Most people in India were stunned by the huge public support that Anna Hazare led campaign against corruption received. But many more were startled to read and hear disapproval of this mass awakening against corruption, and denunciation of the people behind it by the so-called ‘intellectuals and prominent persons of the civil society’.

Held in high esteem by most of citizens for frequent appearance of their views and faces in print and electronic media, these ‘reputed thinkers and activists’, instead of encouraging the public, tried desperately to find faults with the intent, method and people behind this agitation against corruption. Even their faithful followers, who always considered these men and women to be shining lights of honesty and integrity, were taken aback by their untiring efforts to discredit the campaign. Certainly, no one had ever imagined that any public initiative against corruption would be attacked left and right by the intellectuals from the Left as well as the Right.

Actually, everything happened so abruptly that the intellectual class, which always maintains a distance from the ‘ignorant masses’, failed to comprehend the public mood and was caught with its head stuck in the cookie-jar. But it is not unusual for them to miss the public pulse and still preach people. They have gone against the public sentiments several times in the past and continue to take ideological stand which is alien to people and their beliefs. And they do it regularly to keep their political masters and benefactors in good humour.

Unfortunately for them, this time issue was not ideological or related to faith, about which most Indians are accustomed to divergent opinions. Corruption hurts everyone cutting across regions and religions. And, contrary to the frequently used argument by the corrupt, only a miniscule proportion of our population wants to become or remain corrupt. So, the prejudiced attempts of the intellectual class to question the credibility and viability of the campaign against corruption didn’t go unnoticed.

In comparison, civil society leaders (everyone in civil society is a leader without any following!) were better placed. Since the idea and efforts behind ‘India Against Corruption’ forum was of Arvind Kejriwal, an energetic activist, it was natural for his fellow activists to get associated with it. Realising the public support this campaign was getting due to association of popular persons like Swami Ramdev, some publicity craving activists too jumped on the bandwagon. But none had the goodwill and appeal among people as Anna Hazare enjoyed due to his simple life and decades of social work. So, all the activists accepted Anna as their leader, albeit reluctantly.

Anna came to Delhi to sit on a fast and the entire nation responded with strong fervour. Within four days the high and mighty in the ruling dispensation forgot all their arrogance and accepted all demands put forth by Anna Hazare. But not before their faithful agents in the civil society tried to create confusion among the people by contradicting every word and deed of Anna. Some of the ‘famous activists’ were more than eager to dance to their masters’ tune. Few threatened to distance themselves from Anna’s campaign (as if people followed them, and not Anna) for his comments; while some equally insignificant ones tried to convey that they had made Anna a public hero, and he would abide by their guidelines. Their motive to discredit Anna Hazare and his leadership was not lost on people either.

Although, it wasn’t easy for people to believe that many of their favourite commentators, articulate academicians and holier-than-thou activists were indeed trying to discredit a much awaited public mobilisation against corruption. By using bogus arguments and distorting facts, these squatters on media space tried desperately to diminish people’s spirits, create friction and damage the widespread movement. And, how? They used and abused terms like ‘dictator’, ‘fascist’, ‘authoritarian’, ‘illiberal’, ‘dangerous’ etc for a peaceful public protest and its simple Gandhian leader!

Imagined threat to democracy and constitution or fear of mob culture was never the main concern for these self-appointed saviours of democracy when they launched an offensive against the public protest. Their major worry was threat to status-quo, under which they flourish. If laws and policies are to be made after thorough discussion, examination and approval by the public, then the entire policy making process will slip out of the hands of the privileged elite who rule the country by proxy. This possibility terrified these experts and their masters who strongly detest the idea of sitting alongside the ‘ignorant people’ and having to listen to them and incorporate their views and demands before making policies. They dread the day when masses could develop an understanding of the laws and policies and question them with authority.

It would be premature to expect this public agitation to change the process and language of policy making but it has given hope that real democracy can be achieved if people get united and press for their demands. Corruption or no corruption, we can not allow policies to be framed in such a way that the people remain unaware and insecure and forever dependent on the government officials and few experts. Masses can fight corruption only if they could understand the laws and use them effectively to protect their rights.

Unless that happens, ordinary citizen will remain hostage to bureaucrats, few experts and activists who will make and interpret laws for him but keep him away from the policy making. In that sense, Anna Hazare’s biggest challenge lies in taking this campaign beyond the technical and legal arguments of ‘we-know-everything’ activists and experts. Otherwise, the Lokpal Bill will be just another law prepared by few and understood by fewer experts to maintain the status-quo enjoyed by the corrupt and their manipulative ‘sharpshooters’ from the intellectual class.