Jaago Re....

We Indians have an unparalleled fetish for Power. Since time immemorial, power struggles have been well chronicled throughout Indian history. Sons have killed fathers and brothers have massacred each other for the sake of the throne. Families have plotted and deceitfully undone their own blood in their pursuit of power. Be it the Mahabharata, Ramayana or the Muhgal Empire, this theme runs through all of ancient history of India. The important question to ask though is what happens after we acquire that power?

Spiderman gave us this most wonderful line, “With great power comes great responsibility” – well yea, he’s American – he can say it. He wouldn’t have dared to say that if he was an Indian.

We’ve been known to screw up when we have great power. Our regulatory Institutions themselves have time and come into question with their integrity. Be it the BBCI, The Income Tax Department, The Election Commission, The Indian Olympic Association, the relatively well respected Indian Armed Forces who were considered to be a great “Adarsh” have also now been tainted with suspicion. All major Indian Regulatory Entities, by and large love self destruction. TRAI and the Raja scam is the latest to join the list!!

Indian policymakers take corruption to be the norm and exceptions to the norm are ridiculed. It is this attitude of taking things lying down that has perpetuated this deep rooted rot over the years.

We young Indians, who are certainly going to be in positions of power and responsibility in the times to come, need to introspect and walk the talk on making India a respected or a ridiculed state. As the clutter breaking advertisement says, it is indeed time for us to “Jaago Re...”