Is this victory bigger than the World Cup?

Congratulation India! This is a sweet victory gifted to the people of India by a 72-year old man with the spine to stand toe-to-toe against the arrogance of public servants turned autocrats turned kleptomaniacs.

And this has the potential to be waaaay more important the fake ICC World Cup.

Today I feel I may have a remote shot at walking into a government office and getting some inane paperwork done without being met by pillar, post or chai-pani request.

I wish to take nothing away from the moment, but this is just the conclusion of Act I. There was no choice for the government given the circumstances. And especially given the timing, which is right smack in the midst of election season.

We also need to bear in mind that what comes next is a committee, so... Even if there is consensus. Even if there is a recommendation. Even if there is a draft bill. Even if it is debated in parliament. Even if it gets voted into law... It will still need to be implemented.

India doesn't lack laws - but accountability and a sense of duty.

One more thing I cannot come to term with is this: If the goverment exists under a people's mandate, why then should "the people" have to literally plead for 50% representation on a lousy committee?

Why can't the Jan Lokpal Bill, which was jointly drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal, simply be forwarded to the hon'ble Law Minister to be drafted into law? Why involve ANY slimy politicians at all when it is so clearly the will of the people?

Anyway, the Jan Lokpal Bill only requires that:
1.) investigations into any case should be completed within a year
2.) the trial should get over in the next one year
3.) so that a corrupt person goes to jail within two years of complaint, and
4.) the ill-gotten wealth is confiscated

If Mr. Kapil Sibal feels "committee notification" or "summoning of the National Advisory Council" or any other legal hocus-pocus needs to be done - well, then Sir, do it. And make it pronto. That's what you get paid to do.

And still another thing that piques my interest: If members of the public are part of "civil society", does that mean the rest are - well, "uncivil" or "anti-social"? Can we not expect honesty, decency and integrity from them?

Anyway, it seems like a good idea to get out there and occasionally remind the political class that they are not ruling India - but mere representating Indians.