I didn't turn out the lights at home between 8pm-9pm yesterday - because I am not sure whether I want to support Mr. Anna Hazare.

There is no doubt that we need to fight against corruption in this country. But is the top-down approach the right way to do it? Let's assume for discussion's sake that we manage to get a stronger Lokpal Bill. Will that stop corruption at the bottommost levels of the society?

I rather doubt it. There are myriad reasons why people accept bribes. First and foremost could be the salary that is failing to keep pace with the rising inflation. Maybe there are more children than the salary cheque is capable of supporting. Maybe there are old parents with failing health in the picture. Then there could be a case of 'if you cannot fight them , join them' - where a single honest person has no option but to turn corrupt because everyone else around him/her is corrupt. And then there is plain old greed. We need a different strategy to root out each of these. Plus, there are no easy answers or shortcuts.

I am not saying we should just give up. All I am saying is that the approach should be bottom-up rather than top-down. The citizens who refuse to offer or accept bribes are unlikely to elect someone who is tainted. And they are likely to demand a transparent government where the chances of corruption are slim. There will not be any spice in this approach for the media. But the changes will surely be long-lasting because they will come from within. Don't they say that Prevention is always better than the cure?

I saw something on the TV yesterday that disturbed me. Mr. Hazare was sitting in a maidan and two little children came to touch his feet. I agree this is our age-old custom. But there is a thin line between respecting someone and idolizing him/her. After all, absolute power can corrupt anybody. :-(