THE NEW CIVIL SOCIETY





THE NEW CIVIL SOCIETY

(Published in 'The Hitavada' dated August 31, 2011) 

By Kartik Lokhande 

The latest crusade against corruption and for passage of a strong Lokpal Bill, could be interpreted in a lot many ways. The movement led by eminent Gandian Mr. Anna Hazare definitely had a specific and well-defined goal of wider public interest, which was well served, though the battle, as said by Anna, is just half won. Still, there are several successes of the movement. There are several angles.
Some may say, the Parliament was ;forced’ to pass a Sense of the House Resolution on Lokpal Bill. Some may say, the people who gathered at Ramlila Maidan and across the length and breadth of the country made the elected representatives realise erosion of faith in them. Some others may say, the movement was made successful by overwhelming participation of younger generation and it indicated that Indian youth were willing to participate in the process of nation-building. Some may even criticise Team Anna for ‘holding the democratic system to ransom’. However, one fact remains undebatable – rise of a new civil society.
So far, especially in post-Independence period, only the Left-leaning anti-establishment groups or activists were termed as civil society members. As the problems faced by the citizens worsened, some groups went on to become radical and their intellectual supporters emerged as civil society activists. Most of these groups were opposed to the Government, and favoured either this segment or that segment, championing various causes. Everyone’s cause was limited to a specific goal concerning only a segment of India’s wider democratic set-up. And, the anti-national forces cleverly made use of this divided civil society to further their own goal of balkanising India.
Against this backdrop, Mr. Anna Hazare’s movement must be given deserving significance as it gave birth to an all-new civil society, a civil society that united activists from ideologically diverse groups towards a common goal that favoured a strong nation. Members of Team Anna earned credibility through political non-affiliation and commitment to a cause that transcended caste, religion, segmented approach. The biggest success of this new civil society is that it united people, especially youths, from diverse backgrounds with patriotism at their heart. It also woke up middle-class from its ‘chalta hai’ or ‘what can we do?’ attitude.
This new civil society must also be credited with demolishing so-called legitimacy attached to ‘India bashing’ by litterateurs and intellectuals with Western mindset. There were a lot many foreign-educated people who felt more honourable in joining the league that found nothing right in India. For them, it was more fashionable to support anti-national elements like Maoists than believing in bringing change through democratic and non-violent means. The members of new civil society have re-affirmed faith in democracy, clean character, bloodless revolution, and India itself. Salutes to the new civil society. 

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