- Anil Narendra
A number of lessons can be learnt from Anna Hazare movement. It was a unique movement, which united whole of the country. People, irrespective of their class, religion or community bond together. It was after years that the middle class came to street in such a huge number. It must have been a unique experience for these car-borne people serving food to their fellow citizens who had gathered there in support of the movement. For 12 days, this middle class, which shun elections, was standing there beside Anna at Ramlila Ground. Every class of the people participated in this movement. Many people were saying that those participating in candle light procession, were the people who had never ventured out for polling. But these people forget the fact that this very class feels neglected during elections. This urban class feels itself in a minority in the scenario where elections are won on the basis of caste and region. They feel that persons like them are few in number and they do not consider their role in elections as that important. But, now they have realized that at least they must play their role in enactment of a strong anti-corruption law, a law to deal with the corruption that has weakened the foundation of the country. This movement has kindled a ray of hope for them.
Intellectuals and political observers are baffled as to what the people, who take Independence Day and Republic Day as holidays, saw in this movement that they spontaneously rushed to Ramlila Grounds.
Today, the Bhartiya Janta Party may be trying to claim credit for making Anna's movement a success and no doubt it had an important role as had it not openly accepted and supported all the three conditions put forth by Anna without any reservation, the government would not have conceded defeat so easily. In fact, the BJP initiative lend weight to Anna's movement, but it must also introspect as to why during these past years, it couldn't make corruption an issue, whereas, Anna succeeded in making it a forceful issue. Even the government always ignored the fervent public appeals to save them from
the monster of corruption. Crushed by corruption and price rise, the people of India continued lamenting and appealing to the government to take appropriate measures, but the Congress and the government took no heed. To console public, our politicians started saying that corruption is no more an issue. They concluded that people voted for the Congress in the name of development and they have now accepted corruption as a way of life. In other words, the government had come to the conclusion that now, neither corruption would be raised as an issue and nor there would be any anti-corruption movement, but a just 7th standard saintly person from Ralegan made all the calculations of
political pundits ineffective. People were moved by Anna's clean image and his forceful voice and they took to the streets. His trustworthiness has been the most important reason behind the success
of his movement. His moral stature, his selflessness and his sincere conduct also made his movement a resounding success. The common man saw in Anna, a 74-year elderly person fighting not for his own
interests but fighting their own battle. Whenever a politician says such things, people take it otherwise. It knows that whenever this party or the politician gets a chance, it or he will behave in the same manner. He will act against his preaching. This is due to the declining trust in political leaders that political parties have to put it all their resources for just gathering a crowd of 10-20 thousands. Party leaders of lower ranks are entrusted the responsibility to arrange crowd. Arrangements for tea, snacks and transportation are made. Their stature is dependent upon the crowd they are able to attract. On the other hand, people joined Anna's movement with the spirit of service and they made their own arrangements for food and transportation. They were not compelled by anybody, but it was a spontaneous outburst. Our politicians should learn from this movement and understand the deep insights of Anna's victory. Don't know whether they have still realized it or not.
Intellectuals and political observers are baffled as to what the people, who take Independence Day and Republic Day as holidays, saw in this movement that they spontaneously rushed to Ramlila Grounds.
Today, the Bhartiya Janta Party may be trying to claim credit for making Anna's movement a success and no doubt it had an important role as had it not openly accepted and supported all the three conditions put forth by Anna without any reservation, the government would not have conceded defeat so easily. In fact, the BJP initiative lend weight to Anna's movement, but it must also introspect as to why during these past years, it couldn't make corruption an issue, whereas, Anna succeeded in making it a forceful issue. Even the government always ignored the fervent public appeals to save them from
the monster of corruption. Crushed by corruption and price rise, the people of India continued lamenting and appealing to the government to take appropriate measures, but the Congress and the government took no heed. To console public, our politicians started saying that corruption is no more an issue. They concluded that people voted for the Congress in the name of development and they have now accepted corruption as a way of life. In other words, the government had come to the conclusion that now, neither corruption would be raised as an issue and nor there would be any anti-corruption movement, but a just 7th standard saintly person from Ralegan made all the calculations of
political pundits ineffective. People were moved by Anna's clean image and his forceful voice and they took to the streets. His trustworthiness has been the most important reason behind the success
of his movement. His moral stature, his selflessness and his sincere conduct also made his movement a resounding success. The common man saw in Anna, a 74-year elderly person fighting not for his own
interests but fighting their own battle. Whenever a politician says such things, people take it otherwise. It knows that whenever this party or the politician gets a chance, it or he will behave in the same manner. He will act against his preaching. This is due to the declining trust in political leaders that political parties have to put it all their resources for just gathering a crowd of 10-20 thousands. Party leaders of lower ranks are entrusted the responsibility to arrange crowd. Arrangements for tea, snacks and transportation are made. Their stature is dependent upon the crowd they are able to attract. On the other hand, people joined Anna's movement with the spirit of service and they made their own arrangements for food and transportation. They were not compelled by anybody, but it was a spontaneous outburst. Our politicians should learn from this movement and understand the deep insights of Anna's victory. Don't know whether they have still realized it or not.
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