Cliques, Leaks and Clicks

I can feel it in my nerves.  Of late, all the cynicism around has started to disappear.  Is it true? Are we really entering the dawn of a new era!?

When I hear Baba Ram Dev in the morning on Aastha channel, I am bound to believe him.  Yes, he says that 'Bharat Swabhiman Andolan' is not going to ever look back now.  It is surging forward like never before.  Yet, when I think of the sudden death of one of his great companions, I am forced to fear, what if suddenly someone assasinates him!  But no one will.  Because that will act as nothing but a greater catalyst to whatever this man, and many others like him, are trying to achieve.  

Today, though we are all surrounded by everything out their to gain our attention, and to partake of our income, we will be greatly mistaken if we think that the corporates wield the greatest power.  When I hear about scams, one after another, I am overwhelmed, not by the corruption and the statistics, but by the untiring ability of media to keep the discussion going.  Small town incidents and cases that would in another time, lie underneath the weight of files, now, have begun to pull minds and bring them together to criticise, comment and complain.  The names strike emotions and spark opinions: Ruchika, Jessica, Zaheera, Tahira, Todi, Afzal, Kasab, Commonwealth, Inflation, 2G, Adarsh...

I would give the credit to INTERNET.  It is NOT the NDTV or the Aaj Tak who are beating this heart.  They are merely observing and following the pulse of the people, the ones who (out of whatever reason) start discussions on such topics.  The thing with such a phenomenon is that, Opinions cannot be controlled, as with TV, or Radio or Newspaper.  The discussion community manager for example cannot stop you from disagreeing, or cannot force you to believe that Congress or Left or BJP is the best.  Hence, inevitably, people Tweet, Comment, and speak out.  And since no one person is big enough to lead the opinion, there's never a dearth of 'disagreement'.  This, is a great virtue.  When there is a freedom to disagree, and when there are two equally large groups saying YES and NO, a new joiner will not choose sides on the basis of 'physical strength' of the group, or because Rahul Gandhi told so on TV.  He will 'think'.  And such thinking will lead to the larger understanding of what is right.

Internet's biggest strength is that no body can control content here (if I know enough).  And thus, its brokenness, will make sure that nobody can bind society into deformity.  And that is enough to ensure reform.  Because, internet has created social media:  a diverse opinion generator, which can tear anyone into shreds: whether it is TATA or FOX or OBAMA or whoever.

So when things like Wiki Leaks challenge the wayward Cliques, people will Click and make sure they come right on track. :)