Sep 25, 2023
Sep 25, 2023
"Speed, and still more speed, and always speed was the secret……..and that demanded audacity, more audacity and always audacity." — Major General Fuller
Blitzkrieg is a word used by the military in the Second World War. I prefer to use it in a political way, cinders that would soon engulf the country in a democracy, people dreamt of but could never achieve. The Aam Aadmi Party has created ripples all over the world, Even in South Africa, the ANC is trying to understand how this can ever happen. There are questions and questions; I only tell them to visit Delhi to get an answer.
My memories go back to late 1980s when as early as 5 in the morning I decided to visit a late Congress I Member of Parliament’s official residence in Delhi. There were already more than a hundred people outside camping from the night before. He was the President of the Indian Olympic Association and the Chairperson of the Society of National Institutes of Physical Education and Sports. I was then a budding Sports Medicine Physician and wished to offer my services to the Sports Authority of India. Dada Bhaiyya as he was called then came out only at about 10 am and a stampede ensued. Everybody swarmed to touch his feet, holding tiny pieces of paper, their dreams in their hands while his security used butts of their guns to push them away. I stood still. He looked at me and smiled. It was the smile of a supremacist knowing well, he can do anything and everything
The Congress I revved on with such leaders, the common, helpless and qualified individuals fell in the trap of corruption and nepotism, the country became poorer in moral values, dignity remained a word only in dictionary. The BJP was never far away. The Assistant Surgeons at Madhya Pradesh had to pay for their prized postings. A doctor in a provincial could never tread on a path of honesty.
Today as we see a swarm of joyous youngsters celebrating their right by giving Aaam Aadmi Part a chance, Mani Shankar Aiyyar of Congress I, an approved intellectual looks in disdain and claims that they are just strutting peacocks. His party has been doing the same with Lal Batti and Z Security since independence, much to the disgust of the Aam Aadmi of India. My article on Aam Aadmi Party, Giving Democracy a Chance written on 4 Nov 2013 was received with some ridicule and others suggested, I am overdoing my aspirations.
It was never so, as I had visited Delhi even before the elections, and there at the Okhla, Jasola and Lajpat Nagar area, I could understand that the Aam Aadmi Party definitely has an edge. Its only now that people would bravely go to a Police Station and lodge a FIR, its now that people would be able say an absolute No to corruption and bribery.
I look towards Gwalior now; surely the city must be given a chance.
27-Dec-2013
More by : Dr. Amitabh Mitra
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Thanks Mahesh Bhai Have confidence on yourself |
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VIVA AAP indeed, Thanks Nibedita |
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My Dear Maitra, I agree: after having passed my MD(Med) in 1972, I was given posting in a civil dispensary in Morena which use to remain cut off the d for six months a yr & was in a pvt bldg. no food,safe water-security etc etc. While approached the than Minister of Health-reply- who asked u to do MD. There were several distt hospitals without an MD, , she walked away. and by then i was exhausted all money and to sale my suite. The cong leader u mentioned as an intellectual- has been labelled as a DRUNKARD long ago when cong was in power. Thanks a lot. yrs with love, mahesh |
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AAP is the name of a revolution!! A new way of life!! VIVA AAP!! |
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There are waves kindled in other states too. Kolkata saw a massive AAP rally. Check the AAP web site. Its the best interactive site that one can create. Soft speaking AAP volunteers take every call and guidance is given immediately. Thanks Bohre Sahab |
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Dr. Mitra, I tried to point out that it needed to reach the lowest tolerable level before public calls it enough is enough and starts paying attention to a new party like AAP. The lowest level that the public can tolerate comes from the cultural-educational-social background. The kind of reaction the public gives also comes from the background they hold. [Interestingly, the Congress these years was trying all these years to lower public expectations from government and politicians so that they can avoid public anger against them]. The first sign that people are feeling "enough is enough" in Delhi came last year (Dec 2012) when people protested on Nirbhaya brutal rape incident, surely they were inspired by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev's movements an year back. As early as in Jan 2013 I told my friends that the kind of protest people did in Delhi in Dec 2012 might be sign of a turning point & new era in Indian systems and politics. I was trying to figure out "why only now and why not 10 years or 20 years before ? After all the kind of massive corruption existed then also" The above explanation is what I could provide to myself. Certainly, if AAP sustains in govt even for a few months then it will kindle new wave in positive direction. |
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Many Thanks Dinesh Bhai The common man got tortured to an extent when life became impossible. Why do you think that I and many others had to leave India. We couldnt take corruption anymore There will be a visible change, I can assure u that Do keep in touch Amitabh |
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Dr. Mitra, Indeed AAP's success is amazing. What is more amazing is that such efforts have been done in the past too, but they did not succeed. I think, on one side to credit the success, there are sincere efforts from AAP leaders and works and on the other hand and more importantly there is anger and anguish from the society against the Congress misrule, mega scams and prolonged (for decades) urge to get a change. Had such an urge not present, this kind of success was not possible. This also means that had Congress govt not involved in mega scams shamelessly then the story might have been different, had Subramaniam Swamy and Vinod Rai not worked hard expose those mega scams then the story might have been different. I doubt is South Africa has similar conditions ! Now, if AAP takes it to state of visible change in Delhi, we are all going to see a much better governed and prosperous India - for obvious reasons. |
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Many Thanks Vibhanshu The victory of AAP in Gwalior lies heavy on your shoulders There are innumerable people especially from the youths and minority section at Gwalior who would now vote for AAP |
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Very nicely and wisely written sir, Gwalior is birthplace of many diamonds of indian politics and every else field so this city surely deserves much better reputation then presents, we hope that AAP will do put some solutions for current issues |