Rules are meant to be broken!

Rules are meant to be broken!

 Before I write anything further first let me clear my stand. I stand by Anna Hazare' initiative for a corruption free nation. I respect him and his decision. However I have my reservations for supporting Jan Lokpal Bill. I know I am voicing it at a wrong time but then just my thought...welcome yours!

"The public movement against corruption initiated by Anna Hazare has become a rage among netizens. The Facebook page created by the group has registered over 40,000 followers in one day, while more than seven lakh people from across the country have pledged support to the cause through mobile phone registration. The response from youngsters, in particular, is enormous." -  From a FB Wall post of one of my friend.

Few question to all of us* - of these over 40, 000 followers on facebook and more than seven lakh people who have pledged support for Hazare and Lokpal Bill –

·          How many of them had heard of Anna Hazare or Lokpal Bill before now?

·          Even after registering their ‘voice’ for Anna I bet half of the janta would still not know about him or the bill!!!!

*(I am not talking about awareness or for that matter lack of it. The point I want to draw the attention towards is – our inclination, our thought – why and how  overnight we all got so aware about corruption that today we all stand by Anna!!! It is quite a possibility many of us have joined in sheer ‘neighbour’ pressure. – He / she has joined why don’t I? or “It’s the IN thing “ …”You know its high time we do something about corruption. I so respect Anna; I support him. Even so and so celebrity is with him. I would like you too to support him”!!! The sheep move in a direction led to.

In today’s world leaders / celebrity don’t keep the issues alive (or solve it) rather issues keep these celebrities alive around us! I know I may be wrong BUT definitely not completely wrong)

·          What is the guarantee that introduction of Jan Lokpal Bill would end corruption?

I know my friends would say – “Boss guarantee to kisi baat ki nahi hai; Its an initiative to curb corruption amongst politicians. I agree. My point is - we have existing laws -  on murder, rape…corruption but people amongst us still commit murder, rape and indulge into corrupt practices. The government made such an announcement while introducing electronic meters in auto that they are tampered proof but was it really?

Going by the past history I guarantee you that while Jan Lokpal Bill may be an attempt to curb corruption and that would not stop corrupt minds to play around! But yes this should not stop us from making an attempt towards it J

·          Who would ensure that the Lokpals are not corrupt?

I was reading through this website India Against Corruption the Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill and could not stop smiling while reading through these lines

1.       But won’t the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won’t be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.

2.       What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.

3.       What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.

4.       It will be the duty of the Lokpal to provide protection to those who are being victimized for raising their voice against corruption.  

My take on 1^st two pointers is just one sentence -  Its after all a human being who would elect another fellow human being; value judgments are inevitable. To the 3^rd pointer I would say – ‘Friends, why do we tend to forget that power corrupts’. And to the last pointers I would like to add – In the current democratic system roles and duties are already well defined; the question is who would ensure the duty is performed without any lack of diligence. Similarly who would ensure the duties of a Lokayukt  / Lokpal is being executed properly?

Jan Lokpal Bill talks about more transparency; every democratic system tends to follow a transparent system. It’s in the if’s and but’s of the rule book that the common man gets to see a opaque system.  Systems are already in place, we need to further strengthen them. Bringing out yet another system is not the answer for sure. It would only bring out one more way to go around it!!!

So what is the question now? Should we have Jan Lokpal Bill? Should we have support Anna in his effort? I would say the real question is how to curb corruption. And again I would like to refer to my fb wall post Rahul Rakesh / wall post where I did mention “I stand by Anna. But then what is corruption? Isn't it a state of mind? Aren't we corrupt as well? The fast unto death is dealing with macro; what about the corruption at the micro level?”

If we have the courage to stop being corrupt; I am convinced that no corrupt politician would enter into the doors of the parliament. Can we be our own Anna Hazare and take a pledge of not being corrupt? Can celebrities come forward and take a pledge they would support and indulge into corrupt practices.

If we simply follow the rules corruption would end! The moment we tend to go around the rule we are corrupt. What are we doing towards it?

Note: I wanted to written this post sometime back but today’s conversation with my friend over dinner prompted me not to delay it further.

PR - Are we doing it the correct way?

Today morning I happen to read a post from one of my journalist-friend's post. In the post he has mentioned that recently he has been asked by a PR / Marketing Professional to submit a proposal detailing when and where would he review the product!!!! He has even been provided with a deadline to submit the proposal!!!! 

In all possibility -  it may be someone from the marketing dept of the company or a fresher from an agency BUT it has 

• either been completely overlooked by the seniors of the dept or agency 
• OR, ......i better dont speak.

We have been talking at length on lack of suitable man power and nurturing talent.... but the question remains -   Are we doing it the correct way?....What is the correct way?

Any suggestions...

Is it a journey towards the end or the beginning?

Last Sunday I was in the company of my former Principal and his few college friends. One of his friend asked him about his views on smoking. I was expecting "Smoking is bad" as an answer in spite of the fact that he smokes. But his input that smoking is good came as surprise. What was more surprising was his indifferent tone.

He further explained that at least he finds smoking to be a great stress buster and thats the reason he smokes. Also he said..everything, every activity has an effect (both positive and negative) on us. So should we stop performing every activities??? And as a third argument that he gave in his favour was if Western theories are anything to go by, there will be a time in our lifetime that we would read the positive effects of Smoking!!!! Reason being the theories are self contradictory in nature and even if the theories are 99% correct no one is sure about which 1% information is incorrect :)

During the same course of discussion we also discussed about organic farming. What intrigued me was the question that Are We Moving Forward (towards the end) or Backward (towards the beginning)?

Towards the beginning of our mankind, we humans had necessarily just two ends to be met -  food and shelter...We started civilizing as a race and so increased our needs and requirement.Slowly we started  fullfilling luxury....A journey from good to better (to best). i.e from vegetarian to non-vegiterian...to drinking..smoking as a fashion, style statement to a habit; for growing vegetables naturally to using chemicals  and  fertlizers to enhance the quality of vegetable grown....now we are again back to same old methods with new names.  We are eventually into a complete circle, coming round to a place from where we have started!!!!

It leaves me wondering -  Is it a journey towards the end or the beginning?

(this post was written almost an year back...)