Arvind and the Wall

"....but the first guy through the wall. It always gets bloody, always. “

That’s a quote from the movie Moneyball. What it means is, whenever there is someone who is out to change the game, out to make a systemic change to how things are done, he will get clobbered. The dialogue goes further to say,

“It's the threat and not just to the way of doing business, in their minds it's threatening the game. But really what it's threatening is, is their livelihoods, it's threatening their jobs, it's threatening the way that they do things. And every time that happens, whether it's the government or a way of doing business or whatever it is, the people that are holding the reins have their hands on the switch.”

There are people who are holding the reins, they are part of the wall, the system. They will oppose any crusader coming to tear down the wall, they will bet that he is crazy. And if you think about the societal wall, the endemic system in our country, you would think its the politicians that hold the rein. But think for a while, why are we leaving out the media? Every scam is a TRP fest is it not? Wouldn’t it be a blow to their livelihood if scams stop? So lets add media to the list. Bureaucrats are on it too, because they might complain, but they profit from it just the same. The intellectuals profit as they have something to discuss on panels. The industry definitely profits, bribes are easier and cheaper than taxes. And by extension of industry, the workforce profits too. I mean, I am paid a salary that I wouldn’t pay myself in my wildest dreams, for a degree that, I agree I worked hard for, but I haven’t even bothered looking at it once since I got it a year back. Funny thing is, I am not even in the higher bracket of salaries that people of my kind get paid. Hell, I am no socialist, I am not advocating pay cuts. We may not be a part of the system, or a part of the wall, but we are surely sitting on it and enjoying ourselves slyly.

What I am trying to say is that, the bricks in the very wall that someone like Arvind Kejriwal is trying to break down, will without doubt tell themselves he is crazy. And spread the word too. They will mock his decision to enter politics. But that is what HE thinks will give him the tools. Will he succeed in bringing the wall down? Hell no. I have no doubts he will fail miserably. The lokpal bill will become a political issue and get blown by the wayside. If anything I think the ruling party are laughing themselves silly over it. All he will end up doing is divide the anti-congress vote further and ensure that they win the seats. Although, he might win a seat or two. 

The first guy through the wall always gets bloody, and many times he may not even get through. But once the wall is dented, once people see that it is coming down, there will be another guy inspired enough to chip away at that dent. Then another and another.  What if the one seat Kejriwal’s party wins is against someone like Digvijay Singh, or Kapil Sibal, or any of the DMK posse. Hell, the way corruption and criminality has penetrated our political class, any victory to his party will be welcome. All he needs to do is inspire more Kejriwal’s. After all we started with one Anna and now have Kejriwal, Bedi, Sisodiya, Bhushan and a handful of others. I see around me, people of my generation changing their attitude towards the system. There are indicators all around us. We may not all join active politics, but more people are appearing for civil services, more people are reluctant to go abroad for work, even someone who refuses to pay a bribe for not wearing a helmet and insists on paying the fine and receiving a receipt is doing something that was unheard of in the previous generation. It may take years for these efforts to fructify into something tangible. I don’t know how many, five, ten, twenty, or maybe even more. But the key is to remember not to condemn the man trying to break down the wall you are sitting on.

The first guy through the wall always gets bloody.