Sometimes we do things without really having a complete understanding of it. We go with the flow cause we just want to do it. Though I am usually more on the cautious side, yesterday was one such experience for me.
I was at NM college capturing the Umang youth fest and around 8 o’clock a large parade crossed the college. There were about 10000 people walking peacefully with candles and mashals in hand shouting interesting slogans. There was also a large crowd outside the NM college trying to get entry to the fest. The paraders wanted this crowd to join but of course the crowd, mostly teens, wanted to be at the fest. I could sense that the crowd was supportive as they joined them in the slogans…or they were just being youth.
I didn’t know much about the Lokpal bill other than the fact that if the bill is passed it may help us reduce, if not eradicate, corruption. The fact that the government is trying so hard not to get it passed in the form proposed by Anna and Kejriwal perhaps suggests that there may be some merit to it. Also, you don’t see any major political support for this activism, apart from the usual rhetoric of BJP. Perhaps it has those claws that every political party is wary of.
With little thought I joined the parade. I did not know any paraders and this was the first time I was on road on a parade. I was shouting slogans, keeping the paraders on one side of the road and letting vehicles pass, lighting candles and simply walking with them.
We walked till Juhu beach where there was a larger crowd. People were singing songs, playing drums, shouting more slogans….it was an eclectic atmosphere.
The best part of this parade was that it was non-political and had all sections from the society, especially a lot of SEC As participating. In a long time this thick skinned upper crust (people like me) has joined a campaign on the roads after debating and criticizing government and corruption in their living rooms and social gatherings for years.
In this sense, this movement is unique.
P.S: The wiki site has all info that you may want to know about this bill.
