Sunday 23 November 2014

Six months of Modi: achhe sitare more than achhe din

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Swaminomics/swaminathan-s-anklesaria-aiyar-six-months-of-modi-achhe-sitare-more-than-achhe-din/


Saturday 1 November 2014

Swachh Bharat Campaign and the Larger Picture

PM Modi has highlighted within the first few days in office our seemingly minor problems of cleanliness and sanitation which are actually surface reflections of a much bigger and deeper malaise. While my blog may often seem to center around Indian politics and political leaders, SPEAK UP is more about PEOPLE'S role in shaping our democracy. I will continue to be critical about our role as citizens even though popular media is more about accountability of the government and I support free media for ensuring that. You can’t clean a ditch by swearing at it. You have to put your hand in it. Thus, the Nov 1 editorial piece in the TOI, by Chetan Bhagat was a breath of fresh air because it reinforces my belief that -
  • Governments are mere enablers, WE have to do what we have to do. Government should just get out of the way. 
  • The Political class and the Administration should give back the country to the people which they usurped decades ago from the British. (Lets not live under the illusion that we are a free nation and we elect our own representatives who shall act in the true interest of the people. Most recent example is how the elected representatives of Maharashtra are squabbling for "plump posts" in the cabinet. Power corrupts, but that's the topic of another blog post.) Back to my concept - the people of India must reclaim their country back from the rulers. Sorry, not rulers, claim it back from the Public SERVANTS.
  • With Ownership comes Pride.
  • PRIDE DRIVES EVERYTHING ELSE!! 
  • Poverty, illiteracy, lack of administrative support, etc are no hindrance to a Swachh Bharat.
I invest in my home because I OWN it. I'm PROUD of my kids, not the neighbors'. I don't like it if someone dirties my property. But I don't see the country as MY property. I see it as toppled truck of beer cans which is being looted by my fellow villagers. They are all having a party. And why not? Soon the beer will go to dust. I'd be a fool to not join in the free Oktoberfest till it lasts. This is what has become of the country. Thankfully, there are several exceptions, no doubt.

I believe Mr Modi is addressing this larger problem of National Pride. As Indians we are more proud of our past than our present. Once revived, our Pride in this great Nation, will itself do wonders. For a long time, the imagination of a nation has not been fired by a national figure. Modi is doing a very dangerous thing. If awakened, at least the Gen Next of India will help strengthen the Institution of Democracy and will reduce the absolute power of political parties that they currently enjoy. Great for the nation, bad for the corrupt politician. I did a quick google search for National Pride to check if there was an index, and to my surprise I found a couple but with limitations (National Pride in the Americas http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/insights/IO899en.pdf and another 2009 survey of only 33 nations by the Economist). 

Please don't miss the larger picture of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan (Clean India Movement). In the process of keeping my street, my city and my country clean, I will regain my sense of ownership and will fight all other "dirt" that defines my country today. What an idea, Modiji!

I like Chetan Bhagat's article because
  • As usual its in simple language
  • He reminds us that fundamentally Indians are clean, so why a million excuses for dirty public places?
  • It addresses the root cause of the problem - We the people
  • It addresses the larger picture of the Indian mindset
I'm not a Chetan Bhagat fan, but looks like our IITs and IIMs still produce thinkers! I always say - "its all in the mind". Actually, - "Its all in the Intellect". Enjoy the article-

Cleanliness Begins at Home
The Times of India, Nov 1, 2014

He has not referred to the Larger Picture but I'm convinced that if we can Clean India we can Win India.