Go Kejriwal, Go!
“Every time we turn our heads the other way when we see the law flouted, when we tolerate what we know to be wrong, when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy or too frightened, when we fail to speak up and speak out, we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice.”
― Robert F. Kennedy
This old quote from a different country far way somehow seems to perfectly fit this country now. Like a glove.
In this nation of 1.2 billion+ people, one man has had the guts to stand up and fight the scourge of corruption in a very visible and all-encompassing way. He is doing this in spite of all the criticisms that he’s up against, criticisms that sometimes verge on demonizing him. He started the battle with Anna Hazare, and even after parting ways is not giving up. Anything but.
You go, Kejriwal!
Clearly, he doesn’t have all the answers on the right way to proceed. Who can, in this nation of corrupt underbellies? So, he is relentlessly trying anything and everything to get the word out and to rouse the nation –
Fasting, check.
Protesting – loud, non-violent, civil disobedience and in-your-face, check.
Media-blitzing, check.
Politics, check. [His party home page has this apt slogan – We the people of India are the change we seek.]
He is stepping up his revelations about the corrupt – be they high ranking politicians or prolific business people, all very powerful people. And he is creating fear and anxiety (also enemies) as the guilty begin to dread each week and each disclosure.
Yes!
From an article in Outlook; click on picture to read article “Aam Army”
Thankfully the media is paying close attention to what he is saying, and therefore spreading the word so that the whole country hears about the looters. Not just Indian media, but now more global publications such as The Washington Post, Forbes and The Wall Street Journal (check out this wonderful satire) are starting to pay attention.
[The flip side of this is that the media has a super-short memory – only until the next big story erupts or is manufactured. So, Kejriwal’s revelations seem to appear and disappear like lightening bolts].
Who is Kejriwal going after?
On the one hand, you have corrupt politicians (irrespective of political party or affiliation) stealing from the government coffers. And on the other hand you have the uber wealthy Indian industrialists hiding their black money in Swiss banks, not paying taxes that they owe to the country – on the wealth that they accumulate from her.
Just last week, I had published a post about the fall from grace of Rajat Gupta. Compare his crime to that of these thieves, blatantly stealing from the country and its people! He’s been punished.
But will these looters ever get their due?
Still, Arvind Kejriwal toils on, against all odds and all critics – one stalwart and his circle of supporters in this vast country, doing all he can to expose them – the rich and the famous – “leaders” who are also turning out to be the ultimate corrupt rogues of India. Along the way, he is slowly but surely picking up more steam and supporters.
I found a recent opinion piece about the man that will probably interest you as much as it did me with this intriguing title, Six reasons why Arvind Kejriwal makes a bad politician. It showcased his character in a way that made me root for him even more. He has all the refreshing qualities of an “anti-politician”.
Let’s give the man his due, and for the good of the country, we need to hope that he never backs off of his agenda for the country. Now that he has a political party, there’s a pragmatic way for people to make a real difference by supporting him. And if there was anything India needed at this time, she needs that. His party even coming out as a strong, honest opposition to whoever ends up ruling would truly be counted as progress.
Only the people can make him a real force in the the next election and therefore, in the country.
The question remains, however – will they?
Photo from The Hindu; Click on photo to read the article
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Rajat Gupta: Fall From Grace & Predictions for the Future
Not that long ago, Rajat Gupta was a towering, treasured figure, especially for the Indian diaspora, but also for the people of India. A powerful and successful business leader who rose from extremely modest beginnings to make a name for himself, he commanded respect as a high-level executive and lately, humanitarian.
Until, that is, he made a mistake – a bad judgement call that broke the law of the land and crossed the boundaries of business and human ethics. Almost overnight the accomplished Mr. Gupta was also classified as a criminal.
The Sunday papers here recently carried an “analysis” of Rajat Gupta‘s fall from grace. Despite simply being opinions expressed by disparate individuals, they were interesting and sad to read. It was just one of many such articles that have been appearing since his trial and conviction.
Yet, one wonders…
Who hasn’t made mistakes? I mean, really?
Who hasn’t misjudged their actions and the resulting repercussions?
Who hasn’t been so full of themselves at times that they thought that they were above the fray, including the law?
It could happen to anyone. It could happen to you or to me. Whether we are as accomplished as Mr. Gupta or not.
And now, many nobodies (including myself) get to analyze and give their opinions on him and his actions. Poor Mr. Gupta.
So, given that this is the case, here goes.
His short statement during his sentencing was –
“I have lost my reputation that I have built over a lifetime.”
But, in spite of Mr. Gupta’s loss of reputation, here are my predictions of what all this could mean to Mr. Gupta’s in his future years –
- This is the kind of situation that breaks egos, even massive ones. He will realize – if he hasn’t already – just how human and vulnerable he is.
- He will eventually recognize that his accomplishments still mean a whole lot, whether other people agree or not [and that their opinions do not really matter in the long run].
- Likewise, he will ultimately understand his true worth – despite his sad blunder.
- To make up for that lapse, he will do more for humanity than if he had never been through this traumatic experience.
- This action and everything that followed will bring out the best and most selfless in him for the rest of his life – much more than if he had not been through this phase.
[Hey, did you just roll your eyes and call me Pollyanna? Just as a reminder, I said these were my predictions. You don’t have to agree with them].
Abraham Lincoln had this interesting perspective – “Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is and the tree is the real thing.” So, it’s fair to say that I’m rooting for his strength of character to come through.
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Finally, here’s a note I wish he would read –
Dear Mr.Gupta –
I sincerely hope that you don’t spend too much time worrying about what people think! That’s a sheer waste of your valuable time. As far as your life (which is one thing you should care about), I hope that this experience actually makes you scale new heights!
Perhaps, things do happen for a reason.
Your mistakes and regrets will always be a part of you. But they are just one part of your life, not your entire life.
You have already accomplished so much, but you also have the potential to do even more for the human cause. Can that be your goal, your way of paying back to society for your highly publicized sins?
Who knows? Someday you may even look back and say that it was all worth it. What’s a reputation compared to what you still have the potential to deliver? Especially if you choose to contribute to people who could truly use your guidance, helping hand and support, thus changing their lives for the better and forever.
We never realize it at the time but so often our mistakes and poor judgments can be the best things that can happen to us- if we learn and grow from them.
I believe it was George Bernard Shaw who said, “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”
You are so much bigger than your mistakes, Mr.Gupta! Therefore, I predict* that there will be a time, sometime in the not so far future, that many of us will be saluting you once again – for your new accomplishments.
Sincerely,
A well-wisher
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* Reminder to reader: it’s my prediction, not anyone else’s. So there.
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The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 