Date:-25th March 2012
It was a bright sunny morning in Delhi when I arrived at Patel Chowk metro station.I asked an Autowala , “Bhaiya jantar mantar chaloge”.
“20 rupaye lunga bhai”, he replied.
After travelling some distance, he asked “Annaji (Anna Hazare) ke andolan mein jaa rahe ho kya”
I replied firmly, “Yes”.
“Tab to Aapse 10 rupaye hi lunga, Mera bhi wahan jane ka bohot mann hai, lekin kya karoon, Rozi Roti ke liye wahan ja nahin sakta”, he told in one breath.
His reply gave immense happiness to me. I was astonished to know that an Autowala also had the same type of feelings. I handed him a 50 rupees note after reaching there and asked him come to Jantar Mantar before 5 pm, to atleast stand there for 2 minutes. He gave a big smile and moved out in search of other customers.
The Scene looked magical, wherever I rolled my eyes I could only see people with Anna Topi and the Indian Flag. The slogans “Vande maataram , Inkalab Zindabaad” were echoing in the air, which just pumped up the whole setup. I headed towards the stage, but I could hardly move a step ahead, People had gathered there in numbers, there was a great positive vibe about it. I decided to stand there and put my entire attention to see Annaji.
In a flash, I had my eyes on Arvind Kejriwaal, Annaji, Kiran Bedi & Manish ji. I could see a strange confidence in their eyes. Annaji looked supremely confident with his typical looks at the age of 74. Someone should learn how to approach “Simple living, High thinking” from Arvind Kejriwal, a man who has everything under his belt, but he continues to live and strive for the Population of India. He was wearing a simple check shirt over a cotton pant. And We people, spend 1000 bucks just to buy a face wash, shampoos, deodorants and perfumes. I listened to their speeches, shouted some slogans and tried to capture everything with my camera.
There was an old man standing behind me, he was abusing Kapil Sibal and P.Chidambaram to the extreme. Even I would have thought thrice before using such words for anyone, but common, this was a Democracy. There was a little girl in the arms of her father looking at the entire environment with lots of curiosity. I don’t know what she would have understood from these speeches, but still this is what sometimes makes a person. May be sometime in future, she might turn out to be a supreme leader in politics, & then she could thanks those arms of her father she held onto, to see this.
After being there for an hour, I thought to leave as I had few things to catch up with back home. This obviously is the main reason why a Common Man does not participate in these movements, all are busy in their own lives. They are surrounded by so many responsibilities and challenges, each citizen of India plans to be a Ambani, a Tata & other successful icons, the road runs never smooth for anyone.
On a day like Sunday, when most of the people like me, plan to go for a movie, water park or just roam around a mall to checkout beautiful girls, we should choose to do something meaningful and indulge in the right causes for our nation. If you are not willing to do anything, not even stand for few minutes in an andolan as this, then you don’t have rights to abuse politicians after watching the news of scams and other events. Remember, it’s easy to discuss our nation’s problems over a cup of tea with your colleagues, but you need to have the guts to fight with the system. And if there are some leaders who are doing it, then how much pain would it take to stand in an andolan just for few minutes to support them.
While returning, I handed my camera to a person from IAC (India Against Corruption) and requested him to click a snap of mine.
While returning my camera he told, “Aaj hum log hein, Kal nahin honge. Its you the Youth, who have to fight for this and give it a satisfying ending once & for all”.
I replied, “Yes, We will do it” & cried out “Inqallab Zindabad” in emotions.
People looked at me as if I was an alien, but who cared, this for my nation – India.
While answering him, I had gained a strange confidence. I don’t know why I had said “Yes” to him when I know it is practically impossible for me to involve directly, but still I have taken a pledge whenever I get time, I will definitely participate directly or indirectly.
Aren’t you here in this , Aren’t you a part of this ?
So, Have you taken your pledge yet !!
Stay tuned with me for page-3 in Delhi diary
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