Bhrasht-achaar: Everyone hates the taste of it, but it doesn't stop them from eating it!!

Does corruption end with the passing of a bill? 

Is a law or an agency really what we needed to stop Indians from looting our own country? 

Are we, the citizens of India, the so called victims of "the system", completely innocent in the breeding of corruption thru every vein of our country?

A few days back, we as a nation celebrated the victory of one man. A man who stood for what he felt was right. Anna Hazare won a small, minute battle against "the system".

The days preceding the decision by the govt to look seriously into passing the bill thru, the whole nation came out in one voice to support Anna Hazare on social networking sites, websites, SMS's, and on the roads. It is to these supporters that I would like to pose a simple question.

Are you ready?
Are you ready to give up on those small luxuries you've had till now? Because the system has been corrupt, the beneficiaries of "special" services have been us, the citizens of this Country. Don't you think we have had it easy so far?

I mean, off the 6 crore Indians who messaged in support of the bill, how many do you think may have paid a bribe? Wait, that may be a big number. So let me rephrase. From the 6 crore Indians who texted in their support, how many do you think have never paid a bribe?

I'm all in for change. I'm all in for a revamp of the system. But does that mean we only have to scrutinize the people sitting in power? I really doubt that will do anything useful in the long run.

So I suggest two things.
Firstly, both the parties involved, i.e. the person paying the bribe (aam aadmi) and the person taking the bribe (bhrasht karamchari) should be booked for corruption. Why? Because by paying a bribe all we are doing is feeding the parasite. If we don't pay, then they won't eat.

But the problem is, we have got used to the convenience of paying for everything legitimate and illegitimate. If you cross a red light it's easier to pay the traffic cop Rs100 and go home rather than have to pay Rs500 and go to the station to pick your car. This is a simple example of violation of traffic laws. DUI and speeding tickets are all too common to "pay off".
How many of you reading this have bought your driver's licence? Today if you can afford it, then there isn't a single thing you can't buy. Everything in our beautiful country has a price. And we, the so called victims of the system, are all too willingly paying our way through life.

Secondly, along with the acceptance of the idea of a bill and law against "white collared" corruption by the govt, I suggest we, the youth and the cream of our nation and the future of our country, take a unified solemn oath. That, from today I will not give in to corruption. From today I will and am willing to go thru a few hardships. The hardships will be nothing more than a price we have to pay for a few years so that we can clean "the system". This may mean we will lose out on a few opportunities in life. But I’m a firm believer that "fortune favours the brave". Let's be brave and move forward as a country.

Drive this message forward into every Indian in the age group of 10-45. I strongly feel our country is a tree. And this generation is the new roots for the tree. We need to make sure what goes into the nourishment of this tree is pure. Our country needs this generation so that we move forward to the next stage of world dominance.

Why world dominance? Because we have worked our asses off for it. This is our time. This is our generation. The world knows it but they also know we are too corrupt within to make it to the top. We have achieved so much so late. We should have been the worlds no1 superpower a decade ago. What has stopped us? And what is stopping us? Think about it. Our corruption plays a very important role in that.

I have a small dream, I want to retire from the current rat race I'm in. But I want to do it in an India which is the biggest super power of the world. The country the whole world looks up at and says "Why on Earth can't we be like the Indians"!!!

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And India will live as one!!!!!!

BLEEDING BLUE

How different is it this time around? How different is it from 2003? Didn't we think we cud win back then? How much of a difference is this current team from that one in the past?

In 2003, India embarked on a  World Cup campaign amid a slight turmoil. The Indians were mauled by the otherwise flightless Kiwis in their backyard. The tiger was wounded and hurt. The wounds were so deep that when they landed in South Africa, not a lot was expected off them. Through the month long competition, with the help of some sparkling individual performances, we reached the final of a world cup for only the second time in our history. The final bout was ON and we were the contenders. The team at the opposite corner of the ring was the defending champions and back then, the all conquering Aussies. That team was next to impossible to beat. Being a big Indian and Proteas supporter, I hated no other team other than that particular era of the Australian cricket team.

On the day of the big fight I still didn't see the same expectations we have from tomorrow. What difference has there been?

From hopeless contenders to finalists in 2003; to serious contenders in 2007 which was an eventual disappointment; finally we are here. At the doorstep of another chance, at glory.

Our beloved cricketers have always been heart breakers. In India we call them bewafa. Barring some memorable performances, most often than not they have tend to disappoint us. But Dhoni and his Blue Brigade have taught us to believe in them. So much that, a defeat is just not on the cards or expected. Even a depleted Indian side hammered the Kiwis 5-0 at home.

Coming into this WC, we are tagged favourites ahead of all teams. This was expected. Even our coach was quoted saying a year ago, that not making to the finale would be definite failure in his system of coaching. So we have been expecting us to be here at the finals.

But let’s not forget our opponents who are capable and hungry just like us. Recent records will count for nothing. Cause tomorrow is a brand new day. A new match.


But come tomorrow I will be among the billion or so supporters screaming my heart out, cheering my team on. This time it’s different. This time it’s ours. We know it. We feel it. 

I hope our cricketers don’t turn out to be bewafa again.

Cheers!!! & Bleed Blue!!!!