- Revathy
(continuation)
by Jawahar Swaminathan
Where
do you stand in politics?
I contested as an independent in the 96 election for the Lok Sabha.The
reason was that I wanted to make a difference.The only way you can
make a massive difference is through politics. Politics is part of
everybody's life - right from your drinking water to your employment
- everything is governed by politics.
I felt that there is no point in simply grumbling that
that politics is bad and stinking. If want a change we need to act.
We all -especially the youth want to see a change.We all know that
our country could be better.But none of us know how to make it. Many
of us try in many different ways. I tried politics.Then I realized
that it is tough for an independent candidate.Hence I wanted to take
some time to learn the nuances before getting into active politics.
As a politician the responsibility is very high.Your
decision affects millions of people.I need to prepare myself to take
such sort of respensibility. Once I am confident that I am ready,
I'll definitely bounce back.
I do not support any party generally. I supported the
NDA alliance in the 99 elections just because I thought Vajpayee would
make a good Prime Minister. If I like to support someone I would do
so as an individual.It is like voting for the person you trust.This
does not affect others.
So have you concluded that only party politics
can survive in India?
Definitely party politics is the only thing that is now surviving in
India. But there are individuals in parties who are making a difference
- like Saradha who became an MP. She is making a lot of difference in
her constituency. I definitely believe that an individual needs a support
from a party to make a difference. But it is not the party that is making
the difference - it is the individual. I am still not ready to abide
by the policies of the parties. That's why I am still independent.
If given all the power in the government
- of a Mudhalvan kind, how would you like to change India?
India is such a large country that you really can't make a change
overnight. It cannot be done just by the head of the government. Ofcourse,
the initiative should be from the head.Then it runs down to his office
bearers to the lowest counselor in a village. And again individuals
should have interest in the country. In the US, every individual takes
the interest in segregating the garbage. Such simple things by the individuals
help the smooth running of the government. After all, government is
run by us and for us.
This Mudalvan kind of a scenario is a fantastic dream. I wish we could
do that but that is not the reality. Overnight changes are impossible.
I think first you have to bring in changes like Mr.Chandrababu Naidu.
He educated all his ministers into computers - he is spreading what
he believes to every person.
What specific aspect made you to enter politics
- Corruption, illiteracy, poverty… ?
Actually what made me feel really terrible is the basic needs of human
beings in our country - water, shelter and food. Even these are not
being met. Needless to say about hygiene and medical facilities. The
poor people who trust and give their votes are taken for a ride. They
are so confused. And our country is not that poor that we cannot chanalize
our food. There are granaries where they have thrown away tones of food
because it is rotten and there are thousands of people who are starving.
So what is happening? Why can't you delegate power?
Being in politics, do whatever you want - make crores of money in whichever
way u like - under the table, over the table, anywhere under the roof,
over the roof. But remember that you have promised the people that you
would do your duties.If not something outstanding, at least do your
duties. Give them a better way of life.
That anger was what instilled me to go actively into politics. If u
take a job, do it well, otherwise why do u take it up?
You are in the advisory committee of Sevalaya.
What is your contribution?
Basically there are a few organizations I am involved in. Sevalaya is
one of them. It is an orphanage and they are doing very well. What I
like about Sevalaya is they have started their organization in a small
little village in the outskirts of Madras and they are not only uplifting
the quality of life to the students in their orphanage, but also bringing
awareness in about five or six villages around. That is their motive
and that is what I like. They are not thinking about only their institution
but they are thinking about the villages and about more people outside.
Banyan is an organization that works with mentally ill destitute women.
They are not just bothered only about their organization, they are bothered
about the society as a whole. They help so many organizations, they
bring organizations together and work with them.
The same is with Vidhyasagar, a school for children with cerebral
palsy. It's a part of the Spastic Society of India. So they work with
children who are spastic. They have so many branches in the villages
all over Tamil Nadu. Ability Foundations who work with the government
implementing the Disability Act. Especially accessibility all over the
city, slowly spreading towards the country. Then of course integration
of abled and disabled from school level to your college to your work
area and not segregating them into groups. - even though you can't hear
you can work on computers. You don't need to hear in order to be a software
engineer. The office atmosphere should be such that they accept that
person and they communicate with you in a way that you can understand
and not segregate.
This kind of an attitude change is what every organization I am involved
with works on. Basically I work with them as a volunteer some time -
most of the times in the fund raising activities and spreading awareness.
Because fortunately or unfortunately when an actor or actress talks
about a cause it reaches more people. So I am just utilizing my popularity
to talk about a good cause.
