Anna Produces hazaar....hazaar.... Anna Hazares
Thomas D’Silva
“I want to show my kid how was Mahatma Gandhi like”, a middle-aged woman was seen screaming at the microphone amidst the din of patriotic fervour: slogans, songs, street plays, reporters on war footing, and all kinds of creative expressions to their frustrations... There was a drama unfolding outside the Tihar Jail! And inside? As irony would have it, Kisan Baburao Hazare, or Anna Hazare as he is popularly known, the ‘mahatma-in-the-making’ for his Anti-corruption crusade was locked up in the very same jail, where the icons of crime and corruption too were lodged! Well, there was A. Raja- Suresh Kalmadi & Co, with their plates filled to the brim while Anna had decided to give up food for the cause.
The cause and the crusade to wipe out corruption from the country and to make a ‘free nation’ envisaged by Gandhi had landed Anna in trouble. The nation besieged and beleaguered by hunger and poverty, injustice and inequality, inflation and price-rise, unemployment and corruption suddenly woke up to a ‘revolutionary call’! The frustrated techno savvy youth through social media, SmSs, mainstream media, etc. managed to turn it into a massive movement. The eruption could be likened to that of Tiananmen Square of China and to Tahrir square of Cairo. The only difference was that there is no dictator or monster but a virus of corruption to be eliminated. Because, the political class of the country have taken the democracy for a ride!
When the nation was in no mood for any let up, the government realized its folly and overnight released Anna and his team agreeing to all their demands regarding the indefinite fast, venue and the method of protest. The scene of action moved to Ramlila Maidan, the very ground from where a month ago, Baba Ramdev and his followers forcibly were evicted. But this 74-year old Gandhian is made of sterner stuff! This time around Team Anna was street smart with Chanakya-like strategy: mobilizing the media, the youth, the celebrities, resources and so on. The Ramlila Maidan wore a look of battle ground: why not? After all it was a battle over Bill: Sarkari Bill vs. Jan Lokpal Bill.
Thousands flocked to Ramlila Mainda. Millions pledged support to the movement. Protests were held in different parts of the country. Social media, SMSs, millions of missed calls to President, Sonia Gandhi, etc. were sent- for the cause of Jan Lokpal Bill. Several rounds of parleys, backroom dialogues with Team Anna, feelers and mediators, conflicting media statements and several other pressure tactics were applied. It was a battle between Team Anna Vs. The Government. When millions donning the Gandhi cap with words inscribed- “Main Anna Hoon” (I am Anna) joined the protest, the government had to take note of the wish of the people. And finally the will of the people prevailed.
The Parliament on August 27, 2011 took cognisance of the main demands and adopted a resolution to incorporate them apart from other points viz.: i. To institute Lokayuktas in every state; ii. To bring the lower bureaucracy under the Lokpal ambit; iii. And to enact Citizen’s Charter for facilitating speedy and time-bound service delivery system. Only after receiving the written assurance from the Prime Minister that Anna Hazare broke his 291-hour long fast.
Anna’s ‘unshan’ (fast) has been his way of showing dissent and demand. He had done it in the past with considerable success in Maharastra. That was only a rehearsal for the ‘final’ showdown: demanding a strong Jan Lokpal Bill to wipe out the cancer of corruption from the country. And he did it in style uniting the citizens in the process of rebuilding the nation. “It is only a half victory. The final victory will be when India becomes corruption free”, said Anna addressing the mammoth gathering at the maidan as he broke his fast on Sunday morning (Aug.28th).
A diminutive, 75 years old Anna Hazare, thus stirs up the imagination of over a billion strong population. People burdened under the oppressive and corrupt governments since 1947 are at last woken up for what Anna terms- ‘the second freedom struggle’. The nation wants to cleanse the democratic system by having leaders who are accountable and the government transparent. “I am Anna”, is their slogan. Hence, there is not one Anna Hazare but millions of them with the same aspiration and goal. Well, Anna has a clean image. And his intentions, beyond doubt. But the millions who have joined the bandwagon- how sincere and focused are they? Is it a mass frenzy? Is it a splash in the pan- come and gone? Only time will tell whether along with Anna they are going to be on a vigil till the goal is achieved, when the country is cleansed of corruption.
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