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Saturday, August 11, 2012

The Fakirs and their Fast Ferraris


Don't buy a single vote more than necessary. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay for a landslide.

Joseph P. Kennedy

Hazare buries Team Anna? Or has he burnt the team and passed a stake through?

The Mascot and the face of the team suddenly did not feel like the glue he was?

Surely with his decision to disband the team, India against Corruption ceased going anywhere. The movement has surely fallen apart .Some key members nurtured political ambitions with oracular demos which were very evident from day one!

Was it Anna’s dismay that found expression or was it his sustained and suppressed anger which finally caused the crack!

Different ideological leanings and conflicting approaches to deal with issues on severely discordant notes were heard repeatedly on TV and by the time Anna disbanded the team it was ridden with fissures. Some rabble-rousers surely provided the movement with the fillip it needed but I was one of the first to back out by day Two!

Whilst Anna has gone back to his roots of being a social worker the others are branching out to join the turbulence of active politics? Surely there was no sting in the movement right from the very word go and the finally outcome was some of the people and aspirants being catapulted onto center stage.To some, a cruel joke being played on the people who gave it all up to lend whole hearted support for a STRONG Lokpal Bill.

Most of media has become an aspect of show business, offering mostly infotainment. It has evolved into an entity that tends to function as a PR agency for the wealthy and powerful multinationals and members of Govt in power. The commercial strategy that is implemented, appeals to emotions, personal and community safety, and mostly triggers indoctrinated views of authority.

The wily politicians are having the last laugh seeing this whole disarray! From fast to super fast mode the team got disbanded. Guess the blueprint for surrender was already drawn with the so called “secret” meeting and the subsequent fast was mere posturing.

I had heard that even the weak became strong in unity, but in this case, I shudder to think what might have been the inducement or threat used by the ruling coterie to ensure Anna give his fast up so super fast!

There goes ANNAther man sinking into the gargantuan quicksand of corrupt politics! RIP Team Anna!




Baba Ramdev are you in Listening Mode? Or are you the next Hungry half Clothed Trapeze Artist?

Fakirs Who Wish For a Ferrari Fast! …Fast.. but please…check your Fitness First!


27 comments:

  1. When the movement started how I totally supported them. But as the days progressed the cracks in Team Anna became more and more evident and now it is in a state of disarray with no clear vision. Ab bagwan jaane aage kya hoga iska....

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    1. Right from the word go it seemed like a whole bunch of vested interests strung together!
      Thank you for leaving behind a few words Swapan

      Lots of good wishes
      Ushy

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    2. Would be grateful if you could elaborate on the 'vested' part. Dying to know what those vested inetersts could be!!!

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  2. Great Read! One thing Team Anna (for the moment, I still leave out Anna for lack of credible evidence) ensured that the "last but one Paragraph" is written for every one who would lead such movements in Bharat henceforth. A genuine cause would be seen through prism of suspicion for the utter disdain and opportunism displayed by a few ppl in Team Anna (2 primarily but the 3rd & 4th player's role emerging).
    On a personal basis, Would I go all out for any such Anti-Corruption movements in future? yes, I will fight but no going "all-out" - just like that mosquito repellent, they swatted my confidence in such people's movement.

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    1. Hi Suresh

      No plans for the team...just hogging the limelite for barely any money!
      A good PR agency would have cost Suresh!;-)
      Thank you for sharing your views on the same
      Lots of regards
      Ushy

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  3. Excellent read, well written Ushy. Sad sad state of affairs we live in today

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    1. Thank you Sunny

      Means a Lot to me that you spared a few moments to go through!

      Lots of regards
      Ushy

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  4. Does anyone see the possibility that the entire Anna movement was designed to fail? That some of the TA members are cynical opportunists and have used the movement as a platform for themselves. By 2014, TA or Swaraj Party will have tied up with the Congress. To quote Orwell "..they looked from man to pig and pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”

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    1. Hi there

      Designed to fail seems so apt and appropriate...only you could have come up with these words!

      Thank you for coming by and sharing your wisdom.Truly means a LOT to me.

      Lots of regards and good wishes
      Ushy

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  5. As always rightly put. The criticism of Team Anna's movement is not taken in right spirit neither by its supporters nor by Team Anna (not that, I can authenticate it, but inferred from statements of evr so long core committee of Team Anna)

    As most, even I supported, the intent of Team Anna, also praised from time to time for atleast getting people out on roads and making corruption a talking point, while this was their strength and USP, later on the same become the liability for Team Anna.

    For any action, not just movement, focus is very important, and action has to correlate with the intent in larger sense. While, Team Anna proclaimed to have common target as Corruption, and they got superficially united, over the period, their niche and different focus under garb of common goal became evident. The movement if it is claimed to be for society and on larger good, it has to be inclusive and not exclusive, also not appeasing to get the work done, as according to me appeasement is also one form corruption, which Team Anna (knowingly or unknowingly indulged).

    Corruption doesn't have Money as the base always. The base of corruption is greed, which can be of Fame, Lust, Control (power) and also money. Which i felt was ignored by the movement.

    Overall, any movement has to be very serious, solution oriented, focused and sincere. But this movement had none, all in core committee were having their own path decided to be carved through this movement. This movement was a medium for their goal, i feel. better the curtain was down quickly. The solution for Indian is ideological and then political. It is not Political without ideology and hence, Team Anna cant succeed even politically, if they are in current shape and doesnt re-invent to reality.

    Over all Mataji brilliant blog, loved read ur article after long. and ur point on media is apt. Thanks

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    1. hey my dear Jemin

      As usual you rock!
      Lots of sensible relevant Stuff on Anna and gang!Better than calling them Team!

      It is always sharing with you and reading what your views are!Do keep sharing and post your opinions when you have a flash!

      Once again Thank You
      Regsrds and good wishes
      Ushy

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  6. To me this movement was bound to fizzle out. Internal bickering, aim for political power and soda water emotions of people all helped the movement sink. Let's see what Ramdev has to offer.

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    1. Hey Umar

      thank you so much for coming by!
      Truly means a Lot to me!
      Truly seemed like soda fizz...all these movements!

      The latest however, seems like Orange soda fizz!;-)

      Thanx again for coming by and do stay connected
      Lots of regards
      Ushy

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  8. I for one had really liked the intent of Anna, but not on the way it was executed. Removing big ticket scams or implementing the Jan Lokpal could wipe out corruption faced by the Aam Admi - is equal to dreaming that I will be the PM one day without any political base!

    Big ticket scams can only be removed by bringing transparency to Elections and funds received by all political parties. Fact is - no one is keen to do that, else a communist party could not have increased their income to 100's of crores even when they are not in power (read 13th August 2012s papers).

    The biggest joke of all this is - only Congress is targeted when all Political class is known to make big ticket scams - worst of all to me is (not because of the size of the scam, but because of the polluted mind of the people who is keen to make money on a serious war) the one who made money out of the caskets for Jawans!

    I am OKAY for corruption, if the person who does it provide me with quality infrastructure, better healthcare facilities, safe place to live in, keeps a wonderful image of India to Indians and to those who live outside, honestly eradicate poverty and malnurishment, provides decent education for the poor, reduce unemployment and keeps the economy to grow at an average of 7% per annum! I don't give a damn whether it's Rahul or Modi who governs and whether they all loot jointly or individually - as long as they can provide me that!

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    1. Hey Raj

      At least you have the Honesty to say you are with corruption!

      As you said no political party as a whole has too many principles by which many of it's players play!

      And yes...the intention of Anna was truly good but lack of focus and vested interests messed it all up!They spoke up in too many voices and out of turn!

      A serious case of falling flat on its belly!

      There went the very gut of the so called "Anti Corruption" crusade!....sometimes seemed more like the Aunty Corruption Crusade with Mm Bedi waving that flagpole!

      Thanx a ton for coming by....Lots of good wishes
      Ushy

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  9. People who believe Anna and his team could do miracles did not realize that from the beginning this whole charade was stage managed by Rajmaata and her coterie in the NAC which is filled by the NGO types....it is very evident the way Anna and his team was handled from the beginning by the Govt of India...with Kid gloves...compare this to the midnight lathi charge that was unleashed on Baba Ramdev's supporters who were fast asleep and how Baba Ramdev was airlifted back to his ashram in Haridwar...that should have told the public about this nautanki...but indian sheeple are indian sheeple they keep clutching at straws without thinking too much...

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  10. Oh I forgot to add one more thing to my earlier comment..look at the timing when this Anna nautanki started...the government was getting mauled by the opposition and the media on the issue of 2G scam...so in comes Anna and his team to save the UPA-II from this and the rest as they is history

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    1. Guruji,
      Jai Ho.....aapke charan kahan hai...aisa vidhwaan kahan chhupa baitha tha abtak.....guruji aap yunhi apne vichaar prakat kar hamaare jaise tuchh avem nadaan praaniyo ke jeevan ko andhkaar mukt karte rahiye.....darta hoon kahin aapke sakshaat darshan ho gaye to khushi ke maare mar hi naa jaaon.....ek baar phir se pranaam guruji

      Delete
    2. Girish Bhaiyya,

      why this sarcasm...I am just stating facts as they are....indian sheeple includes me too :).

      Delete
  11. I was cynical at the movement right from the beginning. . The agenda of Team Anna was never the same. The team itself is formed to satisfy the ego of a few. The common found it refreshing and supported it. But as time went the true colours came out a natural death occurred. It is always easy to criticise. I do that all the time!! :P

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  12. As a nation of law-breakers, we cannot expect change till we shake ourselves out of complacency.

    As for Team Anna providing a political alternative - they have to move beyond shrill accusations.

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  13. ...it was more of "STEAM" Anna, rather than a TEAM Anna... all with 'disturbed' backgrounds... all in for their own reasons...own interests...leanings...agendas... Anna realised this late...and the disillusioned old man called it a day....

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  14. "TEAM ANNA" the name itself says that it was not team india so it failed ... Gandhiji's movement was never called by his name hope people try and understand that it was a political movement backed by opposition to destroy the ruling party...

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  16. Once again, Maataji :), you are at your inimitable best. Though belated and OUT OF CONTEXT NOW, hear out my thoughts too on the event that was *TEAM ANNA*. {I am not concentrating on the past, present or future tense of the grammar within these thoughts - hence bear the discrepancy :)}.

    Yes, the Team Anna satire included all that represented a Bollywood Movie. It had a iconic hero, a few friends of the hero, heroine(s) and adequate support staff. Direction, Script, Music and Marketing was all an extravagant affair with all playing their role very well. All visual media channels hyped their TRPs to its maximum. Known and upcoming anchors scored multiple points of appreciation. Many were rebuked and reprimanded. Panelists appearing on the various talk shows hosted successively by the various channels opinionated exhaustively. There was virtual post mortem done by these panelists literally abounding in the 'ifs' and 'buts' of the speculative eventuality

    Coming to the core of the blog reminded me of the last line from a famous quote by Shakespeare : **full of fire and fury, signifying nothing!**.

    My Prognosis:-

    Congress led Government ignored Team Anna it with their scornful insolence. They did their best to 'divide and rule' them and to a large extent they did achieve success by mitigating:-

    1] the conniving Swami Agnivesh;
    2] distancing Justice Hegde;
    3] cajoling the obnoxious Aruna Roy to directly draft a LokPal Bill contradicting the Anna version;
    4] inviting the maoist, Arundathi Roy to publicly speak against the Anna movement;
    5] procuring a written petition of non-compliance from the Christians collectively;
    6] provoking the Muslim community not to join the cause branding it a RSS / BJP combined movement;
    7] openly castigating Anna of corruption by Political Rhinos like Manish Tiwari, Sibal, Chidambaram;
    8] and as an anti-climax, a loathsome, execrable and puerile address to the LokSabha by the permanently imbecile Amulbaby, Rahul Gandhi.

    An agitation of this magnitude has more demerits than merits. Team Anna can not boast of being that handful of people masquerading as the voice, brain, thought and sensibility of the 1.2 billion Indians. This was totally unacceptable. Team Anna neither had the fundamental right nor the terminal endorsement of being the representatives of the 1.2 billion Indians on Issues that perhaps might be bothersome to Team Anna, but not necessarily to the Others whom they assumed to represent.

    Frankly, this movement would not have generated an overall exaggerated 20% following, which when translated into votes, would shamefully represent 4 seats in Parliament!

    Indians did seriously ponder on the Team Anna Movement with enough diligence for over a year now. It was undoubtedly anti-establishment and akin to anarchy. We are not a autocratic country like the Middle East or other East European states wherein such rebellion deemed imminent to overthrow their theocratic rulers. India is an elected democracy and we, the people; the voters are responsible for electing those representatives whom we deem qualified to represent us for our causes. If and when they falter, we retain the right to kick their butt by way of ballot.

    That is is the correct way to address non-productive rule and not rebellion, be in Gandhian or otherwise. Unless of course, dictatorial anarchy is being imposed at the cost of Equality, Liberty, Fraternity. (Well, we are getting nearer to this I suppose with the ban on Twitter etc. in vogue when writing this)!

    I hope better sense prevails amongst us Indians for upholding Democracy in its homogeneous sanctity!

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