We need to see a paradigm shift .....to start with the in the political vocabulary.... the message needs to sent across clearly that the party who wins an election is not given a MANDATE TO RULE but its a MANDATE TO SERVE the people who elected them....its not about coming to power....its about assuming a duty towards us citizens...something our politicians have conveniently forgot .....something that we have let them forget.

Its a fight for true independence.... Independent India saw the stripping of powers of 565 rulers of princely states to integrate into a Nation which is India.... in effect we have replaced one set of rulers with another set .... accountabilty still a dream to our citizens....and something our political class have avoided till now.

Reality is that they have turned oppressors....this reality truly hits home when we see that there are no avenues to the citizen to effect a change which he wants....something like removing of political interference in policing....we the citizens cannot do it regardless of the overwhelming majority in favor of it and necessity of the same ....every time a different party gets a mandate to govern......we see sweeping changes in bureaucracy and police force ....we have been silent spectators ...we have accepted it to be the norm ..thereby contributing to the rot that has set in.

After 26/11 we have seen many groups of socially aware citizens spring up....but each and every one of them face this quandry as to how to actually carry forward their agenda for change.

The only recourse other than actually plunging into politics ...is for every such group to aim at keeping this issue of accountabilty in governance at the forefront till it becomes a reality....be the wheels of change .....gather the numbers ....and drive home the point at every forum that is available....keep the awareness high and not let us forget...till the true intent of a democracy is achieved...a government of the people, for the people , by the people and if i may add...a government accountable to the people.

PS : Initiatives in cyber space -

Its for us to support and not let this moment pass -

1 .Be the Citizens for Change ( http://www.citizensforchange.in/mainindex.html )
2 .Add to the Votebank for Good Governance ( http://governance.cplash.com/)
3 .Help Rebuild India ( http://www.intheorbit.com/2008/11/rebuild-india-mission.html )

Add to this list if you know of other initiatives and

Do spread the word.

Cheers and take care!