AAP Ka Desh, AAP Ki Choice!

“The beginning is always today.” ― Mary Shelley

Two years back, when all of this had just started and was in the initial stages, a young, enthusiastic and vibrant guy came to my room with an appeal to take part in the India Against Corruption rally which was scheduled to start the next day from Ram Mandir.

And me, the irrational, rude and pessimist guy that I used to be, dismissed him off with a bluntly stated vague argument- "Do you really think it is going to change anything? From years many things have been tried. Nothing has changed."
And his instant logical reply was- "Are you doing anything to change it?"

I was taken aback, and was offended by this reply, but didn't retaliate back. As I knew, or should I say had convinced myself that over the years there has been no difference made and will never be made. Those enthusiastic and energetic guys jumping in my hostel that day looked like fools to me. I had pretty much assumed that the country cannot be saved and the best way to survive is to follow the principles to live and let live.

It was not that I didn't want my country to change or I was really happy with the small acts of injustice that me and every other common man of India had to face in our daily lives. Its was just that I never believed that all of this can be changed. I never believed that a person at an individual level can bring about an uprising and convert those small rallies into a massive hurricane. So monumental that it would dethrone a colossal giant who had been thriving upon people's share of bread for the past 13 years.

Yes, two years down the line, I was proved wrong. And yes Apurva, you were right. Things changed, and we were the ones who changed it through our belief. Yes ladies and gentlemen, and all of us who think that the country is  far from saving, you need to believe, as he did. He believed that we indeed hold the keys to our future and we are the ones who are going to build it. He believed in, and not just recited when asked the definition, the true meaning the words 'Of the people, by the people and for the people'. We hold the power and it will only be of some use if we start to believe in ourselves and start striving for a change. If a rude, arrogant, stubborn pessimist like me can believe, I think anybody can.

We questioned his policies, the crystal clear ones, and he answered. We questioned his resources, he answered. We questioned his ability to enter the politics and not merely criticize like everybody else does, he answered. We dismissed his chances, he proved us exactly why we shouldn't. Yes, it's just one state or should I say the NCT. The battle isn't over. The nation is yet to be saved. This of course is just like a drop in the ocean, but then these small drops of distilled water are the ones who are going to kill the algae which has blocked it's surface from centuries. If 2.9 million people can help us win 29 constituencies, imagine what a billion people can do! It is all about believing and putting our faith and trust in the only source that we have left perhaps and hope that this one doesn't break our hearts.

-There are states which have been made hunting grounds by the respective bureaucrats who have been blindfolding people and winning majority votes. How will he tackle them?
Well, he just tackled and defeated one of the most stable governments of this country. Be patient, believe, he will.

- India is a diverse country. There might be chances that people might not even know him as of now. How will he be recognized by a billion?
Sir, Delhi is the National Capital Territory of the country. People from almost all the nooks and corners of the country live here, and guess what? They voted and elected him.

- I mean, he doesn't even have a clear majority and moreover, these were just assembly elections of a State! Why is it being hyped so much?
Simply because it deserves to be. In a country where the movies display a fantasy hero eradicating all forms of evil with his supernatural abilities and unbelievable action scenes, which again are enormously hyped, if there is a booming real life hero who can convert these from reel to real, he definitely deserves to be hyped.

- It has been a week since the results were declared and Delhi is still without a government. What is he doing now even after being invited by the other parts to form one?
Well, the aim wasn't to form a government, it was to bring about a change. And that list of 18 demands which have been submitted to the governor, Congress and BJP, which have been rejected as expected, will tell you exactly why.

Like these, there many questions which have been and will be raised against him. We just need to remember this-
"There is only one way to avoid criticism. Do nothing, say nothing and be nothing."

Never before in this country did a girl have the entire nation behind her for justice. Never before in this country was the ruling party shaken to its very core for treating women the way it did. Yes, she died, but only after igniting a fire, the sparks of which were still there and just needed some air. He was beaten up and had to be carried off the road just because he was our torch bearer. And what did they do? Did they do anything? Oh yes, they did. They said that one of the accused is a Juvenile. What do you expect from them?

The bottom line is that we're all afraid. Yes, fear is what stops us from standing up against what is wrong. Yes, even I am afraid of asking the rash rookie to get off my berth while travelling in sleeper class because him and his fellow mates might just beat me up and there would be no one to provide justice. Ask yourselves that how many cases of discrimination do you face in your daily lives which you have to ignore just because you want to be safe from trouble even when you're right? And if you still don't get the answers, go ask this question to a female Delhite or any girl for that sake. Because any trouble would favor the powerful and the corrupt and not the good and the honest.
And so was he, but he chose to fight it instead unlike us and proved to us and yes it can be done. I know that you and I may still be pessimistic about the fact that how will we do what he did, but then, we have an inspiration and all we have to do is follow those footsteps. It is dangerous and may be very disheartening in the beginning. But just be patient, hold on, try to stand up against small acts of injustice at a very basic level (Like not littering around and stopping people from doing that. Yes, it helps.) because it is those small victories that may give you the courage to win the big wars. And so that you may not blame the system to be corrupt, here is this man promising you to change the very system which we have been blaming since eternity. This man has given us hope, hope drives inspiration, and inspiration is all that a human being needs to shake mountains.

Stand up. Believe. Follow, if your logic permits. But for God's sake, don't ever tell yourself that "Is desh ka kuch nahin ho sakta!"

Thank you Arvind Kejriwal Sir.
You have given us numerous and quite flattering rays of hope. I sincerely hope that you don't break them like they have been doing for centuries.
Jai Hind!