For all the Jan Lokpal doubting Thomases

There have been many views on how much good this movement to initiate the revamp of the Lokpal bill has done and many counter arguments exist that question the legitimacy of this movement while prophesying the creation of a group of all powerful, legitimate vigilantes. Let us look at what the critics have had to say.

1 Do Anna Hazare/Shanti Bhushan represent the civil society? Who made them the representatives?

Let us remember that we're not dealing with low down, selfish people with vested interests like KCR, who are making these demands. These are people who've spent the better halves of their lives selflessly serving people. We aren't talking about Karunanidhi and his half-a-day air conditioned fast. We're talking about Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi and Arvind Khejriwal.

As far as civil society is concerned, it is obvious that no one in civil society has a problem with the ends that the Jan Lokpal bill is achieving. Its ends are undoubtedly to do much needed and much approved good to the people. I agree that there isn't a legally binding mechanism that makes them the representatives of the masses. But this protest is very much under the ambit of the spirit of the law which rises much above the written words that try to convey it. Objectively speaking, people may point fingers. But sadly, the world is extremely subjective in its approach.

There is also the fact that the affair of politics in our country has become so sullied that corrupt elements have crept in and conquered, preying on the ignorance and poverty in the country which is extremely prevalent. A free colour TV for every vote, votes for cash and various other false promises constitute a huge bulk of the parliament's votes today. This is a protest by people who aren't, at least, remotely as ignorant. It strives to see that these practices are rooted out, for the benefit of the poor and the ignorant. So essentially, they have their say.

Anyway, democracy still has its say. This is merely a plea for drafting a bill. The passing of the bill through the houses of the parliament will give it the fiat of the people of this country. The act of recommending what is to be implemented is well within the purview of the citizens of a democracy.

2. This sets a very bad precedent in a democracy where a person merely has to go on a hunger strike to bring the government to its knees.

Well essentially, its not just merely a person fasting. The success of these movements depends on who's skipping his meals. Nobody cared for KCR's sham fast. We're as close to Telangana as we were to before he started. While I deeply regard Irom Sharmila, who's not had a morsel of food for 11 years now, I'd like to bring to attention that merely threatening to fast doesn't move mountains.

Besides, every measure possible was adopted before resorting to fast unto death. It's just that the "elected representatives" were apathetic enough to completely ignore everything until it came to a Gandhian fasting for 5 days.

3. The people of this country will get demoralised if this fails.

Yeah. That's probably true. So let's not attempt to do anything while the country gets systematically looted and systemically conquered. Let us also not attempt any significant achievement in our lives. The possibility of failure is a far greater price than success itself.

4. The bill will give the Lokpal unquestioned and complete authority

There are seemingly learned people who've posted snippets from the proposed Lokpal bill and have interpreted it as one that grants dictatorial power to the Lokpal. I'm not very well versed in the language of the framing of laws and cannot evaluate how relevant these arguments are. When it comes to this matter though, I'd rather trust people who've spent their lifetime serving humankind than a few armchair political scientists who prophesy doomsday on their blogs.

Either way, I'm sure that the final draft is yet to be arrived at and that the drafting process must right a few wrongs that might have crept in. It is only fair to judge the merits of these arguments after the completion of that process. All we are saying is give these a chance.

The middle class, especially the thinking middle class has always been living in the established paradigm that the system is impossible to change and that anything done in that direction is merely a waste of time, akin to "throwing rocks at slush" as one such has described. It is obvious that it will continue to live in this paradigm and that it will fiercely defend its point of view to stay there.

Sure, this bill has its share of shortcomings, like any other bill. However, I deem that this movement is much worthier than sitting on our asses and watching the country get looted. Everyone who takes part will get sensitized against corruption. Once that happens, it is less likely that they'll resort to corrupt means themselves. It's just a means to changing society as a whole. It is symbolic of the good that we've always wished to see.

As for me, I'm crossing over from the side of cynics who believe that nothing can ever change and throwing my bags in. After all, a great soul once proclaimed "Be the change that you wish to see in the world."