Anna Hazare Rises! – Why it is so important for the movement to become successful!

1919, it was that time of the World history when First World War was going on. In India, the British Raj was intolerable. To worsen the situation, the Rowlatt Act was passed. The act authorized the government to imprison anybody suspected of conspiracy or promoting unrest without any trails and formalities. The very next year, General Dyer heard of major conspiracy that was going to happen among large gathering of people, then. He went with fifty armed men and ordered to open fire till the ammunitions lasted. It killed thousand of innocent Indians, including women and children. It was the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Gandhiji launched Non-cooperation movement all over India propagating to boycott British goods and use of local made stuff, handicrafts, etc. The movement shook the very roots of British establishment in India. The movement was supported by Indian National Congress and freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Rajguru, etc. It could have given India independence in the early 1920s, had the movement been continued, then. In 1922, the Chauri Chaura incident happened where violent protest between local police and protestors resulted in setting police chowki on fire. It killed 22 policemen. Gandhi called off the non-cooperation movement since he was staunch believer of Ahimsa or non-violence. It took 25 years from then to get the Independence.

It left many Indians including people like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru devastated. There was anger in the minds of common masses. Efforts were made to restore the non-cooperation movement. All in vain. The freedom fighter continued their struggle for the freedom in their own way. A ray of hope that Gandhi’s movement gave got killed.

Today, we are Independent in a way that we have our own elected representatives to govern the nation. But the country has gone from bad to worse. Corruption appears to be a milder word these days, the way they happen are justified by the politicians in media. Tainted ministers head the committee and important portfolios. Land allotment scams, increase in FSI, Coalgate, spectrum scam, mining scam, buying of political support by tax payer’s money, misuse of development fund and the list goes on. The nation is divided into minority and majority to get the votes. The recent Assam violence is an example of how politics is played out with people for political gains.

Last year, when Anna Hazare started with indefinite fast, it shook the roots of corrupt government. Efforts were made to curb the peaceful demonstration. False promises were made to pacify the anger. The huge support that Anna received showed that Indians were fed up of corrupt and incapable congress government. Government tried all that it could to weaken the force over the period of time. The movement gave a ray of hope to billions of Indians. Even I participated at the Gateway of India rally and witnessed several such peaceful demonstrations at various places.

But if this revolution fails, it will kill hopes of million and no one else will dare to do what Anna is doing, in future. Everyone will fear to raise voice against unjust. People will fear from calling black, a black. It is really important for Anna Hazare and Indians to make this movement really large and successful. We need to come out of our homes and support whole-heartedly the movement. It is for our better future, for a better nation!

fOoD fOr ThOuGhT:I know Anna Hazare won’t call off the movement the way Gandhi did, in 1922. More important is that people should realize and come forward to contribute towards the success of the movement to remain truly Independent.

It takes only an Anna (Hazare) to do what he did!

Last weekend I went to watch movie Aarakshan in theatre. Though normally I don’t expect much before start of any movie so as to enjoy and observe the minute details the director wants to subtly narrate. But with Prakash Jha, I expected the movie to be good if not better. I was utterly disappointed and the movie was pathetic to say the least.

The expectation set was right in the first half an hour of the movie. It seemed to be a movie about reservation and anti-reservation debate something that no government has tried to solve in reality. As the movie progresses the focus digresses. There is no clear anchor, no direction for the movie after a point of time. The intentions of Mr. Jha were great but to speak the bitter truth as it is and get accepted is difficult. From pro-reservation stand, the movie shifts to pro tuitions to free education. It was beating around the bush. It was too complex a topic to take a stand. For the first time I observed such a confused audience after the movie was over. May be Dhobi Ghat was the last time, I found audience so puzzled.

With Rajneeti, which was equally huge in terms of characterization and complexity of subject, it was lot structured. The movie led to a natural climax and though longish, the movie was well executed with a focused approach.

The only reason could be because it takes guts of Anna Hazare and support of entire India to take on the ruling government. You challenge the authority and you would be shown the doors. With Anna, the background check is clear. Government probed into his past and present only to find gold. Baba Ramdev might be good, his intentions were also same, but with his commercialized of products and with tax authority and other government agencies after him, he could only retract.

The movement started with 5-7 people. Word spread and few hundred people gathered. In days time few hundred became few thousand, thousands became few lac and lacs in to crores. It’s a common discussion in buses, at breakfast table or on television. Anna has surely united us to fight against corruption. The agitation has left the government clueless. They thought it as a fad initially but now that’s the only talking point. No congress spokesperson is able to talk straight and convince what they believe, on any news channels. I would like to pat back of media, the fourth estate, which has played a crucial role in spreading the information and bringing masses together. If all the four pillars of democracy including judiciary behave so responsibly, ‘India of dream’ will become reality soon.

The present situation cannot be called a License Raj, but it is no less. Corruption has crippled the nation. It is shameful to see Members of Parliaments showing bundles of money in the parliament of the world’s biggest democracy, being offered to buy their votes. Words cannot describe that darkest hour of Indian Democracy. What is appreciable about the movement started by Anna is the way it is carried out. It is in 9^th day now but no signs of violence whatsoever. There is so much anger in people, in crowd yet they have maintained the decorum. They are aware that a silly mistake and government will get a chance to put everyone in jail with charges of disrupting peace at public place, jeopardying all the effort. I salute the discipline and patience of common man for this.

Though I am completely in favor of corruption less nation if not corruption free, I don’t have an idea as to how Jan Lokpal bill will be implemented and executed. The points it states is all acceptable but a small loopholes is what it takes to sink something as big as Titanic. I am just worried of those open holes in this bill, if there are any. After those cautionary words, something gives me confidence. If there would have been substantial loopholes, the government would not have been so stubborn in accepting it.

fOoD fOr ThOuGhT: Anna has stood for us, for a better tomorrow. It really requires courage to challenge the absolute power. Let’s fight against corruption and build a better tomorrow!