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'India badly needs a modern Gandhi today'
Today the common man is not angry because of the corruption in the country, he is angry because he is a victim of corruption, says filmmaker Prakash Jha, in our special series where well-known Indians tell Rediff.com why they love India.
I don’t have anything against the Government of India. My issue is the attitude of politicians.
Politicians who stand for elections make a lot of promises when they come to ask for votes but once they are elected all these promises go down the drain. This is what I wanted to change and that was the reason I tried to contest the elections twice but I failed.
An MP is a person who gets a lot of power and access, so I thought if I become one, I would be able to bring about genuine change in the society.
Today the common man is not angry because of the corruption in the country, he is angry because he is a victim of corruption.
Things like death due to negligence or a common man fighting the system to get his pension are very common things in our country and I have tired to highlight these issues in my film Satyagraha.
Another important issue that I have tried to highlight in my film is that not only the ruling party but the opposition parties are also corrupt. We have a live example in the form of the irrigation scam where all the parties were involved.
I am against corruption and would support anyone or any movement against it.
My film Satyagraha was not inspired from Mahatama Gandhi or Anna Hazare. Gandhi was a great human being, a great leader, a great inspiration for the entire country and India badly needs a modern Gandhi today.
Prakash Jha is one of India's best known filmmakers. A winner of multiple national awards, some of his films include Satyagraha, Aarakshan, Rajneeti, Aparahan, Chakravyuh, Mrityudand and Damul.
He contested the parliamentary election twice but lost both times.
He spoke to Sonil Dedhia.