Ramlila Maidan- A black and white experience

En route to the Ramlila Maidan, we cross the Embassy Road. After passing by the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, I see a DTC bus heading in the direction opposite to us. In the crowd it holds; a man sitting by the window stands out because of his tiranga colored face. For me, his is the first face resonating The Revolution happening a few kilometers away. The music of revolution is the faintest here. As we head towards the Maidan the music blares louder, both- metaphorically and literally.

I go to the Maidan as a translator to a German journalist. While on the way, I think to myself, ‘Am I for it or against it?’ For everything that we do in life, we have to deal with three kinds of opinions- encouraging, discouraging, naysayers/neutral/always pessimistic. Who am I?

As I mull over the thought, I look out of the window to see Sonia Gandhi’s house-cum- United Progressive Alliance (UPA) headquarters and people conducting dharna outside of it. Some people say that Sonia Gandhi has studied up to fifth class only. She supposedly wrote a letter signed by 340 MPs to former President Kalam, for Prime Ministership. Being born in Italy, she can’t become a PM in India.



Photograph by Saad Akhtar



As we go past her house, I decide that I am going to see everything in black and white today. For me, History is always captured in Black and White film. Also, the environment around the Ramlila Maidan looks like photographs straight out of a museum collection. SNAP! One photo captured in my memory.

We accompany and are accompanied by people shouting slogans on bikes and in cars bearing the Tiranga. Some people start a spontaneous livelihood by selling ‘Mein Hoon Anna’ caps and Tiranga in all sizes, (SNAP! ); foreigners Rs. 75/- and for Indian looking people, Rs. 5/- (Never understood the logic of overcharging foreigners, it’s embarrassing.)

Almost about 50% people in the masses turn up because they want to be a part of the history. They think that history is being created on the stage where Anna is seated. How naïve! I am sure that the other 50% are aware that their presence at Ramlila Maidan makes a vital part of the history.

On reaching the Maidan, we weave through the crowd. I am relieved because no man has touched me inappropriately. I manage to reach the left side of the stage, because I am with the German journalist. He holds the PRESS card.

I see a larger-than-life poster of Mahatma Gandhi in the backdrop and Anna sitting in the foreground. I try not to read too much into the facial similarity of both. I am distracted by a kid who is enlightening me on whom to interview. ‘Arre, Arvind (Kejriwal) se baat kar na!’ Behind us are several crews with cameras pointing at a certain gentleman. ‘India News?’ I go mentally. ‘Never heard of them’. The kid runs into the jhoond of camera people and runs back, ‘Woh Asif Mohammed* hai.’ Thank you kiddo.

People gather in more numbers by every minute. We want to stop corruption. First we will struggle to get a Bill passed. Then in the long run, we will struggle to implement it. For the moment, I see a lot of struggle on the stage done by Team Anna. They are engaging the audience- emotionally and politically. They keep talking and updating people on the latest happenings. “Abhi Abhi khabar aayi hai ki Pradhan Mantriji ke Guwahati sadan ke saamne dharna rakha gaya hai.” Kiran Bedi waves Tiranga periodically. On my left is a special entrance for people who are allowed to go on the stage. An old man is urging the security to let him meet Anna. Not many people are permitted to meet him. I ask a volunteer the reason. ‘Infection ho jayega Anna ko.’ Hmm… I wonder how. A Priest sidelines the old man and whizzes towards the stage to meet Anna. The old man soon follows suit.


In the twilight, I happen to look at the crowd. Waving flags, singing Vande Mataram and Allah Tero Naam, simultaneously, Muslim men are offering the Isha Namaaz in front of the stage facing the crowd. Powerful. (SNAP!) Large amounts of water and juice glasses are distributed in the crowd because the Roza is terminated for the day. I want to drink the juice. It looks delicious. Since the man who is distributing is not offering me, I let it go. I feel too embarrassed to ask for it. I resolve to drink a lot of juice after reaching home.


Jan Lokpal Bill in the physical venue of Ramlila Maidan takes on a more intense meaning. Some people present here do not know what it really means. We, at the Maidan, have finally got a chance to be good people. Genuinely good human beings. We have come together for a good cause. We (the men) behave well with women. We (the men) don’t molest them. In fact, we (the men) can be good friends with women. I am saying this because I am leaning too close to a cameraman to ask him something. Had we been elsewhere, people would have thought we are snogging. But not here, not in the Maidan.


Here, we want to believe in good. We want to believe that good will come out of the struggle. We want to love and we want to show the love. We want to support the man who has not eaten for days and he looks extremely ill…

As per the published document of the Government proposed Lokpal bill and Team Anna proposed Jan Lokpal Bill; following are some of the facts that are highlighted. The Bill has been read by me and an attempt of interpretation is made to the best of my knowledge. The Bill has been sourced by www.indiaagainstcorruption.org


LOKPAL BILL


COLLEGIUM
1. Chief Justice of India or Judge of Supreme Court

2. Any person (other than a judicial member)nominated by a Central Government member, who is a person of impeccable integrity, outstanding ability, having special knowledge and expertise of not less than 25 years in the matters relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance including insurance and banking, law and management. Similar people may also be a part of the Search Committee. Search Committee may* be established to appoint members of Lokpal Committee.

3. MPs and MLAs who have resigned from their original office
4. All of the following are appointed by the President as members for Lokpal:
4a. Prime Minister
4b. Speaker of Lok Sabha
4c. Leader of Opposition in the Council of States
4d. Union Cabinet Minister recommended by the Prime Minister
4e. Sitting Judge of Supreme Court recommended by Chief Justice of India
4f. An eminent jurist to be nominated by the Central Government


INVESTIGATION WING
1. Investigation Officer shall conduct investigation of any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988*.
2. The investigation officer shall assume the role of the Police in an investigation.


PROSECUTION
Inquiries can be made against:
1. Prime Minister, after he no longer holds the position of Prime Minister
2. Any Minister of Union

3. Any Member of Parliament (Exception: No inquiries shall be made in matters involving verbal allegations of corruption in the Parliament session or otherwise- protection provided under Clause (2) Article 105 of Constitution*)

4. Any Group A officer*
5. Director/Manager/Secretary/Officer of every other Society/Trust, partially or wholly aided by Government or receiving donation from the public
6. Any person serving in connection with the affairs of the State (no action can be taken without the consent of the State Government)


PROCEDURE
1. The Lokpal, on receipt of a complaint, may either make preliminary inquiry or direct the same to the Investigation Wing.

2. Every preliminary inquiry or investigation should ordinarily be completed within 30 days from the date of complaint. A period of 3 months would be given to create a written document of the same.

3. A Prima Facie case is made against the Public Servant in question and he is given the chance to speak in defense. (…provided that no such order* shall be passed without giving such officer or employee of the Lokpal or officer or employee of agency engaged or associated, a reasonable opportunity of being heard.)

4. If the Investigating Authority finds out that no Prima Facie case is made out after preliminary inquiries and after hearing out the Public Servant, the complaint is closed.
5. In situations, where Prima Facie case is made out, it will be open to Public (knowledge). Only in exceptional cases, the proceedings will be captured on camera.
6. In cases where preliminary inquiry is made out, the case should be submitted for scrutinization to the Lokpal, before a charge sheet is filed.
7. In case, the Lokpal proceeds to inquire into the complaint, the inquiry is held as expeditiously as possible and it is completed within a period of six months from the date of receipt of the complaint. In case of further extension of six months, the reasons should be recorded in writing.


POWERS OF LOKPAL
1. If the Lokpal has reason to believe that any document, which in its opinion, shall be useful for, or relevant to, any investigation or inquiry under this Act, are secreted in any place, it may authorize any officer of the Investigation Wing, to search for and to seize such documents.
2. For the purpose of any inquiry, the Lokpal shall have all the powers of a civil court, under Code of Civil Procedure 1908*
3. The President commands power in hiring and firing Lokpal Committee members. For example: The President may order, remove from the Office the Chairperson or any Member as the case may be-
-Adjudged an insolvent

-Engages during the term of his office, in any paid employment outside the duties of his office; or

-In the opinion of President unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind and body.

4. There will be no reappointment of Member/Chairperson once removed from Lokpal Committee.


COMPLAINTS AGAINST CHAIRPERSON, MEMBERS AND OFFICIALS OF LOKPAL
1. The Lokpal shall not inquire into any complaint made against the Chairperson/Member.
2. Any complaint against the Chairperson or Member shall be made by an application by the party aggrieved, to the President.
3. The President shall, in case there exists a Prima Facie case for bias or corruption, make reference to the Chief Justice of India in such a manner as may be prescribed for inquiring into the complaint against the Chairperson or Member.
4. The President shall decide the action against the Chairperson or Member on the basis if the opinion of the Chief justice of India and in case the President is satisfied, on the basis of the said opinion that the Chairperson or the Member is biased or has indulged in corruption, the President shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the subsection (1) of section 8*, remove such Chairperson or the Member and also order for initiation of prosecution in case of allegation of corruption.
5. Every complaint of allegation or wrongdoing made against any officer or employee or investigation agency under or associated with the Lokpal for offence punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of this section.

6. The Lokpal shall complete the inquiry into the complaint or allegation made, within a period of 30 days from the date of its receipt. [The Member/Officer found guilty of charges pressed against him, shall be prosecuted within 15 days of completion of the inquiry.]

7. While making an inquiry into the complaint against any officer or employee of the Lokpal or agency engaged or associated with the Lokpal, if the Lokpal is Prima Facie satisfied on the basis of evidence available that-
- Continuance of such officer or employee of the Lokpal is in his post or agency engaged or associated while conducting the inquiry is likely to affect such inquiry adversely or-
- An officer or employee of the Lokpal or agency engaged or associated is likely to destroy or in any way tamper with the evidence or influence witnesses
8. Then, the Lokpal may, by order, suspend such officer or employee of the Lokpal or divest such agency engaged with the Lokpal of all powers and responsibilities thereto before exercised by it.

*Asif Mohammed- Muslim Leader, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bihar
* May- It is not necessary that a Search Committee would be set up.
*Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988- Applicable when a public servant is found to be accepting bribes, habitually accepting bribes, fraudulently misappropriating any property entrusted to the public servant, pressurizing another public servant under the influence of the bribe, obtaining valuable things by corrupt, illegal means. Maximum punishment of 7 years and minimum punishment for 6 months is levied. Additional fine is also payable by the public servant who has committed the offence. Existence of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 will not alter any laws made for Military, Naval and Air Force.
*Article 105 of Indian Constitution-Refers to powers/priviledges of Houses of Parliament, its members and committees; i.e. Freedom of speech in Parliament, No member can be held against statements made/vote casted in the Parliament
*Group A Officer- I think they are IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS officers
* No such order- Refer to the same table, in the section, ‘COMPLAINTS AGAINST CHAIRPERSON, MEMBERS AND OFFICIALS OF LOKPAL’
* Code of Civil Procedure 1908- Legal matters pertaining to property are dealt with under this act.

*Subsection (1) of section 8- The Chairperson/Member shall be removed from his office by order of the President on the grounds of misbehavior after the Supreme Court, on reference being made to it:

- By the President

- By the President on a petition being signed by at least 100 MPs

- By the President on receipt of a petition made by a citizen of India and where the President is satisfied that the petition should be referred

JAN LOKPAL
COLLEGIUM
1. Selection committee for Jan Lokpal:
1a. 5 members who are retired Comptroller and Auditor Generals and from Chief Election Commission
1b. They in turn, will select 5 members from the civil society.
2. Jan Lokpal members:
2a. Lokpal members would be selected by consensus.
2b. Suggestions for Lokpal members would be taken from Directors of IIT, IIM, Editors (media) etc.
2c. On the basis of their recommendations, names of shortlisted candidates would be put up on the website and public feedback on the same will be sought. The entire procedure of selection conducted by the Search Committee will be video recorded and will be available to public knowledge.
2d. Jan Lokpal and Lokayukta (state level Lokpal) will select their own staff and Officers.
3. Lokpal and Lokayukta, each will have 10 members and 1 chairperson.
4. Both- Jan Lokpal and Jan Lokayukta to be funded by the respective governments.
5. Inquiries into public grievances against Lokpal members would be executed within a month (from the date of complaint). Once found guilty, criminal case would be registered (under Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act) and the guilty Lokpal/Lokayukta member would be dismissed from the job.

INVESTIGATIONS
1. Time bound investigations – Every investigation to be completed within 1 year. If need be, more staff members would be employed for delivering results.
2. During investigations, transfer of the assets belonging to the public servant (in question) should be banned.

PROSECUTION
1. If found guilty, the public servants would either be dismissed or departmental penalties would be levied.
2. At the time of ongoing trial; the court will assess the loss caused to the Government by the public servant (in question)
3. The assessed loss to be recovered from the assets of the public servant (in question)


PROCEDURE
1. The trial should be completed within 1 year after the investigation/inquiry has been completed.
2. Lokpal may direct additional courts to be employed to complete the trial on time.
3. Confiscation of Assets: Each bureaucrat, politician and judge to submit their statement of moveable and immoveable assets every year. This will be declared publicly, on the official website. If any asset is found to be owned by a public servant later and undeclared, it will be deemed to be obtained through corruption. After each election, assets declared by each candidate to be verified. If undeclared assets are found, a case will be registered.

POWERS OF LOKPAL
1. Jan Lokpal and Jan Lokayukta have the power to punish the public servants held guilty; if its orders are not followed.
2. As per the directives of Jan Lokpal and Lokayukta; every Government department will have to make a ‘Citizens’ Charter’ which will specify roles and responsibilities of every Government official and also the time frame in which the officials are required to complete allotted task. (It seems to overlap with RTI. At this point, either of the two systems need to be demolished- RTI or Jan Lokpal)
3. If the Charter is not followed, then people can complain to the Head of that department who will be designated as the Public Grievance Officer (PGO). Within 30 days, the PGO will redress the complaint.

4. In case of the failure of PGO to perform the duty; the complaint would escalate to the Vigilance Officer of Jan Lokpal and Jan Lokayukta, after which the matter would deem to have a corruption angle to it.

5. The Vigilance Officer would be required to resolve the grievance in 30 days.

 

Meetanama

Struggling I have been to capture the Meeta experience.
I am still fumbling in the soul which has been washed over by Meetaness.

There is so much in the woman! It is insane.

             Everyone who knows her wants a piece of her.
She belongs to the masses. Yet she has something special just for you.
             It will be a private eye contact amidst ten of her friends whom you don’t know.
             It will be when she puts an arm around your shoulder and walks with you.
             It will be when she wakes you up early in the morning to spend time with you.
             It will be when she comes in your room and sleeps next to you, just because she felt like it.

You don’t be with Meeta, you witness her.

When she smiles, her whole body smiles with her-every part, every organ.
When she chants, the spirit of the house gathers around her to absorb the positive energy she gives out.
Just when you see a halo around her head, the little monster in her kicks in.
 She becomes Monica Gellar.

 She becomes the frustrated car driver in Delhi.  

 Rolling down her car window, she yells,  “Bhenchod! Aao kya bahar!”
 She becomes a baby at the sight of flying  pigeons.  
Resisting the urge to stop the car, she just rolls down the window and traces a pigeon or two in the air with her grubby, fat fingers.
She searches her empty wallet for money. She wants to swim. She will go mad if she doesn’t. She waits for dawn so she can have the early morning swim. No, you can’t leash the monster.
Her temper can wet your pants. Her ferocity has shaken many. Unfortunately, the same people never see Meeta sleep at night; for she switches on the table lamp.You see- ‘She can see dead people’ and because she is 100% sure that Emily Rose is hiding behind the bedroom door to haunt her.
                  In her, you have a friend who is crazy enough to unconditionally accept you.
                  In her is a sister, who is a mother to the older siblings.
                  In her is a maasi, who is an effortless disciplinarian.
                  In her is a daughter, who always understands.
                  In her is a Buddhist- a mentor, who will be your spiritual guide.
                  In her, is a passionate photographer who conjures up beauty in an otherwise drab scenario.
You see, it is through her photos that she pays her homage to the unsung heroes, neglected Indian tribes of Niyamgiri Hills and the Yamuna river.

                  In her, is a woman of substance.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meetaahlawat/sets/  - Meeta's photos

There is so much I haven’t written here… there shall be another poem for it…

With genuine love and affection

Priyanka Londhe
11th August 2011-Thursday

The people that we are…

Stop analyzing me! It makes me uncomfortable.

“Look at her smile.”

“Oh! This is what she likes!!”

Eww… This is what she likes?”

Please act as if you already know me. But wait, I don’t like that too.

Please don’t respect me or listen intently as I talk because I have fully realized the responsibility of being taken seriously.

I don’t like responsibility, it makes my life difficult and that of others’ easy.

Ya, I reap benefits when others take responsibility.

I can see your struggle of trying to figure me out.

While I do the same for you my friend, trust me; we both become people who are trying to arrange furniture in a room.

Our visions are blocked by cardboard crates and we are guiding each other, not knowing both…the room and what we want.

So Simple...

Have you ever felt 'the inevitable' happen to you?

When it is your turn to go on the stage and perform… that uneasy feeling inside you. Sometimes you wish you were somewhere else; but you are not. You have to go out there and perform. Wasn’t it your choice to perform anyways? Technically yes. But at that time you know it is not you. There is something bigger at work.

I have felt ‘something-bigger-at-work’ happening lately in my life.

When I talk about my career

When I talk about getting married

When I talk about sustaining relationships

When I sit with my parents across the table eating dinner and they tell me all those things that adults talk about…

The inevitable has come.

I am not ready for life.

I have no clue why. I guess I am scared of making mistakes. I hate ‘I-told-you-so’s’.

It is not because I am self-righteous. I guess I do not want to go through the entire circle of incidents just to learn the simplest things in life. I don’t.

“One in hand is worth two in the bush”

“The people you meet while going up are the same people you meet; on your way down.”

“Loka deyi brahma gyaan, swatha matra korde pashan.” (People who often preach, are the ignorant ones)

“Usheera ney aalela yash thambta.” (Success that arrives late; stays.)

I would rather write these lines a thousand times as imposition, than living it through.

Happiness is good.

I have grown up seeing people have a career, a loving family and always a smile on their face. I always wanted that. I am lucky that I got that too.

But it feels different. Not like how I imagined as a kid.

It does not feel like ‘happiness’. It does not make me laugh-till-I-cry. It does not give me the foot rub relaxation.  The way I feel after a meal; is what happiness feels like- content, like filling up a cavity.

Maybe that is happiness.

Now at the age of 26, happiness is something I need to reach- like a destination.

- Career

- Marriage

- Social responsibility as a human being

- Being a friend….

These and many more things are bridges to my happiness.

I have to make the right choices in career, marriage, friendship and other responsibilities.

Only then I will be happy.

All those people who say otherwise; are just smiling through an operation without anaesthesia.

Right choices are the ones that make me feel better about being a human being and brings out the best in others.

So simple, hai na?

The choices have to reflect who I am and who I am are trying to be.

Who am I? Who am I trying to be?

Good questions.

I have many options.

The degree of my happiness is dependent on the price I pay for each choice I make.

So this is what I am going to do for the next 50 years of my life…

So simple… piece of cake…

birth and birthday! :)

The first image is a birthday card, i made for my boss on her birthday :)

The second image is a congratulations card, i made for my colleague who had a son on 22nd february, this year :)

Micro or Macro?

Let me talk about Macro first:

The danger i confront everytime i think of shaping my career drives me crazy. I am in the social sector; where most of the people make money out of national concerns. Look at the NGOs. They communicate for behavior change (BCC- Behavior Change Communication), they network with media and law and engage them with the issue they are concerned with.

But it all boils down to keeping a project going and keeping the money coming in.

For example: In Madhya Pradesh, close to 3 NGOs [Save the Children Finland, WASH Institute (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) and UNICEF] are working on Child Rights to Health.

In Chhattisgarh's Public Health (more specifically maternal health and child health) domain following departments are active:

1. CCDU (Communication and Capacity Development Unit) - Government
2. NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) - Government
3. WCD (Women and Child Development Ministry) - Government
4. SHRC (State Health Resource Centre) - Government
5. MNI (Micro Nutrient Initiative, by CIDA- Canadian International Development Agency) - International donor [All the international donors are in partnership with government, private sectors and CSOs]
6. CINI (Child In Need Institute, Belgium) - International donor
7. WHO (World Health Organisation, Switzerland) - International donor
8. UNICEF (United Nation's Children Fund, USA) - International donor
9. CARE (Co-operative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, USA)

It is insane! How many people work on one issue!

Most of the NGOs develop communication materials to bring about a change for the better. Even if one agrees that right communication is the key to bring about the 'action'; still in India; there are many other factors that come into the picture of social reformation.

When one creates a need through communication; one should make sure that the supply to provide the need is in place. Supply is overseen by the Government and often they encourage people to avail them.

Even when supplies are provided; the aspect of corruption steps in because for the supply to reach the end user (aam junta); the last mile service provider should be honest.

Honesty itself is a tall order in India.

Most of the times, people are honest. But they are afflicted with nepotism, greed, social, financial and cultural problems.

I was lucky to meet a very intelligent and a charming lady, who is a Class I Gazetted Officer in Chhattisgarh. She rightly said, "Don't attempt to bring about social reformation by telling people not to commit crimes! Crimes are an intrinsic part of human life. For instance, look at the terms- jurmana, nazrana and shukrana."

Jurmana is when we break a rule and pay the fine. The fact that we broke the rule (consciously or unconsciously) makes us a criminal; no matter how petty the crime. Then there is someone on the other end who makes us pay for our 'crime'. Since he knows we are criminals; most of the times; he may not bother being a saint either. That makes the two of us. So we pay the jurnama grudgingly.

Then the term nazrana- we offer nazrana when a person does our work without much khich-khich. Sometimes, he/she is meant to do our work quietly anyways. Since the species of honest workers has become dangerously extinct; we award the one that we see. It is as ridiculous as paying a mother to breastfeed her infant. She will do that and she is supposed to do that, and mind you it's not a thankless job either; remember "maa ke doodh ka karz?"

Then there is shukrana- it is an extension of nazrana. If we are over-impressed at the work someone has done for us; we award them on-the-spot and extend our favors over lavish dinners, exotic holidays, cars etc; depending on the magnitude of gratitude we feel.

This is not restricted to the Government officials. We do that often to our friends, family, employees, employers.

The basic problem that i face in my life is to make up my mind about continue being macro and going micro. Micro includes all the jobs that are not social sector oriented.

When you are micro; you feel guilty that you are not macro. There are many things around you that makes you feel like you are harming something- you don't know what it is, but you dont 'feel right'. Something is amiss.

When you go macro; you feel like you are fighting a lost battle. Robert Brault says, "When you go to solve a problem; people blame you for causing it." Like i said earlier, you have a nagging feeling about making money on national concerns. If all the issues get resolved imagine how many people would be jobless! I often get such nightmares myself, and then i feel guilty for thinking so.

If you haven't got bored as yet; please go to my earlier blog [which will definitely bore you :) ] to the sentences marked in bold. Read, reflect and tell me what you feel. They have some link to what i am saying now :)

A persepective on P. Sainath's article (this is a very lengthy blog, please sit with a cup of coffee and loads of patience)

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article927895.ece

Above given link will lead you to P.Sainath's article. We at SCM revere him. He is truly remarkable. Using adjectives for Sainath is tiring because none of those do justice to what we experience and feel in his presence.

My lengthy blog is a persepective on his article. My blog is not politically directed; which may make my thoughts sound like theories (and in India, we know how many of those we have), it also sounds like an excited ramble. Therefore i am going to be kind enough on my readers and embolden the important points. So that you can skim through the blog and take away those important points that i am trying to make.

For the time being, I shall keep aside that facet of capitalism which makes rich richer and poor poorer, pushing the latter into the narrow confines of their existence, depriving them of those opportunities which can make their life better; thus making them so easily vulnerable that they can be easily provoked into mental and physical violence. While the former flourishes, spins a tight network of corporates, media and government; thus eliminating any scope of external inquiry, dialogue and participation.

I shall assume that given half the chance the oppressed would be worse than the oppressors. From my Fundamental Concepts lectures, I remember for any development to take place; it is important that all those concerned should have a stake in it.

This is something that we don’t see around. Many Indians have lethargy and apathy towards society. I am guilty of the same too. Maybe I am content with the illusion that since I belong to the social sector; I am of some constructive use to the social development of this nation which may exentually tip the scales against capitalism. (If there is no capitalism, then what do we have? A nation must run on a powerful ideology which works like a computer- precise, consistent, convenient, feasible, accessible and accountable)

We see a wave of social reformation in India which has happened post 26/11; which ironically; is the tragedy of the elite. Therefore, after the elite has faced the tragedy; our social reformation has been targeted to bring the same people down. Our media is focused on making the government accountable, RTI is discussed and brought into spotlight, people are discouraged to give and accept bribes, we have internet activism for casting our vote against producing genetically inhanced brinjals.

From where I see; it is a problem of culture- how much to retain and how much scope to give for acclimatization, it is the struggle of the individual to attain solitary success; instead of collective success which benefits someone else apart from him/her. It is an internal struggle of the individual to spare some energy to invest for a larger cause. This gives rise to another contradiction.

“An individual forms the society and the society forms the individual. The individual reflects the society it represents and the society is made up individuals that habituate the society.”

Keeping this in mind; if we engage in personal success then we should be happy. If we are happy then the society should be happy.

We are happy and we are sad.

We love the justice which is the harbinger of good times. We demonstrate outrage on what is unjust and unfair. This demonstration is largely dependent on the physical quantity of people who are victimised. The larger the number; the bigger the demonstration. After a while we get used to the inconvenience that injustice brings along with itself. We become the traffic of the vehicles which treat the injustice like an inconvenient lunar crater (a.k.a. pothole) on National Highway.

The problem of capitalism is the problem of culture and individual.

______________________________________________________________

I started working for my firm almost 2 years ago.

We develop communication strategy for the social sector (primarily in the sector of public health). We also conduct market research to come up with a strategy and to pre-test the same before launching it.

I remember districts of Durg, Rajnandgaon and Raipur in Chhattisgarh; where we (me and the my office team) had gone to conduct qualititative research on the topic of maternal health and children uptil the age of 6.

After the Focused Group Discussions and In-Depth interviews; we used to switch off out tapes and just chat with the villagers who were present for the discussion.

The men who spoke to us were mostly labourers on farms, or plumbers/mechanics. In the district of Durg; we met men who worked in the Bhilai Steel Plant and travelled to work from village everyday.

The women were mostly labourers on farm, shop owners in the village, housewives, Aanganwadi didis, Accredited Social Health Activists or Mitanins/ Sangwaaris.

The younger children attended the Aanganwadi schools. Many villages have schools upto 8^th std; I think. The boys study till 10^th std at least; and most of the girls drop out after attaining puberty (roughly around 5^th to 7^th std).

The Sarpanchs in the village were elected based on their family’s financial position, education (their educational qualification were put up in the Gram Panchayat office) and their involvement in other samiti’s in the village (like kisan samiti, self help groups of women, entertainment samiti etc.). The Sarpanch(s) I met; were from the dominant caste in the village.Since the dominant caste gets a little more education, and they have more access to the Government schemes. For example: the Accredited Social Health Activists or Mitanins (As they are known in Chhattisgarh), are generally from the dominant caste. The criteria of Mitanin selection is that the enrolled candidate has to be educated till std. 8^th and she has to attend several rounds of training before she can work as a Mitanin in her village. Generally, women from the higher caste attend the training; for which they go to the nearby district for upto 30 days. The lower caste women belong to families who do not own agricultural land but work on someone else’s as labourers. They cant miss work to attend the Mitanin training. Also many of them can only sign their name; they cant read or write otherwise. The Mitanin training (classroom teaching oriented) curriculum is heavy on theory and there are manuals, supplementary manuals for teaching of the Mitanins.

My vivid recollection of Chhattisgarh experience is that as Indian citizens; we are lethargic, apathetic to fellow human beings.

I was casually talking to one of the housewife who had come for a Focused Group Discussion, “Do you know who is responsible for determining the gender of your baby?” She logically concluded that since she has given birth; it must be her. Noone in her family or community wants to disturb the cozy misconception.

I asked another woman, “When you see us; coming from cities; wearing clothes that we do (which was a modest salwar kameez; but somehow those faces in ghoonghat made us feel naked); talking and laughing out loud when you hide your smile in your palm and wipe it off with your pallu; don’t you ask yourself why this is not in your village?” She did not answer.

Later, the Anganwadi worker told me that people may not open up to me since I am a stranger and I think my interview sounded more like police interrogation. “Do you know what anaemia means!” “Why does a woman not get enough rest in her pregnancy!” etc etc.

Health is the most important aspect which must be taken care of by every individual in order to live and prove functional. In my experience, the health factor is not on the radar of villagers. They deal with a problem with any solution that is within their reach.

They live with their joys and sorrows. They don’t see the need to fight for anything.

When they look at the benefits provided to them by the government; they immediately look for profit in it. On Janani Suraksha Yojna, one man actually told me, “1500 rupaiya jo milte hain. Wo saare hospital ke liye kharch ho jaate hai. Humein kuch nahi milta.” I was thoroughly shocked to realise that this man is actually seeking a profit margin!

This brings forth another point of medical services and their increased privatisation.

The debate of privatisation versus government services is as inconclusive as “Should prostitution be legalised?” or “Are women in the North-East emancipated or explioted?”