Home >> South Asia >> India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal

     Email   Print 

Indian Tsunami Against Corruption

Priyanka Bhardwaj - 8/24/2011

An unprecedented anti-corruption fire has engulfed the largest nation in South Asia, India, also one of the fastest emerging economic giants as septuagenarian, veteran Gandhian activist, Anna Hazare sits on huger strike for eight day in row.

The cause is one that touches everyone, `ridding India of corruption for good.’

Though corruption has been an old endemic scourge, it is for first time that citizens from all walks of life, cutting across all distinctions of caste, class, creed, region, religion and status, have come up in unison in this historic quest for a transparent, fair and just society.

The complete disgruntlement with moneymaking political leaders and countless scams unearthed in recent past can be said to have decided the timing of this ‘nascent revolution.’

Addressing almost a hundred-thousand strong congregation that came out in full support of this campaign, Anna roared, “If the Government does not get the Jan Lokpal Bill passed by August 30, there would be an unprecedented revolution in the country by the people.... The government will have to either get the Bill passed (in Parliament) or go…I have been fighting against corruption for the past 20 years. The government has betrayed the citizens of the country on Lokpal issue. They constituted a joint committee after my fast in April. But nothing came out of that meeting despite talking for two months. The government’s intention to fight corruption is not noble.”

Anna has an eminent team comprising of Arvind Kejriwal (ex-IITian and 2006 Ramon Magasaysay award winner), Dr. Kiran Bedi (distinguished First woman Indian Police Service officer turned activist), Prashant Bhushan (lawyer and activist), Shanti Bhushan (architect of Lokpal Bill) and Swami Agnivesh (Indian politician and Arya Samaj scholar).

Braving every natural element and traveling large distances, people are swarming to protest in inexplicable civil and peaceful ways at Ramlila Maidan (grounds) in Delhi.

On Anna’s call masses demonstrated outside official residences of various union ministers like Kapil Sibal, Shiela Dikshit and Pranab Mukherjee despite being arrested.

Anna was arrested from Rajghat (venue of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation) where he was in meditative prayer as he was about to launch his campaign and put into the most notorious Tihar Jail.

But public support forced the government to release him.

Thereafter, he continued his fast from Ramlila Maidan and protests scenes in favor of anti-corruption campaign started getting replicated across the length and breadth of the country.

More than 300 people from diverse states like Manipur, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have voluntarily joined hunger strike at the Maidan.

On seventh day of his fast Hari Singh Surayi, 78, said, “I was a forest officer in Bulandshahar and even though I worked for 20 years with the government I made very little money in comparison to others. As a result, my children couldn't study in a private school. I want this cycle to end and I don't mind even if I die trying to fight this battle.”

The legions of Ana followers demand for the passage of Jan Lokpal Bill drafted by Anna’s Team vis-à-vis government’s Lokpal Bill.

Jan Lokpal Bill is a people’s anti-corruption ombudsman with powers to hold everyone from prime minister, members of Parliament, judiciary and lower bureaucracy among many others accountable.

It also seeks creation of Lokayuktas at state level, merging of Central Bureau of Investigation with Lokpal, provision of protection to whistle blowers, witnesses and victims of corruption, etc.

The wide support that it has garnered Team Anna is not ready to give in to government’s false assurances as Kejriwal states, “We are in favor of keeping more and more public servants under the purview of Lokpal, while the government wants to keep a large section of bureaucracy out of Lokpal’s reach. Should this be allowed?”

To convert protest into discerning support, Bedi extolled her famous “dial 101” example: “Just the way ambulance comes to your rescue once you dial 101, the Lokpal officers will arrive to investigate every complaint of corruption. If anyone again asks you how the Lokpal will help fight corruption, you say this to them.”

At eminent Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, locals and students staged protests and some students even refused to accept their degrees at annual convocation from Prime Minister in support of Ana’s campaign.

Muslims have also pitched in their support to this campaign following Islamic seminary, Darul Uloom, Deoband, Imarat Shariah, a highly respected religious body of Bihar, and Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, a socio-political organization of backward class Muslims, calling to extend unequivocal support to anti corruption issues raised by the Gandhian leader.

Ali Anwar Ansari, national president of Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz said that he and his supporters would march to Ramlila Maidan where arrangements for `Iftar’ and `magrib’ namaz (Muslim religious observances and prayers before Id) have been made.

Interestingly, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s lone Member of Legislative Assembly in Delhi assembly, Asif Mohammad Khan has resigned from the party in protest against the party chief Lalu Prasad’s stand against Anna.

Supporters with Indian flags, banners and posters carrying social messages can be seen donning Gandhian `I am Anna’ caps and T-shirts and copying hairstyle of Anna.

At Ramlila Maidan a lot of action has been taking place with bananas, tea, biscuits, `namkeen’ (snacks), water sachets being distributed freely be generous volunteers.

While police keep a close watch Kejriwal cautions the crowds of keeping an eye for anti-social elements who may try to disrupt the demonstrations and thus their unity.

Whole families with children in tow, young couples, old folks, students, journalists, corporate on leave, rural people, sex workers, film stars, film makers, etc are swarming the grounds listening intently to every speech of Anna’s Team and cheering and clapping at every occasion.

Slogans betray the masses’ emotions: “Anna tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hain” (Anna, we are with you in this struggle), “Desh ka yuva yahan hai, Rahul Gandhi kahan hai” (India’s youth is here, but where is Rahul Gandhi?), “Main bhi Anna, tum bhi Anna, ab toh sara desh ha Anna”, “Yeh sarkar nikkami hai, jisme Rahul ki mummy hai”, etc.

Team Anna looks prepared to take on cudgels with government as it is seen giving classes on details of Bill and distributing related pamphlets in Hindi and English.

What is commendable is that despite the emotions raised over corruption, crowds of millions have been remarkably restrained and peaceful.

Many unique demonstrations are being witnessed such as drum players and percussionists gathering in Pune, Maharashtra to play resounding beats for `government of India to wake up it from deep slumber’, young men in Bihar undertaking ‘Pind Daan’ (Hindu ritual for salvation of ancestors’ souls) for `purging India’s soul of evil of corruption’, and little children taking out a skating rally.

Social media, Twitter, Facebook, international television channels have been beaming of visuals of Non Resident Indians also expressing tremendous solidarity with this crusade in as diverse places as Hong Kong and New York.

The only ones to be missing from scene are cynics and critics but as Swarn Kanta, a die hard anti-corruption campaigner says, “The beauty of this battle is that victory will be for every citizen. If Mahatma Gandhi is recognized as `Father of our Nation’, Anna may emerge as `Father of the World’ by inspiring the entire global community to relentlessly fight against corruption.”

Moving extremely slowly and falteringly the government has reacted from alleging a `foreign’ (read American) hand in movement and then calling it `misconceived’ and dangerous for democracy.

Now it has called for an all-party meeting but political standoff has resulted in adjournment of Parliament session today.

Latest reports coming in talk of Finance Minister being appointed as negotiator to talk to Anna about the Bill and persuade him to call off his fast.

While Congress chief of ruling coalition, Sonia Gandhi is reportedly in New York in connection with treatment for an ailment, her son Rahul Gandhi, heir apparent to Congress leadership and Prime Ministerial aspirant has `vanished’ from scene fearing entanglement in contentious issues.

Not for no reason this movement is witnessing many supporters from poor who live on not more than $2 a day and middle classes who are largest contributors to economic growth, supporters of liberalization, as well as biggest tax payers and yet have to suffer the malady of corruption in everyday existence.

Wikileaks and other reports reveal that approximately $1.4 trillion (equivalent to 40 per cent of India’s GDP) of Indian black money, mostly belonging to politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats, have been stashed away in Swiss bank accounts.

The deep roots of corruption, in socio-economic-political sphere, have generated much trust deficit between the ruled and rulers that this movement is here to stay till a final resolution.

And for sure this fight will be one that may possibly throw up lessons for dealing with this demon elsewhere in the world.