Dear Ganesan,

Your Points are valid, but they are not exactly in the same context that I've been speaking.

But, at the same time, some of your points do have a strong bearing on the process I suggested.

Let me explain.

First, I'll have to hold up Raghav's assertion that I, and we, have spoken NOT about Anna, but about Anna's supporters standing up for Elections...that is, US. You may verify that from the thread's caption, as well as the content.

What I'm suggesting is a move away from the Political Parties, and towards, if I may use that coinage, Civilian Parties. Or for that matter, not even Civilian Parties, but rather Civilian Associations where each member fights as an Independent Candidate. The Association is made only to facilitate faster and more effective communication between these candidates, who must work together as a team against corruption in the Parliament, and to ensure quick, prompt and confidential strategising for Elections and Other Relevant issues. In other words, WE, the Civil Society must participate. WE, Anna's supporters must participate. WE, the enemies of Corruption must Participate.

As for the kind and nature of People to run for Elections, I've already spoken on it at length before.

Now let me elaborate on the other issues -

"1. What will be the party's stand on divisive issues like reservations (in general, and in every sphere like Lokpal Drafting Committee), splitting large states into smaller ones (like Telengana), Armed Forces Special Powers Act (in sensitive states where there's insurgency & infiltration of terrorists), Prohibition, pricing of agricultural commodities (free market pricing will help agriculturists, but will increase food prices several fold), Environment Vs Industry, FDI Policy, etc.? You'll find that once Anna takes a position, the people will stand divided; politicians will fan these differences multi-fold, and soon Anna will be a spent force."

RESPONSE : The issues you mention exist, and will exist, irrespective of whether Anna's supporters fight the Elections or not.

I feel it's incorrect to assume that these issues are completely detached from that of Corruption. In fact, a majority closely linked to it, or to the frustration that stems from it. Medicate the Root - and a lot of the Shoot should take care of itself.

In life, we face two types of questions - the WHY, and the HOW. The WHY is the more difficult to Answer. Once you're past it, the HOW can always be worked out. These issues have lingered in India for a long time. But then still, every five years, for the last sixty years, we've had Elections, and some Politicians have made it to the Parliament by promising to weed them out. Have they ? No. Has the Polity ended ? No. The show still goes on. We can certainly now give the concerned Electorates assurance that we WILL see their issues addressed, with a Genuine Political Will, and will do our best to ensure that the deadlocks resolve out to the best of satisfaction of both sides. Is there a chance that could work in our favour ? There is. Simply because a lot of India and the World has seen what Anna Hazare stands for, and therefore they will understand, for the First time in India, Genuine Political Will will mean Genuine Political Will. That's the answer to the HOW. The answer to the WHY is in almost every post in this forum.

We only need the Resolve, and 545 honest people to make this a reality.

"2. With a corrupt system, individuals can't make a big difference. Even before any changes can be brought about, which will surely take some time, at least some elected representatives will try to make a quick buck, or there will be reasons for people to suspect so. How will Anna handle them? If he sends them out, Anna's support will come down, and people will start getting disenchanted, saying he can't even keep his flock together. If suspicions can come about a person as high as Swami Agnivesh, who will Anna be able to trust for the 100s and 1000s of responsibilities?"

RESPONSE : First, I go against the grain of the notion that individuals can't make a big difference. Rather it IS Individuals who will make a difference, if any. For the system itself is constituted of Individuals. True, it will take some time.

If some of our elected Representatives try to make a quick buck, we have no one but ourselves to blame, for lack of Selection Intelligence and Character Judgement.

"The People will get disenchanted" - WHO are the 'People'? WE. If we don't get disenchanted, the 'People' won't. Tell me, can we even afford to 'get disenchanted' with Hazare and his men at this juncture ? Hazare speaks not for himself, but for US; getting disenchanted with him means getting disenchanted with ourselves. I'd love to see Ganesan getting disenchanted with himself, so that if necessity arises, we can copy and learn.

Leave out Agnivesh; we all know what matter he is. For the 100s and 1000s of Responsibilities, Anna will have to trust US. Can we not ensure that he is able to trust US to the fullest that he'll need to, and even beyond ? Will Ganesan like to break his trust ? Can we not find 545 Ganesans in this population of 120 Crore that will not break his trust ? If we can't, then we probably don't even deserve to be rid of corruption. 545 doesn't even come out even as a cognizable Percentage of 120 Crore; so not having even that translates to we being technically 100% corrupt. Then what, and whom, are we fighting against ?

Anna's flock - is US. If we can't stay together, he won't be able to keep us together. You're right.

"3. Anna will be forced to ally with at least some individuals and political parties. Will he, for instance, ally with the Congress? BJP? CPM? CPI? JDS? JDU? FB? BJD? RJD? TMC? DMK? AIADMK? NCP? NC? Damned he will be if he allies with any of them, and damned he will be if he doesn't."

RESPONSE : If we can find 545 Ganesans in this country who can represent us honestly in the Parliament, Anna won't need a coalition.

"4. Anna will be forced to name a successor, or heads for various tasks, and this may divide the civil society again."

RESPONSE : Anna will never name a successor, for he doesn't believe he is king. He sees himself as a very Simple Indian, who dearly loves his motherland, and wishes only to serve her. As for his successors, we can easily find them ourselves through a common referendum, as was done in the case of soliciting public opinion for the Jan Lokpal Bill.

We need to see Anna not as the leader of our band, but as the leader within ourselves. We need to assimilate him not in our Polity, but in our spirits. Much like when we chant Vande Mataram and Inquilab Zindabad, we can't see the entire nation, but we can feel its spirit within ourselves.

An Educated Revolution should be able to identify and choose it leaders as and when it needs to. If we can't, we shouldn't expect our lives to improve, for then we probably lack the Education of Identification.

"5. At least some of these decisions will be sound but politically risky, some will backfire, or be at least strongly criticized; the more he gets criticized, the less powerful leader he'll be seen as. Remember the Janata 1977 experiment?"

RESPONSE : With 545 Ganesans in our Parliament, I don't see anything going rapidly against expectations, at least for some foreseeable future. Adjustments to the steering will certainly be warranted, as and when and how the Road curves in the future; but for now, I believe, we certainly can turn the gear up.

"6. There are more complex issues, but let's first see how these will be handled."

RESPONSE : True, there certainly are more complex issues, and will probably always continue to be, for India is a complex country, housing tremendous diversity in its unity.

7. You didn't ask me, but I so wanted to tell you - If you stand up for Elections, favouring Anna's issues (our issues), I'll certainly support you. There - you've already picked up a vote! See what I was saying about Anna's SUPPORTERS standing up for Elections ? It might be that easy to win. Why not give it a try ? What do we stand to lose ? Vote for - Ganesan !


BUT A WORD OF CAUTION : The issues in your Point No. 1 should not be taken lightly; for these are THE VERY points on which Mischevious Elements could attempt to drive wedges between us. We have not just ourselves to keep alert, but others too. As I said, if Anna's flock is to stay together, it needs to well devote energy and attention to staying together. This is the biggest need of the hour.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Thank you,

Summit.