Censorship and abdication of the state !

It is off course old news, the ban on Kamal Hassan's movie and the outrage news media has moved on since to the VVIP helicopter scam, as of 24X7 is like a genie which needs new and new challenges and does not really have the time to linger on the past.

The spectacle of a movie cleared by the censor board and even released in other nations and states but is banned in the home state of TN because the CM says she does not have the security to guard each cinema hall.  In a clear abdication of her responsibilities  she goes on to give a mathematical calculation of the police constables available and she cannot protect 550+ theaters. By that logic none of 1 billion Indians excluding VVIPS and industrialists are safe in this country.

 In a country where a facebook status update can get you arrested or girl band can be bullied into submission by a fatwa and threats in social media and a government which does little to curb the fringe elements across religious lines only creates a social where the majority prefers to be silent and watch freedoms been curbed.

A society where law enforcement is limited, a police force which is intimidating and court cases which takes years to be taken to resolution, there is little hope but rather more cynicism and anger on the system. this was  seen in the aftermath of the Delhi gangrape case, instead of engaging the youth the government instead used water cannons and lathi charge on the crowds.

How curious is that, the government finds it easier to terrorize the slient majority than take action on the fringe elements. If a veteran actor like Kamal Hassan can be bullied into re-censoring a movie then what chance does the common man have ?

As it stands, there is little hope left, the middle class is so helpless, they are ready to follow any voice which will take on the system which can represent a radical change, i.e. earlier the support for Jan lokpal and now the fascination for the iron leader from Gujarat, in a way looking for a easy way out of the mess.

Every time we step back with a movie ban, facebook & twitter related arrest or remove paintings from a museum, we are only digging ourselves into a deeper and darker pit.

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably - Star Trek TNG

The churn but just the beginning ...

The recent uprising of the Indian middle class especially the youth in protests against the Delhi gang rape case and earlier the Janlokpal movement shows an interesting shift in the social consciousness of modern India. Media pundits and sociologists are describing this as a final change in the typical Indian apathy driven mindset. If you are following Indian media and news papers reports, a lay man would form the following opinions:- 

• The Indian government has failed in the Indian state and there is complete breakdown in law and order, Indian women are not safe anywhere
• The Indian middle class has completely awakened and this is Indian equivalent of Arab Springs 
• The misogynistic views made by certain religious and political leaders are been condemned across the nation
• The accused should be given severe punishment like Arab nations or castration 

Although the above statements are true in partial measure, there are shades of grey in all aspects of the points discussed, although the Indian government has failed in protecting the victim in Delhi and many other cases, but unlike the Arab nations which deny many freedom particularly to women.

The Indian govt. definitely missed a great opportunity to connect with the youth and instead resorted to water cannons and lathi charges which only helped in reducing their already limited credibility to further shambles and in the current social media and sensationalist news media had a ready story in hand to exploit. 

Although the middle class has shown a change and shown signs of participation, it is still an urban camera friendly protests which only identifies with the causes close to its psyche and cannot identify with causes like caste discrimination and vast social inequality or even  crimes against women in rural India.

Although I cannot agree with most of Mohan Bhagwat's statements but definitely there is a Bharat and India emerging which share the same geography but heading towards different economic opportunities available to them. The misogynists and old age view held by many draconian minds will not change over night , it will require sustained focus by the people. 

The media has as an invested interest in the social protests and state of unrest, it gives them ready fuel and drama to run a 24X7 news channel and their true interest is only tapping into the unrest of the Indian masses and not in actually solving any real problems.

The churn in the youth has began which is encouraging but it still needs further direction and also reconciliation with the rural India to have an effective pan India movement which will drive true change. The Indian constitution has enough freedom and laws to enable this change but this requires a new kind of leadership needs to emerge from civil society and ordinary walk of life to make this happen. 

India's "Beta-cracy"

Just yesterday I was watching Karan Johar's latest movie Student of the Year starring the Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan the kids of Mahesh Bhatt and David Dhawan respectively. In this movie, there was another character who had a decent role, a chubby bespectacled kid Parsi boy who had pretty strong lines and scenes considering the usual scope of a supporting role like that of the hero's friend.  I felt happy at-least Kjo had a heart to give lines to a non-star kid. 

Turns out that Parsi kid is Kayoze Irani, the son of Boman Irani another star son launch. DAMN. 

It is not just Kjo giving an easy platform to the star kids, there are plenty of examples of Kapoors, Deols and  even Bhagnanis where it just matters what your surname is. Very few outsiders can even hope to break in the clique and even if they do they did need to work twice as hard to maintain their position.

Even looking beyond Bollywood, look in the corporate industry or politics, you will see several examples of seats been kept warm for the scions. Even in media you have several star sons and daughters, Barkha Dutt is the daughter of leading journalist Prabha Dutt. Rajdeep Sardesai is the son of cricketer of Dileep Sardesai. Sagarika Ghosh is the wife of Rajdeep. Prannoy Roy is the brother in law of Prakat Karat.  

There is not one field in India which are not run by select group of well-connected families. I remember reading in an article few years back, the Pakistan legislature is controlled by 200+ families, I suspect the Indian Parliament must also show similar trends.

The reverse question which people will raise is, if begin a star son a disqualification and speak about the services rendered by the previous generation and qualifications they have acquired. Whilst this is true, the fact is this, it is only a reflection of a feudal mindset where the masses give control of their lives to benevolent landowners or Kings.

Thats why even though I do not really endorse all the following people, I really appreciate the rise of Mamata Banerjee, Narendra Modi, Kejriwal, NRN, Arnab Goswami, John Abraham. India definitely needs change in all fields be it politics, business world, civil service, news media and entertainment.  There needs to be a clear break from the "Beta-cracy" which is plaguing our nation.

The question is will this makes a big difference, will the new blood which will replace the old guard make a difference or will it remain the same. 

The same fiery Bal Thackeray and Karunidhi who drove the Congress dynasty to the ground in the 60-70s are battling with a large dynasty of their own. The vicious circle of nepotism rears its ugly head. The un-holy nexus between politics, business and government is what leading the country to the un-heard of levels of corruptions. 

As the Joker says in The Dark Knight - " The city deserves a better class of criminals" 

Why the Civil society must realise there are no quick fixes

As I write this post, the second indefinite fast to death has been started by Baba Ramdev Yoga guru and star of Aastha channel in his struggle against black money.Predictably there time around there is viewer fatigue as we just emerge from Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption took place in Jantar Mantar which was described by eager beaver journalists as India's Tahir Square moment and Anna Hazare as the next Mahatma.

Both eulogies are over exaggerations and India is a not a banana republic or run by despots like Murabarak or Saddam Hussein or Col. Gaddafi. I have read the Jan Lok Pal and it has some major naive assumptions and some cunning clauses to get permanent authority to civil society members without accountability. I doubt how many of us have really read the Jan lok pal draft before deciding to support Anna Hazare.


Points I disagree on the Jan Lok Pal Draft - full draft link

• Lokpal will collect 10% fine on each case of corruption detected and it goes to a Lok pal fund which will disbursed to improve Lokpal infrastructure - (undermine the financial/fiscal responsibility of the govt.) 
• Selection committee to include all Nobel laureates of Indian origin - ( why should people like V.S Naipaul, Prof Venkat Ramkrishnan and Dr. Amartya Sen who have long left India to pursue own interests aboard be allowed to part of such a key decision making process) 
• Selection committee to include Last 3 Magsaysay award winners - ( no surprises includeArvind Kejriwal, P. Sainath and Kiran Bedi amongst others) 
• Lokpal be a super cop, quasi judiciary and even hand out sentences demean all the Indian institutions.
• Section 27 – Protection where the Lok Pal will have complete judicial immunity for acts of good faith - (such a naive assumption Lok pal will be above aboard in such a so called corrupt nation) 

Points I disagree with Anna Hazare 

• Indian Constitution and institutions are so rotten that we need a new extra-constitutional body to be pointed by persons having external accreditation's from Nobel Prize and Magsaysay awards
• The assumption all our elected representatives are corrupt and Indian voters are not sensible enough to vote for the right candidate. Mr. Hazare said if he stood in an election he would lose his deposit
• His flip flops on Narendra Modi shows his lack of a consistent political view
• His left wing friends like Swami Agnivesh who is a known Maoist sympathizer and Medha Patkar a known anti dam/development activist who have agendas of their own

Points I disagree with Baba Ramdev List of Baba Ramdev's demands

• his bizarre demand to ban 500 and 1000 rupee notes, and to declare an ordinance on bringing back black money to India and promoting Hindi at the expense of English . With due respect he is no expert on economics.
• his clear right wing linkage with the RSS and people who were involved in the Ram janam bhoomi moment like Sadhvi Ritammbara 
• He is still to come clean on his source of wealth, his private jets and 18 crore 5 star satyagraha at Ram lila maidan. 

Points I disagree with Arundhati Roy

• her constant glorification of the Maoist moment knowing full well bloodshed is never a long term solution is mischievous and dangerous.
• her support to the Kashmiri separatist moment, in fact she seceded from the Indian republic and declared her self an independent mobile republic way back in 1998.

The cure worse than the disease ??
I agree government has been losing credibility and instead of an constructive opposition which can take on the govt. the fringe voices like Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev and people like Arundhati Roy are getting even more footage and media space. My greatest fear is these misguided “civil society” members are wanting quick fixes and little accountability, and by targeting the political class institutions there are only creating anarchy in the nation.

I agree there is rampant accountability issues with the political class but the ballet gives us the opportunity to make a change. Democracy is still the best way forward.You need to toil and work closely on the ground, Mamata Banerjee's example of her diligent efforts to end the 34 years of the Left rule. Off course time will decide Mamata's legacy but for a woman with no god fathers and no corruption charges on her as of now yet she represents to me a glimmer of hope and trust on Indian democracy.

I strongly feel before we run out and start chasing any leader proposing a quick fix to nation problems and using anarchy instead of working to strengthen the Indian democracy we must question their motives and tactics as much as we distrust the political class.

With all respect I invite the leaders of the civil society to engage the Indian voters directly and enter the political system to gain authority and accountability of all Indians.It may take 10-20 years not a 5 day media circus to affect real change. 

 
Fasting for complex nations issues is not going to solve issues as quickly as eating fast food.