When I was a child, I wanted to be a bus driver. Isn't it exciting for a child who loves journeys, to be able to drive and travel in something as big a bus!
When I grew up a bit, I wanted to become an Engineer, after all, it is so much fascinating to build things, and implement my ideas so much creatively.
When I further grew up, I wanted to become an IAS officer, as I wanted to take electricity to the villages similar to my own and have power to change whatever I might feel wrong.
When I told this my father, he said me that real power lies with the politicians, without whose consent, an officer will not be able to do much. On asking on how to become that, I was answered that I cannot become a politician as it needs a lot of money or a family background.
I was then sad but now, I see a hope.
Yes, now I see a hope to bring/see a change in India,
Now I see hope in bringing back glory to India,
Now I see hope in Arvind Kejriwal.
This is what, perhaps everyone in India, who dreams or ever dreamt of, to bring a change to India via political changes, thinks of Kejriwal. The way Kejriwal operates in politics, has given me a hope to see that things can change, if you dare to bring it. Anna feared that politics cannot run without money power, and my dad said, that Anna understands India, and Kejriwal is impractical. But today, when I see Kejriwal, I see hope. I am now optimistic that the dream of Swami Vivekananda and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam will soon be achieved. India will once again be a world leader, without compromising with its principles and values. Arvind has in its mind, the basic ideology of democracy that is: "By the people, from the people, and for the people" and is leading a party formed by the common masses of India, who get themselves financed from the Common-man, and wish to give a government working for the people, and that’s what I seem to find the only “democratic” political party in the world’s biggest democracy.
I once heard a phrase: "Politics is too serious a field, to be left only for politicians", and I found it too apt for Indian scenario. This IIT-Grad engineer has redefined the rules; he plays a clean game in a dirty land. Whatever may be the election results; at least this guy is successful in infusing confidence and optimism in Delhites. I never found the commoners of Delhi more optimistic, than I see now, they now think that the national capital doesn't only deserves high prices for the basic necessities, but better services as well. They deserve cleaner roads, more security, and more involvement of the common man in governance and definitely lesser scams. "Kejriwala", as his loved ones call him, is the name of a man, who envisions bringing back the idea of Swaraj to India. He is not just helping them to visualize a better Delhi, but assisting them in taking an informed decision for their future. Now, for me and thousands like me, it doesn't matter much that whether AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) wins or loses, as at least we all now know that we need not belong to a political family, or be from a rich family with large black-money to spend on elections. I just need to work for my mother India, and I would be able to achieve the India of my dreams with me being able to contribute to it.
People say to me, Kejriwal is greedy for power, that’s why he entered politics. I say to them, if contesting election shows the greedy nature, let Congress/BJP/SP/BSP etc. show that they are not greedy for power by not contesting an election. Show that you guys just want to serve the society by doing what Arvind had done while working for Parivartan.
Let me give some insight to how he is different:
1) Superb Combination of a patient listener, good orator, and a fierce warrior:
Have you ever listened to his interviews with the media houses? If not, do give a look, and you would be feel the heat, the burning desire to change India in him, and a rising spark in you as well when you listen to him. An awesome orator with a great mind, a combination witty enough, to make the listener his fan.
2) Issue-based politics:
Yes I know that for this reason many dislike him for one doesn't need issue-based politics in the long run. But, I like him for that. I like him that he doesn't just wish to create chaos (as many feel), but to create awareness among the “Aam Aadmi”. He wishes to help the people make an informed decision. He is the type of opposition, one of greatest leaders, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee dreamt of!
In his "Bizli-pani andolan", he not only showed the high rates, but also made the people aware that, they have the rights to question the government regarding that. The people dared to defy the government, and after a long time regained their long-lost faith on democracy. More than 10 lakh letters submitted during the time, show how prevalent this previously latent issue was.
3) Vision:
Kejriwal is one of the very few politicians in Modern India, who has/shares his views on nearly every matter that concerns India, and the people. He is neither leftist nor rightist, neither completely believes in socialistic economy nor in capitalistic economy, but believes to have an optimum mix of the two. He believes to take good things out of every ideology, and maximize the productivity of the nation.
Many of many friends, who support BJP, say to me that BJP is run by a vision; they have a guiding force, which AAP lacks in! I seriously feel how is BJP an idealistic party, with the senior leaders accused of serious corruption charges? How do they claim to follow one principle, when one of its ruled states (Madhya Pradesh) becomes the first of India's state to implement RTI, while the other (Gujarat) fails to implement it properly/effectively? How is BJP a party, who wish to work for "shining India", when the top leaders are in a cat-fight mode for power? What sort of ideology governs them, when they do not even submit their revenue sources to the election commission? How Modi claims to support industries when their party opposes the government for favouring the retail-chains claiming them to hamper the small shop owners? I am just raising these questions, because I seriously don't find a single use of principles, if someone can't abide to them. It is like the old parrot singing "thief will come, put in seeds, do not get caught", but eventually gets caught. That is what I visualize today's BJP as.
And for Congress, I don't think I need to say anything, as this is a party, with no ideology, no vision, just determined to bring back monarchical system back, with all its leaders (Yes, I too just noticed, ALL!!) been accused of charges of corruption and mismanagement. One of my friends, presently working in a media house, recently, while we were discussing something in politics, claimed that today, even if some educated person supports congress, will not dare to declare it public, that is the congress carries to the educated.
4) Ground Level Experience:
Many say that Arvind does not have the ground-level experience, I smile and say them to read about him, read how this man worked so hard to get RTI implemented in Delhi, how this man fought for the rights of people while working for parivartan, how this guy dared to be in fast, for so long, just to persuade the government to pass a law, that would make them more accountable to the people who believed in them.
4) Tactics:
He is changing the ways, politics used to operate.
He dares to question the queen!
He dares to raise fingers at the industrial giants!
He is redefining Indian politics by playing it fair!
He is making the "Aam Aadmi" feel important!
When AK decided to contest against Sheila Dikshit, he showed that politics is not just to get power; it is to question the wrong! If it would have been just for power, other seats could have been the best suited for him. But he is now questioning the Delhi-Queen to see the power of the common man, she had been neglecting for long.
5) Money:
Anna Hazare decided not to enter politics, for he seemed to have view, that politics remains limited to the powerful. He believed that on cannot play fair over here, and his "chela" (mentee) is now showing how to do the seemingly impossible, possible. Fully transparent donation process makes a donor feel important part of "Change 4 India"!
6) Strong Constitution:
He is playing the same old game of politics against the old giants, with a different set of rules. Rules curbing nepotism, rules curbing politics for money/power, rules curbing money making in politics. They have a very strong, well-built constitution in place, which attracts the elite, the lawyers, the engineers and the IAS officers to take an active participation in elections.
So, when I hope in AK, all my fellows seem to agree with me. What they don't agree with, is the hope in Indian voters, who is very forgetful and forgives easily. So, whenever you hear about an election coming soon, do take a decision, an informed decision, not the decision imposed on you by the government or by the surroundings, but a decision, which you chose to take by understanding things!!
