Consciously, we are attuned to the comforts of life to such an absurd level that we may be accused of adoring materialism. However subconsciously we conceive ourselves to be struggling against the occupation since ages. Even though from time to time the hands have changed, the people here remain to be suppressed, as ever.
Most often struggling people consider end of occupation as earning the real freedom. Ending occupation does not necessarily mean wining the actual freedom. Melting of occupation may only help to lift the soul-stifling physical bondage, the real transformation occurs only with the change of unjust system. In the absence of an ideological transformation taking place, many nations even after decades of ending colonial rule are still not free in real terms.
Apparently India has prospered and progressed by leaps and bounds since attaining freedom from British in 1947. Yet Anna Hazare, the so called crusader against corruption, is busy promoting the need for second freedom struggle: he believes that majority of people in India are still not free. During his recent one-day fast at Jantar Mantar, Anna Hazare had no qualms in declaring that “India became republic in 1953 but even after 63 years, its people are not fully free”.
Majority of Indians lurching worst economic inequalities and widespread injustices find themselves trapped in abject dehumanising conditions, the fruits of freedom are still beyond the reach of crores of Indians. Burgeoning 350 million middle class in India is a fact but 750 million or even more, living on just 20 rupees a day is also a reality. Anna Hazare (he believes that corruption is mother of all ills) has been successful in building an unprecedented momentum in favour of Jan Lok Pal bill. Majority of Indians associating with the anti corruption movement is somewhat inspiring; it reflects a deep desire for the change. Furthermore, it also indicates the growing wryness of people against the menace of corruption. Lately Anna Hazare seems to have widened his focus, from a single minded crusade against corruption; he is now keen to change the entire system.  Anna Hazare through his fasts and public mobilization has built tremendous pressure on government of India to pass a law paving way for the appointment of an Ombudsman having all the powers to investigate and also punish the corrupt politicians, bureaucrats as well as the judges. Anna Hazare a simpleton might be well-intentioned but merely passing of more stringent laws and appointment of an ombudsman howsoever powerful is not enough to change the system.
Up to a point rules and regulations may be helpful to instill the fear in the minds of gullible. In a situation wherein the rot has spread much deep down and corrupt to the core have invented every method to deceive the system, passing of more stringent laws against corruption will hardly suffice the need.
Every year a new law is enacted. So far numerous anti corruption measures and multiple bodies even overlapping have totally failed to curb the ever-growing cancer of corruption. On the contrary the menace after attaining social acceptability has crossed all the limits of decency. Now the laws have become totally redundant and inadequate to stem the rot. Laws create deterrence only among those with some sense of right and wrong, criminals hardly care. A shameless politician, bureaucrat or a judge occasionally gets caught, still corrupt continue to indulge in corruption. Doesn’t a doctor know that spurious medicine will prove grievously harmful to his patient and is a policeman not aware of his responsibilities? Still why does a doctor at the first instance prescribe a spurious medicine and why a custodian of law breaks the law for few bucks?
The problem is not with the law, our value system has crumbled. When the sense of right and wrong has been deliberately made to vanish, the laws are not enough to govern a man, inherently predisposed to commit an error. The concept of life after death automatically inculcates a notion of accountability.  A man having strong sense of right and wrong believes in the philosophy of contentment. Conversely a materialistic person hardly believes in life after the death, no constrains mean no accountability. While Quran emphatically declares “Did you, then, think that We created you in mere idle play, and that you would not have to return to Us?” (2:269) isn’t it true that materialism by implication negates the concept of life after death. Earlier we were taught negation of self, materialism promotes fulfillment of desire. Material corruption is nothing but unbridled quest for the fulfillment of worldly desires and there is no end to it. To fight corruption transformation of the minds is required and not simple enactment of laws. Similarly to earn freedom, the yoke of materialism has to be thrown first.

(Feedback at firdoussyed@yahoo.com)

Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST