It was a normal day post Gandhi Jayanthi (or should we call it the Swacch Bharat day) and I wasn't expecting too many headlines that are unrelated to the Mahatma or our new age icon, the Prime Minister. But then, I was bit surprised to see one of the headlines reading, "Vijay throwing signs of entering full-time politics"
The occasion was the audio launch of his latest movie 'Sarkar', where he has given this politically stirring, no-holds barred speech (or should I say Q&A). Of course, he didn't take any names, but didn't stop himself from pointing obvious fingers (at the government). For his quiet, reserved persona off the screen, such revolutionary speeches of late are so very heart-warming to see. Slowly, his charisma on-screen is getting showcased off the screen as well. Got to wait and watch if here is a successful leader in the making...
If you are clueless about what I'm talking about, just youtube this https://youtu.be/
If you are not his fan, suggest you to directly skip to the video from 10:40 secs (to avoid needless stomach burns :-)
The point of the matter is his reply to a simple question - If given the power, what would you like to change? His answer as he himself admitted was nothing out of the ordinary - stop corruption. But the explanation he gave was profound and thought-provoking, being topped up by a short and sweet moral story.
Yes. It's true that corruption is a disease that has spread it's wings from the hierarchy at the top, trickling down dangerously till the last official (or clerk) standing. Only if a leader decides to be clean, will his subordinate ever think of doing the same. It's a pity that it's never gonna happen, even if we have a PM who has the guts to wipe off the black money at the stroke of a clock (Note: I am not a supporter of BJP nor demonetization)
Having said that, there are couple of points one has to add to complete his theory. There are instances where the top-rung is clean, but the people below are not. So, it's not entirely true that the leader is always followed. If you dig deep and see, the mother of all evils is the fundamental virtues of mankind called 'jealousy', 'greediness' etc. While these virtues can be a motivator in the positive sense to make us work harder, in many cases it pushes people to take the crooked, short-cut ways. Corruption is one such evil.
So, how do we stop it? There is one line of argument that pay them a handsome salary to not let them think of accumulating black money. But, there is no limit for a man's thirst for wealth and it's never easy to satiate this. So, as the famous song of MGR goes, "திருடனாய் பார்த்து திருந்தா விட்டால் திருட்டை ஒழிக்க முடியாது" (Unless thieves decide to reform, thefts can't be avoided). But, definitely, as Vijay pointed out in his reply, if a leader is clean, he will be a role-model for his followers. So, may be this will atleast change the minds of majority (or minority) of the followers, if not everyone. Some change is atleast better than nothing. I personally would be more than happy if he does what he preaches when on some day, it's Vijay's Sarkar. Let's hope for a better tomorrow... if not today... Fingers crossed...
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