A Wounded Civilisation

LAKSHMI SEHGAL

Commanding officer of the Rani Jhansi Brigade in Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army, the 83-year-old is a throwback to an idealistic era of noble values

"This is not the free India we fought for. We wanted an equal society where considerations of caste and creed would be abolished from social and political life. But inequality rules today. The best brains leave for better opportunities abroad, the MNCs employ the rest to make potato chips."

E.M.S. NAMBOODIRIPAD

Now 88, the world's first elected communist chief minister continues to spirit the Left

"The Communists today have occupied a prime position in terms of the ideals the freedom movement had. The Congress has deteriorated and the Left is playing an important role in the emerging force of the National Front. The future of the country depends on this new force."

ANNA HAZARE

An ex-armyman who saw action in the '65 war, the 57-year-old Gandhian activist turned Maharashtra's Ralegaon Siddhi into a self-sufficient village with its per capita income soaring to Rs 2,100 per month

"Fifty years later caste and untouchability is increasing. Our mistake was that our cities became our main centres. Going back to the villages is necessary. We should have the right to recall the elected representatives. People should also have the right to know how the government is spending their money. The government today is planning without involving people."

BAKHTAVAR LENTIN

The Mumbai judge activist, now 70, was a thorn in the flesh of callous officialdom in the '80s

"Why not have the army, navy, airforce governing the country headed by one or two or maximum three civilians of total integrity and probity? That may result in the Constitution being amended but it would certainly be better than the farce we see in Bihar."

AJIT PAL SINGH

50 this year, he led our hockey team in 1975 to its only World Cup triumph

"The technically simpler, sponsor-friendly game of cricket has taken over. It's got all the celebrities and the glamour. We were hockey champions once but are in a poor shape now. Parents stand outside cricket fields while children practice but there is no enthusiasm for hockey."

MAULANA WAHIDUDDIN KHAN

The 77-year-old campaigns tirelessly for communal amity through yatras and his magazine Al-Risala

"Fifty years of independence haven't been able to produce any known Muslim leaders who could educate the community—all we have are reactionaries. But despite this shortcoming, the Muslim has learnt to temper his reactions. The Hindu has learnt to respect the Muslim. The Babri demolition saw the BJP suffer a shameful defeat in Uttar Pradesh."

DEV ANAND

Silver screen heartthrob since the '50s, the suave star of such hits as Kala Pani, Guide, Jewel Thief and Hare Rama Hare Krishna is, at 73, still in the thick of the action

"Earlier movies were made based on Prem Chand's novels. Amitabh Bachchan brought in violence because it had become a worldwide phenomenon. Today I make films keeping international standards in mind. Though the IQ of our audiences hasn't gone up, our movies have technically bettered themselves. A good Indian film now is good by all international standards."

VEENA MAZUMDAR

The 70-year-old scholar-activist still steers the course of the women's movement in India

"The greatest change in the past 50 years is that there is a completely new kind of consciousness among women in India. The so-called silent millions are not silent now. From the politics of recommendations, we have progressed to the politics of partnership. The crisis India is going through now is the end-of-century syndrome, and to break the mould of 5,000 years we have to pay a price."

ARJAN SINGH

Born in 1919, he became air chief at the age of 44. In World War II he flew sorties against the Japanese.

"The defence forces can be sound only if the economy of the country is sound. You can't separate one from the other. Our economy hasn't done that well mainly due to certain fashionable policies adapted by our leaders which have now been proved to be outdated. But I am optimistic about the future."

G.R. VISHWANATH

A veteran of 91 tests, the 48-year-old's flashing square cuts and magical glances raised batting to the level of high art

"Television has influenced crowd behaviour at matches. Earlier, only some cities had loud crowds. Now they are everywhere. I don't know how we will be able to tackle all the corruption we hear about. It needs people in high places to put it down."

NIRMAL VERMA

Now 68, he pioneered the Nayi Kahani movement in Hindi literature

"Now there is an awareness of India as a civili-sational alternative to the crisis which is being faced by the western world in terms of its consumerist attitudes and spiritual hollowness. Our greatest achievement is that despite poverty and the shortcomings of our politicians, we have been able to preserve our democratic traditions."

KAVI PRADEEP

He's 82, but his songs—Ae Mere Watan ke Logon and Hindustan Hamara Hai—seem timeless

"Earlier the emphasis was on quality—a song was written first and then its tune composed. Today songs are like readymade clothes, the tune is composed first and then the words fitted onto it. Writers of calibre are missing. But there aren't any Nehrus now to weep at good songs either."

VINOD MISHRA

A cult Naxal figure, he remained elusive for decades. Now overground at 48, he remains active and committed.

"One important development of our movement has been the spread of Naxalism in the Hindi belt. Had India won independence under the banner of the INA things would have been different. We are now paying the price of a peaceful revolution. But I see the present disillusionment in youth as hope for the future."

JULIO RIBEIRO

The 68-year-old Mumbai supercop took on Punjab and paved the way for KPS Gill

"There is no contact between the constabulary and the higher-ups. Earlier, the senior ranks were looked up to. Not now. Even if paid ten times more, our people have got into the habit of making more money. Retired officers . get into businesses, the young opt out."