Barun Roy: Rise of the aam aadmi

AAP's stunning debut in Delhi polls proves that it is possible to shake up establishment politics if the intentions of the players are right

A refreshing wind of reason has begun to blow in Indian democracy and it is most welcome. But one has to wait and watch if it is strong enough to prevail because a hot crosswind of emotions and demagoguery is also rising at the same time that could blind rational thinking and distort our democratic future.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s astounding debut in the recent Delhi elections proves that it is possible to shake up establishment politics if the intentions of the players are right, their strategy is straightforward, and have an unquestioned integrity of purpose. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has stirred the conscience of the nation and raised a glimmer of hope, however faint at the moment. He has made us believe that there is still a future for democracy in India, which has been severely bruised in recent years by inept leadership, rampant corruption, high-handed behaviour, racial and caste hatred, fundamentalist and feudal attitudes, and so overwhelmed by a thick pall of cynicism where politics and criminality have become synonymous.

The challenge ahead of him is to keep this hope afloat - not to capture power but steadily acquire more muscle as a responsible and effective conscience-keeper, a beacon to arouse the millions of Indians who suffer daily ignominy at the hands of selfish, profit-seeking, unscrupulous politicians but have no means to speak up. Having established a beachhead in Delhi, it's now his task to widen AAP's reach and prove that it is neither a bunch of pseudo-activists nor a freak phenomenon, but a permanent experiment.

The party's next goal should be to hold its fort and build up a strong presence in Parliament, because that is where the battle against corruption and bad governance has to be fought. Kejriwal is right. When the aam aadmi gets on his feet, no force will be strong enough to stop him.

I am sure Kejriwal and his band of wise followers know this, but one must always remain careful because it is a long walk to democracy that they have chosen to tread and there will be pulls, temptations and booby traps along the way. Millions of deprived Indians, victims of gross injustice and forced to live on the margins, will be there to shower them with their blessings.

The task is more arduous because of the rise of right-wing politics with fundamentalist inclinations represented by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the one hand and the erosion of the Congress as a national political force on the other. This leaves the field wide open to all kinds of passions and opportunistic influences that could alter the idea of India and the character of its democracy. BJP's hot-air politics is quite likely to appeal to many, misguiding the political thinking of even otherwise educated Indians. But one understands its stance. What is regrettable is the Congress' miserable fall from grace and its weakening as a rallying force for the nation. It is pitiful to see that India's grand old party is no longer able to stand on its own. India had never been in a situation where there's no longer a credible political alternative and "none of the above" (Nota) option is developing into a serious outlet of protest.

It is AAP's duty to provide a rudderless nation with a credible alternative and rescue its citizens from the miasma of negativity that Nota represents. Nota should not be a desirable democratic choice. What AAP has achieved this far, in its brief career, is quite great. For the first time in independent India's history, it has given the nation a reference point by which the political behaviour of all political parties will be judged. The only benchmarks, until now, have been biases and attitudes inherited from the past and extraordinary opportunities for corruption and quick gains thrown up by the present.

Now that AAP has introduced an element of conscience in public life, it will make everybody think twice before they dare to tweak the system like before, or stand exposed for what they are. Recent events clearly prove AAP's moral force is already working, At least, we haven't seen the kind of defection politics that would have been going on otherwise by now. And, from that point of view, AAP's decision to form the next government in Delhi is welcome, provided it continues to stand firm on its commitments. There isn't a better way of exposing sham and hypocrisy than in actual action on the ground.

Rousing blind passions to achieve selfish ends is the easiest thing to do in politics. More difficult is raising sanity and conscience for greater public good. As AAP embarks on this difficult journey, we will be with it and its crusaders in every step it takes.

rbarun@gmail.com