Revolutions, hunger strikes and invisible people

Hazare and Mallika Sarabhai

How short are our memories. Just the other day, Anna Hazare was lauding the economic progress of Gujarat, not taking cognisance of how such progress takes place and the corruption inherent in almost every deal.

Today he is hiccuping a different tune. He has discovered that the state is a land where liquor flows more than milk despite prohibition.

Activists like Mallika Sarabhai who were initially upset about Anna's kid-glove attitude towards Modi are now quite okay with him. What they do not realise is that he is still taking a moral high ground. Imagine liquor and milk. Besides, this reduces the relevance of the milk revolution. And it reduces the other issues in Gujarat. Just in case he and his coterie are not aware, communalism is a lucrative business. Many industries put in their money where their faith is, all tax exempted. All black. In cash.

They won't touch these holy tijoris of corruption. And activists are only too happy to be part of his skimming the surface 'revolution'.

The people for whom these fights are remain invisible.

- - -

It does not make me feel good to say it, but I oppose Medha Patkar's hunger fast for the slumdwellers in Golibar, Mumbai.

The main reason is the irony of it. These people have precious little to eat on a daily basis and lying down in the open in such a state only sends out a message that it is possible for those in the shanties to lead such lives in the open.

Years ago we had the famous activist who was concerned about such slumdwellers but she is silent this time. Later when Medha Patkar had the long-standing battle with the authorities in the Narmada Bachao Andolan, we had another famous activist and then a film star who landed there to promote his 'radical' film.

The NBA had been a movement for a specific reason that had a long-standing impact.

These strikes for slums would work better if the authorities can be made to work in tandem. If there is anyone who I still admire, it is Ms. Patkar, but there is no point romanticising such fasts. She should end it before someone lands up there for photo-ops, including activists and ministers.

Many slums have been demolished and fancy premises built over them. The issues to address are larger and have as much to do with the land mafia and slum lords from within the slums as the government.

Even if she succeeds, there will be others and no one will know as families gather their belongings and finds an empty space in an empty street.