0.8 Fast unto death  (Page 2/2)

If the correlation between foreign inflows into capital market and corruption were true, then this relation will be a very strong deterrent against large scale scam like 2G. Even if the correlation in short term as described above were not true, it is believed that corruption on a prolonged horizon will certainly play havoc with foreign inflow. No political party at the helm of affair can ignore foreign investment in the new world economic order. This is indeed a new dimension to evolving corruption management in the country. If corruption cannot be handled from within, then at least this external factor may work as a dampener for the bigger scams in the country.

On the cricket front an interesting story is developing that bares the true color of Indo – Pak relation. The bonhomie of India-Pakistan semifinal is fast waning. Back home, Shahid Afiridi, Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team, said that Indians were not as large hearted as Pakistanis. He further stepped up the tirade “Indian press made things out of proportion and was not as good as in Pakistan”. His final remark bared the fragile edifice of relationship under the making “We are Muslims and Allah has given us much bigger heart than Indians, we cannot have good relation with them (Indians) whatever we do….”. There were immediate reactions to this outburst by other Pakistanis who said that it was his individual views. Some said that it was his frustration that was speaking. Whatever be the truth, the distrust between two nations has simply been reignited.

Notwithstanding the negativity that emanated from Afridi outburst, the after effect of world cup win is on solid footing. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Captain of Indian Cricket team, is emerging as a true leader. His field demeanor has always attracted admiration since he became the Captain. He personified the word “leader” in a country where political leaders had shrunk to pygmies. But what he did in the final was something that could only spew from within a leader of a very higher caliber. As against the respectable total of 274 of Sri Lanka in the International Cricket Council (ICC) world cup final, Indian hopes had receded with the early departure of Virendra Sahbag and legendary Sachin Tendulkar (score : 31 for 2). On the dismissal of third batsman in Virat Kohli, Dhoni decided to come ahead of in-form Yuvraj Singh to take on the fight “head on” despite being not in good touch.

Dhoni played an inning that would never be forgotten by Indians ever and finished the match with an elegant straight six over the fence. His outstanding achievement to see Indian cricket team at the top in all three forms of game (test, one day and twenty-twenty) is now seen to have been realized due to his great leadership qualities that has gelled the players of individual capabilities of various measures.

On a discussion on the issue of leadership quality and similar transposition in Indian political space, famous TV personality, Rajdeep Sardesai highlighted the basic problem of Indian political leaders. India lacked a true national leader who could communicate with people from Kashmir in north to Kanyakumari in South. India needed a communicator like Dhoni who had been able to communicate with his teammates effectively.

The observation of Rajdeep Sardesai, political commentator and news presenter, underlines the very basic problem besieging Indian political class. None of the current lot of political leaders has the distinction of having communication across different sections of the country. They are inherently limited in their capacities and have generally failed to echo the emotions of the people of India. No one is able to sale a national dream because there is no such Indian dream. They are even incapable to conjure an idea of national dream in the first place and are essentially regional, sectarian or even bureaucratic in their demeanor and existence. No one is like Cameron of Great Britain or Obama of USA who are at ease to communicate with their people – good or bad. India desperately needs a Dhoni on its national political stage.

Some new facets of Cricket have been unfolding in the subcontinent due to the extended period of exposure of international participats in ICC world cup and IPL (Indian Premier League) played earlier. Players from around the world have become part of the drama which extended from cricket to Bollywood (Indian film industry). Many of them have immersed in the vortex of burgeoning economic expansion and become brand ambassadors of Indian products. Some of them are now household names and part of discussions which sometimes even go beyond the boundary of cricket. Thinking, approach and demeanor of Indian cricket followers have been changing with the inputs from overseas players, commentators, entertainers, technicians and spectators.

On a very subtle and sophisticated level, cricket is also playing on the minds of people who are watching the mechanization of politics, power, money, glamour and above all success. Technology, which was primarily used for cricketing events, have also become as the backbone of evolving stories of corruption, growth and development. New communication outlets like texting, twittering and face-booking have certain inherent attributes which can touch any aspect of modern life. These new forms of communication – on an extended note - have the real potenial to enable younger generation to see through the hollowness of system and iron clad grip of select coterie at the helms of affairs.

Indeed, there is something in the air which is not good for politicians and bureaucrats. The uprisings of Tunesia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Behrain, Yemen etc are images which cannot be simply brushed aside. People in India are watching that people in gulf countries are overcoming the fear of state and sense of helplessness. Anna Hazare, 72 year old social activist and Gandhian of very high repute, declared that he is going to sit on the “fast unto death” at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against large-scale corruption at the national level, mainly asking government to pass Lok-Pal (Ombudsman) bill . Looking at his past achievements, the declaration in itself is a danger signal for the coalition Government. This is evidenced by the fact that Prime Minister himself appealed him to postpone his hunger strike and give Governemnt sometime to consider the proposal. The struggle had begun.