A Victory for Credibility.

Great personalities generate movements and phenomena million fold more powerful than they achieve as individuals. Anna Hazare is one such individual. Love him or hate him but you can't ignore Anna Hazare.

Anna has unleashed a thunderbolt of civic indignation and touched the consciousness of the Indian masses. More incredible was that it is backed by an Indian populace which had accepted and abetted corruption as a way of existence for most of their life.


Since dawn of time, exploitation has been a reality. As can be seen in nature, a good exploiter normally the parasite exploits only to the extent that the host is able to sustain. This is not because parasites are kind they will ensure that the host cannot escape or will not die, so that the parasite can continue to feed off and exploit the host.

Unfortunately the politicians, bureaucrats, and many officials have been excessive in their exploitation and now it appears that they will destroy the very society that they have sworn to serve and protect. Many are parasitic and feel they have many hosts that they can feed off and do not mind killing off the hosts by sucking the life out of them.

A little 'baksheesh' was always considered acceptable for work done or support or advice provided. Nowadays so pandemic corruption has become that the cost of corruption is greater than the cost of genuine business, not only in monetary terms but in wasted time and resources.

It is hoped that the movement will hopefully singe the parasites, but there lurks a real danger that the seething anger is giving rise to a firestorm that may engulf both good along with the bad.
If uncontrolled, like a tsunami it will lay to waste a lot in its path.

What do Anna Hazare and his close associates like Kiran Bedi have that they have won the hearts and minds of a large number of Indians?

CREDIBILITY.

Credibility is something that the political leaders lack in spite of numerous pontificating speeches and press conferences. Everything they utter is treated with disdain and suspicion. If they cannot convince they confuse and if they cannot confuse they corrupt the system.

If all else fails they set the various government agencies to hound those who dare to question them. Prime weapon is of course the tax departments followed by numerous other agencies with unbridled power to disrupt lives and commerce.


Credibility gaps in the Government and political leadership are;

1. Government is headed by a Prime Minister who until recently was viewed with great respect and therefore of whom the whole nation has great expectations. Now charged with dereliction of duty and blatant omissions in his administration. Disappointment is high because expectations are great.
2. Government is now run by family cartels.
3. Average thirty fold increase in declared net worth of members of parliament in each term served.
4. Ostentatious lifestyle of leaders
5. Acts do not match words.
6. Zero tolerance for dissent.
7. Presence of significant number of criminals in government and political parties nurturing criminals.
8. Aggressive and overbearing in its approach
9. Making life more difficult and stressful for society. 

Credibility advantages of Anna Hazare;

1. Headed by Anna Hazare, a Gandhian who always practices what he preaches.
2. Consistent and works democratically
3. Spartan lifestyle
4. Surrounded by illustrious and highly respected and clean individuals
5. Very little assets if any at all 
6. Dignified and passive in approach.
7. Firm and consistent with deeds matching words

Only time will tell if David will win or Goliath will crush the challenger to his authority and power. At the moment Anna Hazare has the support of the people and the moral advantage, while the ruling Congress party has the political legitimacy and the brute force.

Why is the government unable to persuade the people to accept their view? Why is it that many of us are unable to get our point across and to be belived?


The important lesson to be drawn for all of us in all walks of life can be gleaned from Edward Murrow’s quote; "To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful."