Pull out those chaddis, its time.

Its time to bring the Pink Chaddis back.


In the recent past, the one movement that I have been proud of, the only movement that I really thought brought the thinking-feeling youth of the country together was the Pink Chaddi campaign against Mutalik. Remember that one? It was bloody effective. And engaging. And empowering. And let’s not forget, impactful as well. This was one movement that I thought followed the Gandhian principle, as preached by Munnabhai MBBS, quite effectively.


And it was probably because, as democratically as is possible, it was by the youth, for the youth of this country.


I find this word “youth” much abused in today’s context however. Much like the over-used ‘Mumbai spirit’. What does either of it really mean? Who does it really represent? Who actually benefits by all these so-called Youth-movements?
I am the youth of this country (well 30 is not too far from the youth mark), and ask me, how many of these so called youth-movements either matter to me or involve me or even make me want to stop to think about it.


A few months back, I got sucked into one of them. The Anna Hazare Anti Corruption Movement that media said had awakened the ‘youth’ of this country to start a revolution. A few months back I was at India Gate and Jantar Mantar, shouting slogans of “Anna tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hain”. My ass, hum tumhare saath hain! I did believe in the non-agenda man then, thinking it’s a relevant issue he has brought up to stimulate the masses and get them moving from a state of inertia to at least giving it a thought. It was noble in its nature as it was then, a strong knock on not just the government’s doors but on each of our conscience too. Of course I wanted to be a part of it for that and like me, many others too. Media lapped up the ‘revolution’ and aptly called it the awakening of the youth, thanks to the ageing Anna. Good job, clap clap.


Today it’s a stinking, rotting propaganda. I want to slap Baba Ramdev for having spoilt the momentum of what was supposed to be a non-personal-agenda driven movement. But let Baba be as he may be, I am really not even for our dear Anna Hazare’s stance anymore. What kind of messages is he sending out now? When did this become an anti government movement? Why has it become an anti government movement in the first place? Is the ruling government the only corrupt entity in this vast country? Will only maligning the government help this “noble” cause achieve its real goal? What is happening around us? I am flabbergasted.


Baba Ramdev says he will form a “sena” to fight corruption. Anna Hazare says he will continue “blackmailing” through fasting if need be. He has also said that Digvijay Singh should go to the mental hospital in Pune as that is where he belongs. Kapil Sibal is wondering how the Lokpal bill will help at all while Digvijay Singh claims to respect Anna Hazare but not the manner in which he is going about this movement.


What the hell! And then the media says, it’s a youth movement. Sure. Which of the above noble-doers is young, pray tell, or even cares about the young? Actually, which of the above care about anything at all? It’s all boiled down to, as always, a battle of egos, verbal wars, mud-slinging and news channel TRPs. Dear Gandhian Anna Hazare today spews venom as strongly as all other able politicians. Did Gandhiji mean this when he had initiated non-violent protests? Aren’t verbal attacks same as violence? Isn’t the outcome of both detrimental, negative and non-constructive to society at large?


It’s a pity, what India has been reduced to and even more a pity, how the “youth” is used as trump cards for anything and everything depending on people’s whims! I don’t support Anna Hazare anymore. I abhor Baba Ramdev. I detest everyone who is a part of this joke any further and I pity the youth, on whose expense this ‘tamasha’ is being pitched. I almost feel foolish for my post below – it holds no merit now.


As for us youth - I think it’s time for us to pull out our Pink chaddis now. Or maybe this time it should be yellow – yellow yellow for dirty fellow. Or red, for red red su-su on the bed. Or any other color – whatever suites our fancy or convenience. Whatever it takes to put an end to this nonsense now. Really, its time.