Anna and Cricket

The Anna Hazare movement - a revolution which has caught the imagination of the whole country. A revolution which is going to change the bloody face of the nation. Obviously I was excited to be part of the historical revolution and I duly went to the India Gate to register my protest.

It was a deja vu experience. It was exactly the same at a India-Australia cricket match at PCA Stadium which I went to see a few years ago.

1. In the match people wished that Sachin "Aage Bade" and chakka maare. Here, they goaded Anna with the same: "Aage Badho.. hum tumhare Saath hain" (of course they can not say 'hum tumhare saath hain' to Sachin. One always follows God!)

2. In both cases, people shouted at the top of their voices or displayed interesting banners with the sole purpose that the camera pans on them and they get their few seconds of fame on national television.

3. In the match, the cameras were busy finding beautiful faces in the crowd. Here, cameras focused on kids (preferably with Gandhi Topi).

4. At the stadium, people were shouting "Pakistan Haii haii" (Did not matter than Pakistan was not playing). Here Pakistan was replaced by Kapil Sibal/Sonia Gandhi/Rahul Gandhi etc.

5. In both the cases, there were people who had come drunk, which gave an extra zing to their voices.

6. In the match, there were some female Aussie supporters in the stand. One could see young boys going up to them to have a photo clicked with the 'gori mem'. It was the same case here too. Some foreigners had come to 'experience the changing India' and the Gandhi topis of some young boys were temporarily thrown away for a presentable picture with the gori who perhaps later updated on her facebook with "Participated in India's second freedom struggle".

7. The voices heard around during the match were same as at the protest - Ignorant. Some of them had for the first time noticed that bowlers change ends after each over and were thoroughly confused about why it was happening. One of them then said, "tu match dekh na..technicality mein kyu fasta hai"

Then I overheard the following at the protest march.
First guy: "Yaar vaise ye PM ko Lokpal mein laane, na laane se farak kya padega?"
Second Guy: "Tu Naare laga na... Technicality mein kyu fassta hai"

The only thing missing (thankfully) in the protest march was a customary fight (at least at PCA, Mohali) between two groups - most probably over a girl.


If you feel I am ridiculing a movement of national importance, consider an example.
If tomorrow you are returning from a party and have had a peg or two more than permitted by law for driving a vehicle. A police-wallah stops you and there is a good chance that you could be jailed for the offense.(Take any other example where you know its your fault and the punishment would be harsh).
Now would you prefer spending the night in jail or greasing some palms which can prevent it?
If your answer is the latter, kindly don't bull shit yourself by supporting this movement.
Of course you are welcome to go to the protest to have some fun and to vent out some frustration.

Inquilab Zindabad

Many articles and blogs were written by many people on the movie Rang De Basanti. I had thought hard to write something too but it didn’t happen. Then I came across the thoughts behind one of the very popular slogans also shown in the movie – Inquilab Zindabad. One slogan that is said to have redefined the revolutionary movement.
The feelings and the real meanings behind the slogan were explained by Bhagat Singh and B.K Dutt in a letter to an editor.
Inquilab Zindabad is a hindi translation of an original slogan used in Russian Revolution which said – Long Live Revolution. The Revolution here didn’t mean the armed rebellion against the British by the Indians or a similar movement. The revolution signifies a greater and a much deeper meaning in the context.
Revolution magnifies the need for constant changes in the nation, society and basically the lives of WE - The People. The changes are to shatter the moulds we have been cast into – the window which restricts our vision instead of opening up for us to have a go at something different, something new. It is normal human tendency to resist change. It brings along with it some uncomfortable feelings, new challenges, and uncertainties. Confronting a change is itself a test but a greater challenge is to initiate a change. And that is what is known as a Revolution – Inquilab!!
DJ says the same thing in RDB, “zindagi jeene ke 2 hi tareeke hote hain.. ek jo ho rha hai hone do.. ya fer jimmedaari uthao – usse badalne ki” (There are only 2 ways to live – One, Whatever is happening – let it happen. Or take the responsibility to introduce the change)

The definition of revolution will vary from time to time. Place to place. But its soul will remain the same. Fighting for something what you feel is right. And fighting doesn’t mean a physical fight or a violent fight. It may be a long drawn struggle - struggle to achieve what you feel is correct for you. It may not be a struggle for masses. It may be a struggle just for you. It may not concern some national issues; it may be issues at your college, workplace or even home. The basic criterion is a need for change. Changes that you truly believe in, which you know are right, which affect you in a positive way and which will go in improving you and may be many others along with you. If you believe in something deeply, then only you can make your point and convince others of why it is needed, what it will bring about, whom it will be useful to and how it can be brought about.
That will happen when we start to think about the happenings around us – the things that are affecting us or can affect us. Normally we don’t and let the things happen and consciously or unconsciously adjust ourselves.
George Bernard Shaw said, “The Reasonable Man Adapts himself to the world. The Unreasonable man Persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."

I also belong to the category of a normal, unaware human being.. but I have started thinking. Whatever is happening around me – how is it affecting me?
I may not have the confidence of taking the responsibility for that Inquilab today. But I will try. Try not to be just lazy and close my eyes but keeping my senses open to that change and not be afraid for that change.
What will be the change? How will it look like, how will I identify it – I don’t know. But I am sure; it will identify itself if I have a will to accept it.