In November 2002, Satyendra Dubey, an engineer working on the Golden Quadrilateral Project in Gaya District, Bihar, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, was shot dead by gunmen. His fault - he dared to send two letters to the PMO, complaining about corruption in awarding contracts to companies, which sub-contracted the work to other small companies, who didnt have resources to do proper work. This, he wrote led to bad roads, made of poor quality cement and mortar. He had specifically mentioned in his letter that by writing he was going against his superiors, and may face threats to his life by the kidnapping mafia-bureaucrat-small industry conglomorate in Bihar. He had requested anonimity in the letter, though he had signed the letter.
PMO Officials allegedly leaked the name to NHAI, and Satyendra Dubey was shot dead. The Indian Express reported the story in December 2002, and this was followed by sustained campaign by the paper to get the perpetrators of crime punished. Daily, I would read 15-20 letters to the editor on the issue, from the youth of the country, from NRI's,from Mr Narayan Murthy and others, but never from any politician. No politician spoke on the issue, nor was it raised in Parliament. Yet, one & a half week after Indian Express first reported the story, the then PM Vajpayee was forced, by public pressure, outrage and disgust to refer the case to CBI. Two of the killers committed suicide before they could be arrested, and the irregularities mentioned by Dubey have been found true by the CBI, which led the NHAI directors to change the process awarding contracts.
Last year, a quality inspector with the IOC and IIM-L alumnus, Manjunath Shanmugam was shot dead on the outskirts of Lucknow. His fault - he warned a petrol pump owner not to adulterate petroleum with kerosene, or get his license cancelled. The petrol pump owner hired a local goon and next day, Manjunath is dead. Again newspapers throughout the country mobilize public opinion, again I get to read youth, students, NRI's expressing disgust and outrage at the incident, cursing our red tape. Chairmen of Indian Oil, ONGC and HPCL issue statements saying that their employees are always at risk in Bihar and UP, and unless they are provided with security, they will close all pumps in the regions. Finally, at an Indian Express function, Manjunath's parents meet President Kalam, where they were assured of justice.
Last month, 9 accused in the Jessica Lal murder case are set free, may be because of faulty investigations by the Delhi Police. Again, I see the same public outrage, candle light vigils at the India Gate, and finally, politicians from across the spectrum, The PM, Chief Justice, Delhi CM, etc condone the acquittal, and the police reopening the case, sending it to the Delhi HC, inspite of the fact that reopening would mean Policemen coming under the spanner of the all powerful Delhi High Court.
Last week, the Maharashtra govt approved a plan for the Peddar Road fly over. Lata Mangeshkar and other rich residents of the area oppose the move, as their privacy would go, as the land prices would go down. Lata tai threatens to leave Mumbai if the project is not stopped. Again I read the youth, students, daily commuters from suburbs to the town, write in newspapers, asking Lataji to leave the city, saying that we could do without her, but we cant do without the flyover. The same Lata tai, who singlehandedly had delayed the same project in 2001, eats her words, and local politicians across the spectrum commit themselves to the flyover.
All these isolated events, when looked together, throw an interesting pattern. The country's people, atleast those who are educated and have access to communication, wont let the country be run by politicians according to their own whims. That, if they find anything amiss, be it a flyover, sewage line, or gruesome murders, they wont let the administration get away with anything. That they want answers, that they will set things right themselves if politicians dont do it. That they dont trust the administration, and wont shy away from taking things in their own hands. That they dont fear anyone, not the rich and influential Peddar road residents, nor politicians, bureaucrats, police, etc. That they will prove that the country is a democracy and is run by the people, not the govts. That they are the ultimate power, and when they exercise it, the ruling class shall be left with no option but to bow down in front of them.
A revolution, a silent revolution is in the offing. This revolution will be led by the educated class, will have no leaders, will be driven by the media and will set things right in our country.
JAI HIND.
Harsh Mody