road and the 3 States, 4 cities, 20hr workdays Outreach…
Its been more than a week since I got into my normal routine…but the ideas keep coming in …The outreach earlier this month was one of the most intensive to date. It was also a great learning experience and a chance to see first-hand the impact of Anna-ji and IAC on the socio-political landscape in India. I witnessed that impact first-hand – at colleges in Odisha and at meetings in Delhi, in MP and in numerous conversations over the last few days…There is so much to share and write but I want to keep this short and share some key observations with all of you.
Key Observations:
- Anna’s movement & India Against Corruption has definitely helped raise the level of political awareness in India – especially urban and semi-urban India and those in the 20 -35 age group.
- This is a positive thing for everyone working towards political reforms in India and a great indirect booster to all such movements and organisations
- Its other notable positive impact is the confidence it has given to people that this fight can be won..that change can be brought about; that “is se farak padega“
- The euphoria generated by the movement though has provided many people with an “intellectual shortcut” while discussing change and fundamental systemic reform (such as an open – and smaller – government).
- In discussion after discussions, I found myself fighting to explain to people why LokPal is not a magic bullet and why we must not get into a self-congratulatory mode and loose sight of the longer term goals
- It was heartening to see a genuine interest among students and youngsters to do something and get involved in politics
- There is a good chance that the next elections may see some new, fresh faces in Parliament – there is a definite momentum for change. I hope it sustains over the period of next few years.
- This was probably the first mass movement that successfully leveraged several social networking tools and advances in communications technology. There is a lesson here for everyone involved in communicating any idea to urban India
- It was clear that the movement had managed to cut across party lines and class divides..It also managed to bridge ideological differences and caste barriers (to the extent these still prevail in urban India). Its base appeared to be truly broad and representative.
Most Depressing Day: 31st August. This was the day I visited a village near Indore (Kodaria, near Mhow) with my good fried Atul (also involved in IAC). We spent a few hours there, talking to several people and taking a long walk around the village…What we saw was horribly depressing – non-existent paths, sewage spilling over on to the streets, a collapsing drainage system and stagnant pools of water. We also heard about an unresponsive administration, lack of funds for development and saw first-hand how uncontrolled urbanisation can lead to serious public health and hygiene issues. It was truly depressing and it made us wonder where do we begin…It reminded me of another walk I had taken around Cheeta Camp in Mumbai, 2 years back. Here are some pics from around the “village” (actually fairly well developed, being adjacent to an army cantonment)
Most Heartening Event: The 40+ youngsters that turned up at another village near Indore (Simrole) on 1st September to meet and discuss various issues with us (me and some FTI collegues from Indore). This was the second time we were visiting the village. We noticed distinct signs of change – including two very heartening initiatives by the youngsters themselves (to teach computers to students and to guide them on various career options). Undoubtedly the “high” of this visit.
Most Surprising Factoid: We learnt that the village of Kodaria with a population of 20,000 gets a mere Rs 8 Lakhs from the government (annually). If true, this is shocking. Do readers have any other information that can validate (or contradict) this? Is that really the amount a gram panchayat gets from the government?
And finally, DNA Indore published a brief interview with me which probably got a lot more attention than usual – purely by chance! Here is a link to the full text
Related Posts: Some memories from Odisha and MP… and 3 States, 4 cities, 20+ hr workdays…
P.S. On an unrelated note, why is that regardless of where you travel, the roads in urban and semi-urban India just cannot seem to cope with rains? I just cannot believe that a country that can launch a “Chandrayaan” cannot build all-season roads. Â Isn’t that embarrassing?
P.P.S. Stay tuned for vides from some of these meetings. Hope to upload them later this week. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!
Meanwhile the process of “Reclaiming India – One Step at a Time” continues...here, here, here and here!
“P.S. On an unrelated note, why is that regardless of where you travel, the roads in urban and semi-urban India just cannot seem to cope with rains?”
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Would this have something to do with getting multiple contracts to rebuild the roads, rather than not having access to know-how regarding how to build better roads which can withstand rains? Just a thought, based on my observations when I was in high school.
And, all the best to you, Shantanu. Your actions are quite inspiring.
I noticed the headline is based on an Arundhati Roy film.
Shantanu, It is heartening to glean from your observations that you were open to the “Anna Movement”. Most intellectuals have taken a posture which I may call “studiously distant”.
Maybe they found the movement to be somewhat low-brow or simplistic or both.
There is no doubt that the main thrust of the movement was simplistic. Jan Lokpal bill is no magic bullet. It can also become a part of the “corrupt” system – which I am quite confident it will! — what is required is a Systemic Change.
But may I also add that aspiring Leaders, like you, should try to understand that a society always responds to Emotion – not Logic. You could – or can, still! – take advantage of this movement and riding on its crest establish a base for yourself.
In fact there is an urgent need for small initiatives like FTI etc. to come together, and take advantage of the emotive appeals of such movements and take advantage of such opportunities to embed themselves in people’s hearts and minds – what is called जनमानस in Hindi!
You should not stay aloof, as others have done, but take advantage of and also learn from such movements.
This was the first such movement I have seen in my lifetime, and it was very heartening. But without good leaders, it can also become a forgotten moment of History. Let us strive not to let it become so!
Vande Mataram! Jai HInd!
Shantanu, you excel yourself. This is brilliant! Look forward to your continued efforts.
And @Gyamp, FTI is not a “small movement”. It is designed to be the definitive and substantive national political group (party?) for India for the next 5000 years. Its basis is FREEDOM – the most significant political base of any political and economic effort.
The fact that India still hasn’t found the right set of leaders doesn’t mean FTI is small. It simply means it is developing at the pace of India. If India’s growth of leaders is slow, FTI will be slow. FTI has no intention of rushing in to exploit “emotions”. We are here for the long haul. The journey is about the TOTAL TRANSFORMATION of India. It can’t be done by grabbing every emotional wave. It can only be done by total stillness and calm. By being focused on the goal.
Instead of advising FTI, it would be more useful if you actually join FTI. That’s the need of the hour (indeed the need of the century). No country can succeed if its worst people rise to the top.
Let’s change the system and ensure that the best people rise to the top (not as a matter of “power” but as a matter of responsible citizenship).
All: Thanks for the kind words…All this is only possible because of unstinting support of my soul-mate & my daughter…It would have been impossible to do any of this without that…
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@Kaffir: You are absolutely right…This has nothing to do with access rto technology..I think the tech exists – and that is why it is so embarrassing…I think it is largely due to poor execution, lack of oversight and zero accountability…
@Salil: Indeed!
@Gyan: You are aware of the posts I had written about IAC and Anna..but as I mentioned above, there is no doubt that this has had a huge – and in many ways – positive impact..
I think it is up to us to channelise the energy and the confidence generated in a positive direction.
As for emotions, you are absolutely right…I have said this publicly before (and continue to believe) that at the polling booth, it is the heart that rules not the brain.
@Sanjeev: Thanks…I am hoping one outcome of this would be an FTI Cuttack chapter. Fingers crossed.
Sanjeev Sabhlok:
How many developed countries – which, according to you are doing much better than India – do you know where emotions play (or have played in the past) minimal-to-zero role in political movements or in elections? Have you done a survey and come up with some kind of hypothesis based on facts?
Shantanu,
Thanks for this, inspiring indeed. That day is not far, when I will be taking the plunge too. I am writing this down here so that it just doesn’t remain wandering in my mind. Thanks to you and Sanjeev(Have started BFN – enlightening and humbling:).
Keep up the good work. If I am reading this and getting inspired I don’t doubt others will too. Thanks again.
Hello Shantanu,
Came across this post just today. I keep dropping in now and then. Your efforts are praiseworthy. Gyanp’s advice is sound.
Good luck and hope to peep in more often.
lp
Thanks Lara..and look forward to seeing you here more often…