“Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely”- we are all familiar with this famous quote, but how many of us would dare to go beyond mere verbal agreement and take up cudgels to bring in a refreshing change in the present social, judicial, administrative system,rather than waiting to laud another trailblazer like Anna Hazare who takes the first bold move? Why are we so conventionally, and unfortunately,wired to toe the line with somebody in authority rather than being the much needed change ourselves? Why must the spirit ebb every time or be limited to dining table conversations and issues of wasteful intellectual debate between our celebrity guests on our national news channels?Aren’t we all responsible ourselves to “be the change we want to see”?

Reading scandals, scams, dark and dismal stories of corruption is a norm for many of us who begin the day with that famous front page news that screams foul about the society going to the dogs! But then, who asks “What are WE doing about it? How can I be a true serving Indian”? Shouldn’t it be a collective endeavor, an onus that we all must share as Indians, rather than holding the government accountable for every lay incident that takes place on the streets or in your neighborhood? Just how long do we continue to pass the buck?

First Incident Report (FIR), the first of its kind in web journalism urges you to think and take action! Coming directly from the horse’s mouth, ‘this is free for all’ – ‘Citizen Journalism’ that you and I can put to our country’s best use and feel proud for having done our wee little bit to expose the culprits and the culpable who are shamelessly, and almost pathologically, depriving our country of its spirit and legacy that we all are so proud of! Deriving a morbid pleasure from serving their own selfish interests, they are ruthlessly stealing the essence that is India! Now or never- let’s nail them in the very coffin that they have been building for themselves with our clickable technology tools! Just shoot the perpetrators in action and book them!!

FIR offers you a ready platform to perform a sting operation, launch a public outcry against a social injustice, voice a strong opinion to drive out a vice that is sucking at and threatening the social Indian fabric, campaign a cause, lead an awareness program, all with just a click of your cell phone camera. Upload those fresh videos and share it with the rest of the Indian community and bring burning issues to the forefront – it’s all that simplified, just one step forward and a revolution is bound to begin!

DirectorSpeak: Excerpts from the interview with the Director, Mr. Sourjya Banerjee

Q. Why did you choose the 15th of August to launch your website?

SB: The date has an historic significance that we all are proud of! I just wanted to consciously remind ourselves that 15th of August extends beyond a National Holiday and we carry a rich legacy. It is unfortunate that oftentimes we take this freedom for granted, which came at the cost of several lives after years of unrelenting struggle. The core theme of First Incident Reporter is about serving our country in our own little ways and it blends well with the sense of freedom and putting it to good use. I didn’t think any other day would have been more relevant.

Q. Please share how you wish to use FIR to bring in a new wave in thinking – a much desired social change that would see a cleaner system in operation in India.

SB: Frankly, I am not trying to appear as a Messiah to the masses. I am just an ordinary guy who has the means to create a public forum that can be effectively used to tackle social crimes, injustice and uneventful happenings. As simple as a mobile camera can be your best aid to capture unlawful and wrongful deeds, bring the culprits to the fore, and perhaps even help deliver justice in some way. Any change is welcome, even a small step taken today will gear a movement tomorrow.

Q. Where the moot idea is to mobilize people into action and fight against social vices, how much of a web impact do you envisage for your website?

SB: I consciously opted for Facebook as it is a popular medium these days and people are addicted to it. It draws a huge fan following with everyone subscribing to it from 18 to 80. I am hoping that it will help to propagate the message that we are trying to send across to the users through FIR, and should find some ready takers for the cause we are upholding here. Again, I am hoping that it will have some positive impact on our web audience. It’s free for all; no one has to spend a penny on it. Anyone who would want to be an active social agent is very welcome to be a member and bring about a radical change that he’d want to see in the society he lives. You certainly don’t need to be an Anna Hazare to bring about a change; rather we all can serve meaningfully in our own modest capacities to see a new India.

Q. Besides corruption, what are the other burning concerns that you think is plaguing Independent India in the present times and people can think of an expose’ on FIR?

SB: Though we have begun with “corruption” as the theme, FIR is not limited to it alone. It is a website that is about anything and everything to do with Indian society and prevalent vices in the present scenario.

Q. Tell us about the contest. Who are the deciding panelists? Would you have something like a lucky draw to decide the winner in case of multiple entries with creative content?

SB: The motive of the contest is certainly an effort to draw people to our website, and should also serve as the initial driving force. Well known social activists are among our jury members who would decide a clear winner along the parameters that have been specified in our “Contest Rules”. We are also considering popular votes (public voting) to rule out favoritism and ensure complete transparency in the selection procedure. We are planning and structuring the contest to leave no scope for a random selection based on lucky draws. There would be, I repeat, just one clear winner.

Q. How do you vouch for the staying power on your website? Would you have more such contests on the anvil in future to keep the spirit from ebbing? Do you trust Youngistan beyond the prize money lure?

SB: We shall most certainly keep organizing similar contests from time to time, may be even for higher prize money that would go to a well deserving candidate. FIR is sponsoring the entire program exclusively on its own. We are keeping it neat and have no motive for profit or dubious commercial use. When you are driven to serve a cause without a motive, you are not too worried about the “staying power”; it will happen if it must!

I trust my legacy enough to believe that Youngistan will not be lured by the money alone to spring to action.