In a short span of two months we have seen two high-pitched protests against corruption in our country. The first one with its leader Anna Hazare and the second one by Baba Ramdev.
While the two had the same core motive, there has been a huge difference in the way it finally turned out.
The initial supporters of Anna Hazare were mostly the well- educated, urban youngsters who did a great job of perpetrating it to the normal masses too. This movement was fought as much on the streets as on Facebook and e-mails. It was clearly well-planned, well-explained and had a feel of the educated protest in defiance of a government. It gained its followers in thousands as soon as it became viral on facebook. Online petitions were signed and most imprtantly, the media was out with full coverage taking in the words of its very credible backers. It not only had a Khadi clad Gandhian worker as its leader but also IPS and IAS officers in its wake.
It appealed to the easily mouldable intellect of the young generation that is in colleges and schools around the world. There were candle protests, peaceful marches, petitions and it became hugely 'Cool' to follow Anna.
The difference in the Ramdev movement was quite simply, the base of its supporters. Its main support was mainly the lower middle class which lives in rural and semi urban towns of this country. It is made up of those people who chiefly read Hindi newspapers, write in broken english wrought with grammatical mistakes and of course, would not understand any rhetoric or implied logic.
If you were to make them read this description of their movement, they would cringe on the supposed violation of their dignity..."How can he say that I don't know English"??
What was unfortunate was that Baba Ramdev couldn't cover much ground with the youth as well as the urban middle class. There was mockery and plain ridicule hurled at the intentions of the Godman leader, the basis for which was the cliched afterthoughts that we have come to associate with anyone going on a political stage.
"He has 1100 crores of property, or is it 11000 crores"
"He has political interests and is guided by the saffron brigade"
"He should stick to his yoga and not try to enter politics"
That is where this movement lost its battle with the media. It was shunned by most of the big English newspapers with the coverage taking the colors of a high drama. This was accompanied by the careful sowing of doubts regarding his intentions. As soon as the movement started, Digvijay Singh had the job of maligning him and give fodder for the debate on the "Real intentions of Baba Ramdev".
This further alienated the youth and the urban middle classes who will especially not attach themselves with something that is not 'Cool' to follow.
What has happened in the evening of 05/06/2011 between Baba Ramdev and Kapil Sibal is quite clearly stated by 'The Hindu' in this story
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2077392.ece
He was clearly out played by Kapil Sibal when after giving him the assurance for written action, he judged it wise to show off the hand written letter which stated that he would break the fast on Saturday itself. This because of the assurance that the Govt. will accept his demands.
This story was allowed to be propagated while Baba Ramdev fumed over the 'betrayal'.
Now...Had the protest continued this morning, Baba Ramdev would have continued his fast alongwith loud protest on the betrayal by the government. There would have been media coverage and more support from the supporters because of the alleged duping of their Godman leader.
Instead, A Rapid Action Force swept down on the Ramlila Maidan in the middle of the night at 01:00 A.M. and the central point of the protest was quickly dismantled and broken.
What is surprising this morning that none of the wide circulation English newspapers carry this story as of much importance. There is no talk about how this incident is appalling to the sense of every Indian as the resident of a democratic country. There isn't any talk about the alleged betrayal of the Baba. Instead he was flown down from New Delhi to Dehradun where he was received at the Jolly Grant airport alone, by Uttaranchal officials.
He must be a confused and defeated man at present. The morning has already started with renewal of the tirade against him by Digvijay Singh and Kail Sibal as they have alleged once again that he is a 'face of RSS'. This to ensure that there is no sympathy going his way.
What has happened in the night will forever remain a sad blot on the face of our democracy. We as Indians have always been easy to rule because of our divisions. Division have been on the basis of religion, language and regions. It may well now be on the basis of the "haves" and the "have-nots".
It remains to be seen if anyone comes forward to use this now clear distinction between "Our India" and "Their India".
What we can expect is loud protest against govt's dictatorial style and complete absence of any statement by the PM, Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. More allegations against Baba Ramdev and probably an Income Tax enquiry into his assets and endless replays of scenes from last night.
In the meanwhile, the people who came to support him; the farmer, the small shopkeeper, the small time clerk and his wife, they will return back to the daily grind of their lives as there isn't a leader anymore to take their suppressed protests on to the limelight. This is a meek class of people who will not register its protest by waxing eloquent but will only be interested in getting back to the normal life which now, will seem disturbed by the high pitched activity of last few days.
Its a sad day for our democracy.
While the two had the same core motive, there has been a huge difference in the way it finally turned out.
THE COOLNESS FACTOR: ENGLISH & KHADI vs HINDI & SAFFRON
It appealed to the easily mouldable intellect of the young generation that is in colleges and schools around the world. There were candle protests, peaceful marches, petitions and it became hugely 'Cool' to follow Anna.
The difference in the Ramdev movement was quite simply, the base of its supporters. Its main support was mainly the lower middle class which lives in rural and semi urban towns of this country. It is made up of those people who chiefly read Hindi newspapers, write in broken english wrought with grammatical mistakes and of course, would not understand any rhetoric or implied logic.
If you were to make them read this description of their movement, they would cringe on the supposed violation of their dignity..."How can he say that I don't know English"??
What was unfortunate was that Baba Ramdev couldn't cover much ground with the youth as well as the urban middle class. There was mockery and plain ridicule hurled at the intentions of the Godman leader, the basis for which was the cliched afterthoughts that we have come to associate with anyone going on a political stage.
"He has 1100 crores of property, or is it 11000 crores"
"He has political interests and is guided by the saffron brigade"
"He should stick to his yoga and not try to enter politics"
That is where this movement lost its battle with the media. It was shunned by most of the big English newspapers with the coverage taking the colors of a high drama. This was accompanied by the careful sowing of doubts regarding his intentions. As soon as the movement started, Digvijay Singh had the job of maligning him and give fodder for the debate on the "Real intentions of Baba Ramdev".
This further alienated the youth and the urban middle classes who will especially not attach themselves with something that is not 'Cool' to follow.
THE INTRANSIGENCE AND BETRAYAL
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2077392.ece
This story was allowed to be propagated while Baba Ramdev fumed over the 'betrayal'.
Now...Had the protest continued this morning, Baba Ramdev would have continued his fast alongwith loud protest on the betrayal by the government. There would have been media coverage and more support from the supporters because of the alleged duping of their Godman leader.
Instead, A Rapid Action Force swept down on the Ramlila Maidan in the middle of the night at 01:00 A.M. and the central point of the protest was quickly dismantled and broken.What is surprising this morning that none of the wide circulation English newspapers carry this story as of much importance. There is no talk about how this incident is appalling to the sense of every Indian as the resident of a democratic country. There isn't any talk about the alleged betrayal of the Baba. Instead he was flown down from New Delhi to Dehradun where he was received at the Jolly Grant airport alone, by Uttaranchal officials.
He must be a confused and defeated man at present. The morning has already started with renewal of the tirade against him by Digvijay Singh and Kail Sibal as they have alleged once again that he is a 'face of RSS'. This to ensure that there is no sympathy going his way.
What has happened in the night will forever remain a sad blot on the face of our democracy. We as Indians have always been easy to rule because of our divisions. Division have been on the basis of religion, language and regions. It may well now be on the basis of the "haves" and the "have-nots".It remains to be seen if anyone comes forward to use this now clear distinction between "Our India" and "Their India".
What we can expect is loud protest against govt's dictatorial style and complete absence of any statement by the PM, Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. More allegations against Baba Ramdev and probably an Income Tax enquiry into his assets and endless replays of scenes from last night.
Its a sad day for our democracy.
