Everybody wants change but nobody wants to change – Kejriwal took the first step with AAP

CNR Rao (Bharat Ratna) vent out his frustration on politicians today by calling them “idiots” for spending so little on Science and Technology in India. This perhaps is not the first time when a notable person has expressed his frustration towards the System and Political setup we live in. Be it CAG Vinod Rai or Ex-President APJ Abdul Kalam or other people of such stature has expressed their anguish over the decision being taken by the politicians.

I am not taking away the right of you and I to criticize the system. What I am doing is posing a simple question. Have the personalities I mentioned above or we took a step (obviously a step out of their job description) to get things in place? Most of the time when Media asked these personalities whether they will come in politics to change things, they simply refused.

In childhood I had heard “’सभी चाहते हैं भगत सिंह पैदा हो, मगर मेरे घर में नहीं… पडोसी के घर में” and I find it so appropriate in today’s times. Everyone including me have problem with System. Everyone including me blames all wrong on system and then everyone including me steps back when asked to come forward and fix the things. We always want good people to come forward and clean the system but never try to do it ourselves. Why? May be because we know that this system is so filthy that even one step in direction to clean it and all our past accomplishment may go in vain.

India wants change but nobody changes. Photo Credit: VinothChandar via cc

Even after knowing all this there are a bunch of courageous people who are doing what we refused to do. Those ambitious guys are not doing it because they had nothing else to do but because they can’t just sit behind like us and expect others to take initiative to clean the rotten system. Yes, you got me right; I am talking about Arvind Kejriwal and his fellows at Delhi working under banner of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Whether you like/support them or not but you can’t deny the fact that they have put their prestige, good work and name at stake to make an effort toward cleaning the system.

You and I could be supporter of BJP/Congress or any other party but can we today say that these parties are talking about the issues we struggle in daily life? Will you or I get hassle free transportation or Tatkal tickets easily if a temple/mosque gets constructed in Ayodhya? Do you know where the extra money we are spending on Onions or tomatoes are going and why politicians are not fixing it? Do you know why people from all these parties spend billions of rupees to get elected as MP or MLA? And at last do you know why these parties do not reveal their sources of funding and refrain from coming in ambit of RTI?

For moments let’s put aside all our differences and think about it. Here is a party which has put up its donations online (for public scrutiny) no matter whether it is 1 rupee or 1 crore rupees,
is willing to come under RTI about their funding,

• has fielded all good candidates (no criminal) as they feel that only good people can make good laws,
• admits their mistakes (be it Rajiv’s abuse or decision of not coming to politics and then going against it) and speak in the language we speak,
• does not believe in appeasement politics (allegedly Congress’ style) or divisive Politics (allegedly BJP’s style) and want us to forget our caste or religion and focus on the issues which we face every day be it electricity, water or any other problem for that matter,
• has members who have written their resignation on affidavits if promises they have made are not fulfilled in a defined time (First time ever in this country),
• has been getting donations from common people like you and I who never thought of donating money ever to a political party.

Now when these things make you and I believe that this party is actually trying to discuss the matter which matters to us, politicians from other party tries to pose questions on their ideology, policies etc.

Let me ask you. What is your ideology? Now you would say that a common man needs no ideology. Fair enough, but then why a party working for the cause of common man needs an ideology. Why we want a fancy sentence as ideology and never worry if the ideology is being practiced (as it is the case with all other parties)? Why do we get carried away by all such symbolism? About the policies let me ask you, “What would be the policies of a party trying to provide good health care facilities to Hindu or Muslim or Dalit for that matter?” Will there be any difference of policy for each of them or same and best possible policy for all? What would be the policy of a party trying to make woman safer irrespective of caste/religion/region? AAP’s ideology and policies is common people centric. Anything and everything which is good for us would and should be their policy.

The people don't know their true power

It’s AAP which has changed political discourse of this country. This is AAP which has adopted best possible standards of transparency a Political party can. Why so many good things about them do not make us comfortable with them? Is it because they are new in political arena or is it because we are die-hard (or I should say blind) supporter of a party or politician. If it is latter then maybe we deserve the system we live in and If we are not comfortable because it’s a new party and do not know how to work then believe me they deserve a chance more than anyone else because being new they don’t even know how to loot the money which other parties knows very well.

I feel and believe that AAP is the welcome change in India’s politics. They are that cool breeze which a coal mine worker looks forward to while coming out of mine in evening. It is the rain which a farmer enjoys when he is left with no water for irrigation. They are the “Paan Singh Tomar” or “A Wednesday” we enjoy after 100s of just other movies. They are like smile of a kid who comes back to his/her mother’s lap after a rough day. Given the country’s current political scenario, they are everything for me, my only ray of hope.

I do not want you to support them blindly. I want you to analyse/criticize them as much as you want but at the same time see what kind of parties we got at the other hand. They are new comers and there would certainly be hiccups in their plans and executions but what matters the most in longer run are intentions.

Do not forget what makes police different than thieves are their “Intentions”.

Written by Tathagat Khandelwal >>

I'm a common man who keeps an eye on the political affairs. I support a complete overhaul in the Indian political system to make any long lasting change possible.