A four column article on the Edit page of Economic Times headlined ” Anna: From Triumph to Folly” on August 17 written by an intellectual made me realize that it is better to be perceived as a little crazy than being regarded as a drawing room intellectual. The author in his “Serendipity” column criticized Anna Hazare’s agitation questioning how long the protests can be sustained. He was also cynical about the demands and methods of the protestors. He compared Anna Hazare with the Yoga Guru Ramdev Baba and expressed the hope that Team Hazare will avert the perils of overreach that consumed Baba Ramdev after creating a splash. He said by taking on the Constitution , Anna loses some of the sheen of his initial success.
Just two days later the same newspaper carried an extensive article quoting an agency report as to how the British media likened the Anna Hazare phenomenon to the advent of “a new Gandhi,” and described his campaign as “stunningly successful”.
I don’t blame the author for his pessimism. There are many armchair intellectuals and critics who are disillusioned by the whole system and feel that it serves little purpose to raise their voice . They scoff, jeer and poke fun at people who try to change the system . People like him are the one side of the spectrum in the society.
On the other side of the spectrum you find people who can be perceived as the “nutty rebels”. They do not mind taking on the whole system even at the perils of being dubbed as fools. All they need is a good leader who can show them the way. In India a number of youth tonsured their heads as a mark of protest to observe the ” Death Ceremony of the Government” when the police arrested Anna Hazare . People from all ages joined hands to support the anti-corruption movement. On August 16, a number of school children forced their parents to shut down the power for two hours from eight pm to nine pm as a mark of protest. And the interesting fact is that it is these people who make a difference to the world.
Not everyone who have resorted to fast have succeeded in their mission. Potti Sriramulu famously died fasting for a separate Andhra Pradesh. Irom Sharmila Chanu has been fasting for the past 11 years and barely anyone knows about it. This woman known as the Iron Lady of Manipur has been on an political fast since November 4, 2000 demanding the Government of India to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Manipur and other areas of India’s north-east.
India needs more rebels. Not drawing room intellectuals. In 1899 two brothers Wilbur and Orville had a “nutty idea” to fly like a bird. People laughed at them. Today people travel all over the world—thanks to those two nutty rebels who were the inventors of airplane.
This reminds me about an interesting story which I read, though I do not know who wrote it.
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, What are you doing?
The boy replied, Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.
Son, the man said, don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said.
I made a difference for that one.
So folks, lets make a difference. If possible take a lead, if not follow a good leader, if you can’t do even that, at least get out of the way.
