Is Jan Lokpal the solution to the evil called corruption?

I have, in the past, voiced my thoughts on corruption through this blog. Today what has dragged me to the same topic is the hoopla surrounding the Team Hazare protest that has gained unprecedented momentum. After my “Anna-lysis”, the views expressed below may tag me as an ‘anti-national’! The only solace, however, is the readership that the blog currently enjoys.

Pardon me for being forthright, but I can only say that the current scenario is completely flawed. The Congress Party was plain unlucky by being in power at this juncture (disclaimer – am not a Congressman). Despite tall claims of the opposition parties, they would have acted in the same way as the Congress and Congress would have done what the opposition is doing now. Like every other common man, I am all for the end of this corruption menace – an ideal situation, wishful thinking – which, I think may not change unless people also do their bit…(I am no cynic, unless putting across the reality bluntly is classified as cynicism).

While Team Hazare has created uproar, curiosity, mobilized the country through peace protests, candle light marches, revived the quintessential ‘Gandhi Topi’ and introduced fancy Anna-inspired merchandise, I have a question to ask. Will all these candle light supporters and ‘I Am Anna Crusaders’ take a public pledge that ‘they won’t pay a single paisa as bribe and stick to it’? If their answer happens to be in affirmative, then perhaps there is a possibility that the country makes some headway…

Being a democracy, India has and continues to witness upsides and pitfalls. We have all heard the hullabaloo about the strong sentiments and views expressed by Team Anna. Discussions on television, newspapers, chain e-mails on the “more-popular-than-Abhi-Ash’s-impending-parenthood-and-team-India’s-disastrous-test-performance” Lokpal Bill!! The herd mentality, coupled with insensible and over-the-top media reporting by TRP hungry visual media has led to the crusaders of corruption to hold the country for ransom for almost ten days! From sharp and shrewd CEO’s to the Six Sigma Certified Dabbawalas, from housewives to children, each one is directly or indirectly falling for a lucrative dream that is being offered through Jan Lokball bill – a miraculous end to corruption from every nook and corner of the country. What is rather ironical absurd and annoying to my partially sane mind is the support and solidarity shown to the protest by none other than some ex-chief ministers, union and state ministers who had to vacate their positions due to the very allegation of corruption.

Once again, at the cost of sounding cynical, we must accept the dreaded reality that things are certainly not going to change overnight. The way things are today, the bill may get passed (end of the day – it’s all about votes). But the question to be addressed is – what happens next? To set a parallel, the whole world knows that the once highly ambitious Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act or TADA did not end terrorism and ended up being misused and abused, leading to a decision of putting it in the back burner after some time.

Let’s break this down a step further. For a bribe to materialize, it needs two parties – a giver and a taker. Now, while the fourth estate is gung-ho about the taker, how are we going to address the issue of giver? Of course, you can say that they are forced to pay and my humble submission is why these evangelists can’t say no. They won’t and that’s the psyche the taker is banking upon.

While several extended examples of the giver-taker mentality can be endlessly listed, on a concluding note I’d like to say that the Jan Lokpal Bill can be a starting point, but not a solution. Unless the media-influenced, frenzied masses gathered on the streets pledge that they would do their bit by not paying bribe and stick to it, by being vigilant and responsible citizens, we are going to have another ineffective legislation.

Team Anna and their crusade is just one side of the coin. We need to wake up (Jaago re in the truest sense) to the fact that by merely passing a bill, corruption will not vanish. Going by that philosophy, crime or criminals should have vanished from the face of the country considering the strong laws to curb that from time immemorial.

Corruption started not when someone asked for a bribe, but when someone agreed to pay!

Here are a few links which, in my opinion, add a second dimension to the as-of-now unilateral thought process.

An article from the New York Times at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/world/asia/18iht-letter18.html?_r=1&src=tp&smid=fb-share

Thoughts of Nandan Nilekani at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/anna-hazares-campaign-simplistic-and-uni-dimensional-nandal-nilekani/articleshow/9681641.cms

An article from the Outlook magazine at:
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?278063#.TlD_2iIdf8M.facebook

Do we really need a Censor Board!

For those who have been following the news about Prakash Jha’s film Aarakshan, It’s an easy guess as to what prompted me to venture into this area. The film is about various aspects of the education process, the reservation policy being just one of them. The film was banned by the State of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The reason for the ban is multifold – As per the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government - the film, if released might create law and order problem in the state. As per the Andhra Pradesh government – the film may hurt the sentiments of weaker sections. The Punjab Government which banned the film initially allowed its release after the producer agreed to make certain changes to the concerned scenes. The ban across all these states is based on representations made by the SC/ST panel.

Apparently, the film has remarks about reservation system which is allegedly anti Dalit. Who decides what is anti-Dalit is of course an issue that deserves another post itself.

The biggest joke is that the UP government is banning the film for only 2 months from the date of release. In today’s digital era, with pirated DVD’s flooding the market even before a movie releases (being an eternal movie buff who loves watching movies in cinema halls – can’t still figure out, why can’t this menace be curbed) and movies being aired on satellite channels within few days of their release, which film maker in his right senses will plan a movie re-release after 2 months.

I never gave much thought to the Censor board certificate which precedes the screening of any film. The recent developments around the movie Aarakshan – got me curious enough to dig deeper into, what this Censor Board or CBFC is all about.

In layman terms, The Central Board of Film Certification (popularly known as the Censor Board or CBFC) is set up under the provisions of The Cinematograph Act, 1952. It is a government of India regulatory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after certification by the Board.

According to the Supreme Court - Film censorship becomes necessary because a film motivates thought and action and assures a high degree of attention and retention as compared to the printed word. The combination of act and speech, sight and sound in semi darkness of the theatre with elimination of all distracting ideas will have a strong impact on the minds of the viewers and can affect emotions. Therefore, it has as much potential for evil as it has for good and has an equal potential to instill or cultivate violent or good behavior. It cannot be equated with other modes of communication. Censorship by prior restraint is, therefore, not only desirable but also necessary.

Fair enough - but the only concern is if a regulatory board set up by the Government of India with 25 members give clearance to a movie, what business do these states have to ban or put an embargo on its release.

The entire visual media were airing shows on these developments with the film makers justifying the film on one side and another section defending the ban – must have clocked good TRPs. The last we hear is that the producer has approached the Supreme Court for removing the stay.

I would like to borrow the words of Komal Nahata – the famed critic’s quote on the development- "It’s politically motivated and brainless with no application of mind. When Censor Board has cleared it, why should anybody have a problem with this?"

If the government cannot uphold or protect the constitutional right of freedom of expression, why do we need such rights? Is it not the right of people to judge the merit in a film once it is cleared by the Censor board?

If the Central Government feels that the Censor Board is doing its job, they should provide protection for the peaceful release of these movies.