Quis custodiet ipsos custodes

Who will guard the guard(s)?

This is in reference to the Jan Lokpal bill, proposed as an extreme measure to combat the rampant corruption in India, and which a large number of people see as the only solution. The bill suggests the appointment of an independent officer who oversees the overlords of the country whilst being out of reach of the law himself/herself. And hence the question.

This is not the first time that such an anti-corruption officer, outside of the law has been appointed. The previous such officer, the Central Vigilance Commissioner, was himself thrown out of office by India's Supreme Court earlier this year on corruption charges. If this was the solution then India would have been corruption-free decades ago. When a person is given that kind of power, he/she is likely to end up corrupt. Who is to say that this new Jan Lokpal that Mr. Hazare is demanding won't go the same way? Who decides who the Jan Lokpal will be? The same voters who routinely elect crooks to parliament? Or Mr Hazare and his board of directors?

In a representative democracy the parliament should be supreme. Any person or group that is designed to circumvent parliament may feel good in the short-term (an incorruptible stately elder looking over the faulty choices of the unwashed masses), but is a recipe for disaster in a democracy.

Let's say for arguments sake that such a bill did get passed. Would that mean the corruption level would face decline? Corruption is far by the most consistent principle in all governments, whether democratic or communist. If the headliners detailing Indian governmental corruption cease, it will NOT demonstrate that corruption has ceased, only that the corrupt have become smarter and more careful.

Instead of working to appoint such an overlord, who ultimately will possess the power to control political leaders, the appropriate campaign would be to call for resignation of the criminals sitting in parliament, and to strengthen the judiciary so that justice can be swift. Ironically, Anna is fighting to achieve something, which his role model (Gandhi) was opposed to.

Hopefully the government would someday finally come to acknowledge that corruption does exist in the country, and in vast proportions. The situation should be further analyzed in time and by more capable people, without trying to meet deadlines set by Anna and his team.

[Sources: An article from The Economist titled 'The Fast and the Curious', 22nd August, 2011]

The gods of old

Couple years ago, i came across a video, a video of a concert, a video where hundreds of thousands of viewers were swaying and clapping in unison to the tune of one man, more precisely, of four men. Until then, all i knew about the band named Queen, is just the one song 'We will rock you', and even that was through a cover by the boy band Five. And frankly, i thought Five's cover was way, way better. That's when i thought, honestly there's no way in hell imma listen to old stuff again. Yep, it was all about the trend.

But then i found this video. What's this? I've never seen a stadium so packed, and with live and energetic audience singing aloud every single syllable, together with a man, who looked like a shining beacon of light amidst the sea of darkness. I say this, in great respect and admiration - Freddie Mercury, you're the one vision. One of the greatest frontmen the world has ever seen. And kudos to Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor. How i wish i was there, at the greatest ever concert of all time IMO. I have seen many concerts over the years, i have seen frontmen wet their pants, roaring and screaming at the top of their voice, faces scarred with tattoos and piercing, creating intense soundwaves that do nothing apart from rupturing eardrums.  Afterall, that was the new 'trend'. And some people do seem to enjoy it no matter what. For my part, I'd say, are you frickin kidding me?

As i watched the video, i could see one thing etched on the faces of the band crew - dedication. And one thing reflected in the eyes of the crowd - admiration. And as i heard the sound, i felt like something was born inside of me, pulling me towards the awesomeness that is metal. I watched the entire concert about Twenty times upto now, and still can't get enough of it. It feels as if the electric guitar was made just for Brian, and the power of Roger's drumming was enough to cause a volcano to erupt. Deacy's support was invaluable, it was like he and his bass were a single entity, moving as one. Truly spectacular. I found myself listening to more of the oldies ever since, especially the 70's and 80's metal. Led Zeppelin, ACDC, The Rolling Stones, Guns and Roses - old treasures. The few people capable of entertaining an audience of several hundred thousand. To me, few things compare to the joy of watching the '86 Wembley stadium concert again for the umpteenth time and being present there in soul, along with the crowd, clapping to the beats of 'Radio Ga Ga'.

God of rock, Thank you.

Three roads

So i've been wondering for a while about what it takes for someone to be actually unique, a true demigod, one who inspires others to follow on one's path. If, in Robert Frost's "The road not taken", the used road represents regularity and the lesser used road represents uniqueness, what would describe someone, who makes his own path in the wilderness. Indeed there are a lot more obstacles, a lot more surprises. In this day and age, it takes a lifetime of effort to even go along the first road, or to fit in. So what would it take to go on the second? What would it take to make one of your own and inspire others to go along?

A stroke of luck.

Food for thought.