We, the corrupt Indians!

Anna Hazare's fast unto death was at its crest. The masses had assembled at the nukkads of their respective localities, demanding a strong anti-graft bill

We, the corrupt Indians!

Anna Hazare's fast unto death was at its crest. The masses had assembled at the nukkads of their respective localities, demanding a strong anti-graft bill. I saw the young and the elderly alike singing Hum Honge Kamyaab... and chanting out slogans of solidarity.

Such an exhilarating display of the common man's aversion towards corruption and such mass participation for a cause like this was something that I had never witnessed in urban India before. Even those from the cr me-de-la-cr me of society had donned their activist hats and activism was suddenly 'hep'.

Are we getting annoyed because it's they who get to rake in the moolah and not us? That's something to ponder.

These factors lured me to join Anna's cause but, before I could act, I saw him break the fast on television.

Dispirited, I headed to a lounge in Powai to catch the opening ceremony of IPL IV. With several things going on in my head, I didn't see a green light turn red and jumped the signal. As expected, a traffic constable emerged from nowhere and gave me a long hard look. Without wasting a moment, I took out a Rs 50 note from my wallet and gave it to the constable, which he accepted, the hard look turning into a smile.

When I reached the mall where the lounge was located, I realised that the parking was full. Being a King Khan fan, I just couldn't afford to miss him perform to south Indian numbers. I requested the parking attendant to help, which he flatly refused. Yet again, a Rs 50 note did the trick and a parking space appeared, almost out of thin air.

I finally reached the lounge and saw a group of youngsters wearing Gandhi caps, guzzling beer and cheering SRK. I assumed they had come directly from the protest, which had ended some time ago. A while later, I saw them request the manager to shift them to a table closer to the huge plasma TV. After denying them the table, the manager agreed when he was called aside by one of the group members and some money had changed hands.

Paisa bolta hai. We know corruption is wrong but we also know that it is prevalent and convenient. All we do, however, is blame the politicians who are from among us. Are we getting annoyed because it's they who get to rake in the moolah and not us? That's something to ponder. I believe no bill or azaadi ki ladai, as Anna is calling his fast beginning August 16, can bring any change to our society. If we're really serious about curbing corruption, we need to change our own mindset. As they say, be the change you want to see.

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