The superstar thinks the political entity has ushered in a kind of revolution that was waiting to happen... Aamir Khan, arguably Bollywood's most socially conscious actor, says he is happy with the political revolution brought about by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the validation that the party received in Delhi.
Aamir said that he had realised people wanted change when he was shooting for the first season of his television show, Satyamev Jayate. `When we were doing the show, we were not sure how it would be received. But, when it was aired and I saw the kind of response it garnered, I realised that this was a nation waiting for a tidal wave of change. The way people came forward to discuss issues gave me some indication that things are changing, if not on the ground. There was this simmering discontent underneath the surface.
I realised that there was a larger thing brewing within them, and the desire to bring about a change was getting bigger and bigger. Everyone was tired of the way things were going, and wanted to change their lives for themselves, their loved ones and also see change in the social system. People were absolutely fed up of the past and didn't know what to do.`
He added that the way the nation crusaded for the Delhi gang rape victim and with Anna Hazare for the Lokpal Bill confirmed to him that change was afoot: `There were two incidents which reaffirmed this belief. The Delhi gang rape case and the Anna Hazare phenomenon. Both times, people came out on to the streets to show their support. These were not political movements. These were clear indicators of how people wouldn't take bad governance any longer.`
The actor explained, `Then came the Delhi elections. Here, we were in a place where politicians bought votes and criminals contested elections. One-third of the politicians have criminal records, and they unabashedly put it down on their forms. So, what happened in the Delhi elections is significant on two levels. For the first time, a political entity has emerged who is not saying 'I will rule you' but, instead, says, 'I will rule with you.' He [Kejriwal] says 'I become the instrument for you to rule the country'.
No other party had ever told us that. He says you have to decide what's to be done with the country and I will execute it for you. That is the true meaning of the word Swaraj - khud ka raaj. AAP is the only political party with that kind of thinking. What is more significant is that people now have understood the difference between other kinds of governance and this one.
We have many issues within the country, like caste, religion, money, but what is amazing is how people have put that chakravyuh behind them and come together to trust one entity. It is a huge revolution. We had lost hope in political thinking and suddenly we have got this tidal wave that promises to be revolutionary. I am glad more and more people want to be part of that wave.`
