Letter to Prime Minister....(in the wake of recent Jan Lokpal protests)

(It seems like those essay composition topics that primary teachers used top give us in fourth grade but written sensibly and with serious thought it can be vehicle of opinion and discussion)

Dear Mr.Prime Minister,

Warm Greetings and Vande Mataram. Hope this letter finds you in good health. I am sure if you read this letter and within days of it being written, you would be under some stress due to the recent events in the country. The Jan Lokpal movement has caught imagination of many people and the other day I was surprised to see the size and composition of one such protest march which passed by my house. I thought of writing a letter to Anna Hazare, which I might later. But first I thought it was my right and duty, as law abiding  and tax paying citizen of India who has voted in every election since turning eighteen, to address the Prime Minister who represents my country and is responsible for running its affairs.

My knowledge about politics, policy formation and law making and socio-economic dynamics of the country is limited. Yet this letter is not a set of instructions or suggestions but a few things which I wish/hope/expect you would do in some form and measure.

a) Kindly acknowledge there is crisis and dissent in the country. Maybe the number of protesters, however large, is not large enough in comparison with India's exploding population. Yet the protests seem to grow stronger by the day. So kindly acknowledge that there is discontent amongst some section of the society and there is a need to address it.

b) Communicate: Yes, once you acknowledge the problem, let us know that you are working to resolve it. You spoke to us on Independence Day. The other day I saw you addressing a group of IITians. Please spare few moments for us common citizens. Do come on air, address the nation. The situation warrants frequent dialogue. If not a speech, at least issue some PR releases, let us know what you are thinking.

d) Frankly, I do not have in depth knowledge of the details of the workings of an institution like Lokpal and I get lost in all the legal mumbo-jumbo. But team Anna (as the media calls it) have made some serious and commendable effort in popularizing their version and explaining the difference between their version (jan lokpal) and the Government version. If you cannot accept Jan Lokpal, atleast let us know which points do you differ on and why. We want to hear it from your mouth.

e) We understand that you do not agree in entirety with Jan Lokpal bill and since we have entrusted you with the responsibility of running the country we assume that you know much more than us about law making and execution. However if you do not agree with jan lokpal bill give us reasons. Clear and precise reasons about each point - why you do not agree with each point. Kindly don't tell us that you do not agree with Jan Lokpal because law making is responsibility of the parliament or sanctity of the parliament is questioned etc. Frankly we don't see why if a good bill is proposed from outside the parliament, Government can't find a way to introduce it in the parliament. So if you don't agree give us concrete reasons.

f) People want to see the corruption eradicated and team Anna (again as media calls them) are offering a solution to this problem. If you do not agree with it, please suggest an alternative solution. Don't just tell us corruption is a complex problem and needs multi-layered solution. We know it. Question is do you have any solution in sight? If not, then we see no harm in accepting a solution proposed by someone else.

Lastly I apologize if I have written anything inappropriate. I have faith in India's democracy and I am sure we all will emerge as India Shining through all this.

Vande Mataram

I Believe...

I Believe,

They told me you only believe what you see,

The truth they said is plain and clear,

Sometimes its painful, sometimes dear,

But it will always be, right there in front of me,

Now I know they lied through their teeth,

For the truth, yes it was right there,

But thinly veiled, obscured, burried beneath,

And what I saw was fair, but not fair,

A polished smile to hide a thousand tears,

A dream of future to dispel today's fears,

And then I said I have the right to know,

That is when they were afraid to show,

For they knew that once I knew,

My vigour renewed, fresh and new,

I would ask them to be accountable,

Bring a change not just talks and fable,

I would not rest till they make if clear and fair,

Corrupted consciences clearly in despair,

The greed, the avarice has to stop,

Someone who questions the people at top,

Call it whatever you want to call,

Ombudsman, Investigator or Lokpal.

And I believe the change will come.

My countrymen rise and shine,

Its time to shout and not to whine,

Let our voice shatter the sleep,

Of those who rest in their slumber deep,

I know, the road is long and hard,

Let us hold each others hands,

And guide each other through each nook and bend,

Let us my countrymen walk to the end.

I believe....