Ramkishan Yadav aka Baba Ramdev has begun his fast to cleanse India. The Baba who is opposed to all things foreign flew to Delhi in a private jet (not sure which swadeshi company manufactures jets) and since then, he has been having meetings in the oh – so - swadeshi Claridges Hotel!

What are Ramdev’s demands? Some say a few demands are repetitive and have been addressed in Jan Lokpal Bill itself. Ramdev’s call to bring back black money is a noble one, but the recall of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes is a difficult one. But what are the procedures to do this? This is where Ramdev may fail.

It seems Ramdev has gone into this fast with emotion and passion but with very little expertise in the nitty - gritty of government procedures. The Anna Hazare movement had people who could not be fooled. They knew the tricks of the government, they knew the law and they could not be taken for a ride with “assurances.” In Ramdev’s case, he does not seem to have anyone around him who is well - versed in presenting their case to the people or to the government. Every demand should be reasonable. And a demand becomes reasonable when the demanders can show the proper procedure to the government to fulfill that particular demand.

Simply asking for something without knowing the way to get it will only make the government misuse this weakness and lead one wayward or indulge in discussions on convoluted procedures to buy time and tire the demanding party. For example, when Anna Hazare asked for a place in Jan Lokpal Bill Draft Committee, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said, “You have my assurance; not only that, I will also give a written assurance.” But since Anna Hazare had experts who had prepared themselves, they immediately said “NO”. They knew the difference between a “letter” which holds no value other than a blatant attempt at eye - washing and a “notification,” a compulsory government procedure that enforces government intent.

Does Ramdev have such people around him to guide him? He may be well - versed in twisting and twining his body and unwinding without getting all tangled up but can he handle the knotty run - around the government will throw at him? Can he come out of the tangle the government will send him into?

Moreover, Ramdev is not only a yoga teacher but also a politician, well at least he was for a while when he announced he wanted to form a party called Bharat Swabhiman. But instead, he stuck to having his Rs.1,000 - crore Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust. Apart from popularising yoga and dispensing ayurvedic medicines, the Trust proclaims it wants to achieve: 100 % voting, 100 % nationalistic thinking, 100 % boycott of foreign companies and complete support to swadeshi, 100 % organisation of patriots and to create a healthy, prosperous and “cultured” Bharat by using yoga.

If Ramdev hates all foreign companies, he can start by refraining from using private jets, his cell phone, the air-coolers that are lining Ramlila Maidan where he is holding his fast, the LCD TV that is telecasting his speeches, the vehicle he drives in... All these are foreign-made or are technologies developed by foreign companies. Is this swadeshi craze misguided? Ramdev wants to see a prosperous India. But didn’t India prosper after liberalisation? In 1977, George Fernandes chased away Coke and other such foreign companies and it set us back by 10 years.

Does this fast, as noble as it may be, have a tinge of self - promotion? Is Ramdev trying to rekindle his political ambitions? Is he using this fast to give a kick - start to a political party which might be formed soon and made ready to run for 2014 elections? If he is, then he has to watch what he says, or at least hear himself. Because people listen to those who want to lead.

Recently, Ramdev told a group of school children, “When you drink milk, you not only become strong but also become FAIR!!” As if Shah Rukh Khan hadn’t already done enough damage to the psyche of young dark - skinned boys with his “Fair and Handsome” ad, Ramdev just threw in his two cents. Not just this, Ramdev even said: “Drinking cold drinks causes cancer and impotency.” Later criticising “Western medicine”, he said: “Once a person is diagnosed with cancer, no matter how many operations or radiation therapies he undergoes, eventually he will live only for 2 - 4 years, after that death is inevitable. It is only pranayam which can cure a cancer patient.”

Ramdev should have a global view and attitude towards development; 100% swadeshi is not the solution for a prosperous and developed India, nor is 100% imported India solution for a proud India. But logical and educated leadership along with responsible and responsive citizenry is what makes the difference.

Ramdev’s intentions are for the benefit of the nation and so he must remember we live in a secular one and he needs to appeal to the other non - Hindu groups too. In case of Anna Hazare, he was seen as a sincere grass root fighter who is secular, Gandhian and focused with an achievable goal. Ramdev is seen as a ‘Hindu’ yoga teacher with political ambitions.

There is a question among people that though Ramdev has his own Rs.1,000 - crore business, why does he still want to raise money? Before Ramdev goes after Swiss banks, maybe he can start by demanding the government to probe all the religious centers throughout the country for black money. There is as much black money inside India as there is in Swiss banks.

To begin with, he can go over his own donors’ list and make sure the money he has received is clean or else, it will become his weak link while negotiating with the government and a credibility issue for the people he needs to garner support from — his non - yoga students.

Anyway, both are noble fasts but the solidarity for one comes straight from our hearts while the other is generated from thick wallets.

Vikram Muthanna
vikram@starofmysore.com
Courtesy: Star of Mysore