I remember, I did write about how Social Media took Social Responsibility. And, while writing it, I had a gut feeling that the repeat act of Anna Hazare by another person may not actually get the same deserved mentions over the web. I actually was so damn right.
I also remember that William Shakespeare once told - Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.
Shakespeare did have a reason to believe so. And, so does the Indian population. Not every Baba Ramdev is a Anna Hazare, and not every Anna Hazare is a Mahatma. Who is bestowed with greatness is, as much a case of luck as timing and integrity. While Anna managed to garner support from every nook and corner of the Indian society, especially the 'civil' society (the ones who have access to social networking and media); Baba Ramdev’s recent "Fast-Unto-Death against Corruption" turned out to be a rather confusing affair, one that did not find much support in the virtual world.
Even though the Anna and Baba are supporters of the same essential cause - A fight against Corruption; the difference lies in their ideologies, methodologies and lifestyle are instrumental in finding the followers. But, the recent forced ousting of Baba Ramdev from the Ramlila Grounds (Delhi) in the dead of the night, along with thousands of his supporters, has made all his wrongs right. Tact was never a tool possessed by this government, nor was responsible action.
Abbie Hoffman said - "Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit". In the same vein, despite having the same grounds of protest, the critical difference lies in the reception of both these movements. Twitter is outlining a #FastingBill2011 to highlight the trouble the media faces covering satyagrahas all the time.
Gauravanomics was also quoted in a Mail Today story, in which he clearly mentions the reasons behind Anna Hazare's pupularity. Some of the other reasons why the "India Against Corruption" movement by Anna Hazare became so enormously popular on Facebook and Twitter are listed below -
- Anna is a Gandhian figure, resembling Gandhi in more ways than one, with the Gandhi topi, the simple lifestyle, the lack of any hidden agenda or affiliation, and the straight-forward talk. And, it is a universally accepted fact that one cannot separate Gandhi from India. It is this immediate affinity that Anna attracts from anyone who hears him speak, and that is the reason social media went berserk with popularizing his campaign.
- The youth don't identify with Baba Ramdev because of his infamous speeches about "Curing Homosexuality", his all-out dislike for non-vegetarians and his other powerful, yet disturbing speeches. No matter how sincere this campaign of his might be, the Indian youth cannot stop associating him with the 'Holier than Thou' image he has created for himself.
- Another pertinent reason is the inkling of a religio-political association that Baba might have with other saffron supporting jingoistic parties. Even though he claims to have no interest in acquiring any political/ ministerial position, the public is wary. Although this should not be a real concern because that does not take away the reality and seriousness of the issue he is raising.
- Anna fasted, the Lokpal Committee was constituted, the talks have begun and the bill is being drafted, so Baba Ramdev’s fast comes as a drab repetition of the same process. But, the important point is that his demands are beyond just the Lokpal Bill, and people have confused his agenda with Anna’s and are lost between the two. Ramdev is asking for more concrete action against the fraudulent. Democratic India's mindset cannot be changed so soon & so frequently.
- Ramdev’s support is the common working man - the farmer, the daily wage worker, the lower and lower middle class. That class is not twitter or facebook savvy and hence the lack of popularity in the media.
I feel it is important to look at Ramdev’s campaign not as "Ramdev’s Campaign" and as a result of the frustration of the common man in India. We must look at how wary and worked up and completely disappointed the Indian public is, instead of focusing on any hidden agenda of one entity. So, I do feel that Ramdev’s campaign needs to be popularized for every Indian, and not for anybody’s vested interest. But, I also feel that Social Media doesn't look too much as a friend to Baba Ramdev now.
One doesn’t always need a leader and some movements can be shouldered on the strong shoulders of a distressed population. And remember, all said & done, Marketing is the Key!
I also remember that William Shakespeare once told - Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.
Shakespeare did have a reason to believe so. And, so does the Indian population. Not every Baba Ramdev is a Anna Hazare, and not every Anna Hazare is a Mahatma. Who is bestowed with greatness is, as much a case of luck as timing and integrity. While Anna managed to garner support from every nook and corner of the Indian society, especially the 'civil' society (the ones who have access to social networking and media); Baba Ramdev’s recent "Fast-Unto-Death against Corruption" turned out to be a rather confusing affair, one that did not find much support in the virtual world.
Even though the Anna and Baba are supporters of the same essential cause - A fight against Corruption; the difference lies in their ideologies, methodologies and lifestyle are instrumental in finding the followers. But, the recent forced ousting of Baba Ramdev from the Ramlila Grounds (Delhi) in the dead of the night, along with thousands of his supporters, has made all his wrongs right. Tact was never a tool possessed by this government, nor was responsible action.
Abbie Hoffman said - "Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit". In the same vein, despite having the same grounds of protest, the critical difference lies in the reception of both these movements. Twitter is outlining a #FastingBill2011 to highlight the trouble the media faces covering satyagrahas all the time.
Gauravanomics was also quoted in a Mail Today story, in which he clearly mentions the reasons behind Anna Hazare's pupularity. Some of the other reasons why the "India Against Corruption" movement by Anna Hazare became so enormously popular on Facebook and Twitter are listed below -
- Anna is a Gandhian figure, resembling Gandhi in more ways than one, with the Gandhi topi, the simple lifestyle, the lack of any hidden agenda or affiliation, and the straight-forward talk. And, it is a universally accepted fact that one cannot separate Gandhi from India. It is this immediate affinity that Anna attracts from anyone who hears him speak, and that is the reason social media went berserk with popularizing his campaign.
- The youth don't identify with Baba Ramdev because of his infamous speeches about "Curing Homosexuality", his all-out dislike for non-vegetarians and his other powerful, yet disturbing speeches. No matter how sincere this campaign of his might be, the Indian youth cannot stop associating him with the 'Holier than Thou' image he has created for himself.
- Another pertinent reason is the inkling of a religio-political association that Baba might have with other saffron supporting jingoistic parties. Even though he claims to have no interest in acquiring any political/ ministerial position, the public is wary. Although this should not be a real concern because that does not take away the reality and seriousness of the issue he is raising.
- Anna fasted, the Lokpal Committee was constituted, the talks have begun and the bill is being drafted, so Baba Ramdev’s fast comes as a drab repetition of the same process. But, the important point is that his demands are beyond just the Lokpal Bill, and people have confused his agenda with Anna’s and are lost between the two. Ramdev is asking for more concrete action against the fraudulent. Democratic India's mindset cannot be changed so soon & so frequently.
- Ramdev’s support is the common working man - the farmer, the daily wage worker, the lower and lower middle class. That class is not twitter or facebook savvy and hence the lack of popularity in the media.
I feel it is important to look at Ramdev’s campaign not as "Ramdev’s Campaign" and as a result of the frustration of the common man in India. We must look at how wary and worked up and completely disappointed the Indian public is, instead of focusing on any hidden agenda of one entity. So, I do feel that Ramdev’s campaign needs to be popularized for every Indian, and not for anybody’s vested interest. But, I also feel that Social Media doesn't look too much as a friend to Baba Ramdev now.
One doesn’t always need a leader and some movements can be shouldered on the strong shoulders of a distressed population. And remember, all said & done, Marketing is the Key!
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