Sense of Citizenship

This refers to the article “Hazare vs Hazare: A Scenario as a Warning” (EPW, 27 August 2011). The mode of Hazare’s anti-corruption movement is both praiseworthy and dangerous. It is praiseworthy because in the face of so many scams being revealed, the main opposition party has been ineffective. It is dangerous because any unconscious deviation from the proper path of the movement may lead to total unrest in the country which can threaten democracy.

Anna should be more flexible in his approach since no individual can obstinately claim that he knows best what is right for the nation. There is a Parliament of democratically elected representatives to judge what is good for the nation. The Lokpal Bill can never be the panacea for all corruption-generated problems. It is the sense of citizenship, and dedication and respect for the motherland that can bring true change in society and eradication of corruption. At present, the party affiliation of a candidate matters more than his or her quality of work and background. Hence, the first requirement is education and inculcation of a sense of citizenship in the people.