Anna Says," Inculcate Gandhiji’s thought with technology and thus accomplish our goals"

Me and my Blog !

My Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Namaskar.  

I would like to thank Indian Express (Mr. Atikh Rashid) for showing their interest in my blog and asking me ‘How do I feel about my Blog?’

Today Information Technology has achieved great heights. One can easily see the worldwide fierce competition among them. The ever changing scenario and progress is mind-boggling. It is a matter of pride that India is not left behind. Though I am the one to give credence to Mahatma Gandhi’s school of thought I am sure if the same information and technology was available during his time he would surely have used it to the best of his advantage. Every second is important in human life and technology saves time.

Gandhiji was of the opinion that development that takes place without exploiting nature and humans is sustainable development. But development that happens through means of exploitation is absolutely unethical development.

(Information) Technology has enabled us to save on fuel and cars. Important aspect is development happening without pollution. This technology has brought the world closer. Now it is time we try to bring people close to each other. For this to happen we should inculcate Gandhiji’s thought with technology and thus accomplish our goals.

When millions of people read my thoughts on my blog I feel this is the effect of the same technology.

Jai Hind! Vande Mataram! Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Anna Hazare

RaleganSiddhi.

Anna Hazare - Student of Gandhi VS Nation of Gandhi

Though the student of Gandhi has been fighting with the nation of Gandhi which has been transformed from a land of cultures and values to the land of greed and corruption where though the leaders wear the white but the black is still hidden in the hearts of their selfish souls.

In the time when the history of 20th century was about to be written, when the voice of Leninists was echoing around, when the world was waiting for a new villain of the mankind, the decade when sun was started to set in the all time shiny empire under the sheets of union jack.
There was one corner in the world of spices where the non violence was raging the storm of freedom bringing the nation together while encouraging the wombs to produce the sons of soil. There was a family in Bhingar village of Hinganghat in Maharashtra who was expecting the star to be born and the moment came on 15 June 1937 when Hazare couple Laxmibai Hazare and Baburao Hazare gets their future in the shape of son who would reshape 21st century India.
Kisan Baburao Hazare or Anna Hazare is a self made man born in the Gandhian era and is the only national figure of importance who knows the value of the Indian freedom and the sacrifice which it had demanded. In 1952 when his father resigned from the job and shifted to his native village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmadnagar district of Maharashtra, his poor economic condition forced him to take up an employment while he was in seventh standard. Despite not being meeting the physical requirements he was recruited at the age of 25 emergency recruitments which were being made during Indo-China war in 1962 when the large scale of army requirements were the norms of the national importance.
He started his full fledged army career in 1963 as a driver. During 1965 Indo-Pak war he was the only survival in the convoy which was attacked in the Khem Karan sector near the border where he was posted. The incident changed his life and his mindset completely but he got his new direction from a titled of the book written by Swami Vivekananda “Call to the youth for nation building.” After 12 years of his service in Indian Army he took voluntary retirement in 1978.
He was apprised by Sainya Seva Medal, Nine Years Long Service Medal, Sangram Medal, 25th Independent Anniversary Medal, and Pashimi Star award. But who knew that this leader who had returned to his native village of Ralegan Siddhi will start a new definition of irrigation in the drought prone region where hardly a drop of water falls in rain shadow area. Where the population was living under acute poverty, but the lion had already took the charge of the battle which was about to be fought against the bureaucracy, social discrimination, and other anti social odds.
Within few years of his campaign the results were started to yield fruits in the village, from mere 75 acres of land under cultivation his campaign and innovative drip irrigation system converted 2500 acres of land under sustainable agriculture. He gives a new definition of the rain water harvesting and its irrigation usages. He encouraged youth to help in building the region into a role model for the whole nation. Millions of saplings were planted on the eroded slopes of the naked hills hence improving the environment and soil holding process to its prime.
His native village, a land where only hunger and poverty had lived since the time unknown was transformed into a prosperous fertile land of happiness where ban on alcohol, ban on tree felling, ban on grazing and volunteer labor gave the new life to the dry lands of his rural heartland into a flourishing agricultural fields. He brought the different communities together to work as one unit hence abolishing the caste system from the lives of his people.
His campaign in 1998 and 2006 forced the government to amend Gram Sabha Act and include the participation of villagers into the development and other matters concerned to their locality. This gave much needed teeth to the rural population in the country. Nevertheless, the major boon to his Gandhian philosophy came when he started the campaign for RTI ACT or Right to Information Act to fight against the growing corruption menace in the country.
Various organizations and activists came forward to support him against the government finally forcing the state to bring the RTI in 2009. This gave the power to the Indians of accessing the public information and its accounts. The benchmarking act transformed him from a mere soldier to a national leader, whom the people admire him as a modern Gandhi, who has once again showed the nation a true picture of the father of nation.
Due to this act numerous scams were exposed and many public servants and ministers were brought to trial. But the this was not enough, the hurricane was about to reach the coast of National Parliament when the doors were to be shattered with the foot falls of the general public who will show the power of a true vibrant democracy and whose sound will make the ears of corrupt cabinet deaf.
And the democracy was turned into an arena where the battle of corruption will be fought which will decide the fate of the nation
Since, the public extensively uses the weapon of RTI the curtains of corruption fallen of the records covered under the dust of scams done in the past and in the present day scenarios. This has raged the storm of this student of Gandhi who is being driving the nation against the democratic donkeys who don’t know how to rule the country and function for its people.
He first went on fast on 5th April 2011 forcing the government to present the Lokpal Bill or Anti Corruption Bill in the Parliament and within no time the effect of his fasting was showing its signs, the cabinet formed a standing committee for the review of the respective bill and call team Anna for discussing their point of view and requirements to be added into the bill but as Anna quit fasting and his storm slows down the bill matter comes into the bureaucratic jittery and the draft which was presented into the house did not include the points raised by Anna and the general public in it.
It was found later that many departments including the PMO were kept out of the jurisdiction and monitoring of Lok Pal Bill. Then the series of warnings and letter conversation took off in the air which attracted the attention of the general public and all the public figures but the ruling coalition seems to be insensitive to the matter and showed no signs of coming to the agreeable terms of Anna. As the rains sets in and the parliament of the world’s biggest democracy begins its monsoon session, the date came 28th July 2011 when Anna spokes out to PM and other government officials in public:
“Why are you (government) sending the wrong draft? We have faith in Parliament. But first send the right draft; our agitation is against government, not Parliament. The government has overlooked many points. How will it fight corruption by excluding government employees, CBI and prime minister from the Lokpal’s purview? We were told that both the drafts would be sent to the Cabinet. But only the government’s draft was sent. This is a deceitful government. They are lying. How will they run the country? Now I have no trust in this government. If it is really serious about fighting corruption, why is it not bringing government employees and CBI under Lokpal?” – Anna Hazare
But as it is very well said that there was silence before the arrival of the storm and the silence broke in the rainy afternoon of 15th August 2011 when Anna just went inside the Rajghat the Mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi when he without warning or any official declaration or permission started fasting, seeing the great spirit alongside the another the huge crowd of visitors and supporters gathered and offered him the support, by the evening he was arrested and taken to jail where he spent 24 hours under custody but he didn’t break his fast and continued with it.
Feeling the heat of agitation and the anger of public the orders were passed for his release, from that day to till this day when this article was being written he was still fasting and the country of more than a billion heads is running on the road, protesting in front of every minister and bureaucrat to either support them or if not then resign from the service.
The path of non-violence and peace which the great philosopher and a legend Mahatma Gandhi or Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has been risen like phoenix risen from its sleep of 100 years. This has proven once again the non violence has always been a lethal weapon against those who thinks they are powerful if they carry bullets in the ballot.
Though the student of Gandhi has been fighting with the nation of Gandhi which has been transformed from a land of cultures and values to the land of greed and corruption where though the leaders wear the white but the black is still hidden in the hearts of their selfish souls.
Though the power of ballot has changed this country a lot but the choice of ballot has always controlled the flow of prosperity for which the country has dreamt of. Once the Late PM Rajiv Gandhi had said that I am aware that the government sends 100 rupees to the public but only 15 rupees reaches the needy.
After the gap of two decades his son and a respected member of parliament Rahul Gandhi says though the government send 100 rupees but now only 10 rupees reaches the common public, but these are the hollow statements whereas the truth is even more worse general public hardly receives a single penny now these days the corruption has spread so deep into the daily working public system that even the private sectors has also fallen into the same line of practicing.
So the slow isolated campaign which was started long ago has now taken the shape of a revolution into a world’s biggest fight against corruption. It has now been proven that it is just like a second freedom struggle which is being fought on the grounds against the disease called corruption.
In his welfare career history Anna Hazare was awarded by many honors and the prominent among them are Padma Sri in 1990 and Padma Bhushan in 1992, the two being among the highest civilian awards. And most recently he was honored by World Bank in 2008 with Jit Gill Memorial Award.
The nation salutes this hero who has never asked for any monetary or social comfort but has always remained committed towards his country and his people.

Anna’s team is one of the most powerful lobby groups India has ever seen

Is Hazare the new swing factor in polls?

Chetan Bhagat

So the Congress party lost all three by-elections last week. As expected , their spokespersons continued to display false bravado, trying to shrug off the defeat and underplaying the Anna factor. Their fake overconfidence is almost cute. You want to give them a hug for trying to do their job even in the worst circumstances. The winners too, particularly the BJP, seemed somewhat surprised. Still figuring out how to react, they were dismissive of Anna’s role, claiming the victory as entirely their own.

And yet, one hopes the parties do not believe the spin they dish out. There are big lessons from the recent elections for both. No, neither is it game over for the Congress, nor is it guaranteed victory for the BJP. Also, team Anna does not decide who wins an election or who doesn’t. Yet, having them on your side or against significantly affects a party’s election results. The victory margins in Indian polls are slim, with a significant portion of voters being passive – that is, they vote in a predictable pattern that doesn’t change over time. In such a scenario, a relatively small number of enlightened, floating votes can alter election results. Statisticians will agree that even if 20 million Indians switch their vote, the election results will be dramatically different. Anna’s team is clearly inching towards having that kind of support base.

The Congress (or any party) should realize, that even though team Anna members cannot win an election (given passive voters will never vote for them), they can influence enough voters to make a party win or lose an election. In that sense, Anna’s team is one of the most powerful lobby groups India has ever seen. Fortunately, they are lobbying for a corruption free India, a cause that is good for the country.

Hence, just three tips for the Congress. One, do not give mixed signals to team Anna. While one day a minister will fold hands and speak obsequiously to ‘Anna ji’ , the next day he would dare Arvind Kejriwal to contest an election. That is foolish. Simply accept team Anna as part of Indian political reality. Two, figure out who the next leader is – if it is Rahul Gandhi, he has to begin taking centrestage. This strategy of letting others take the muck and wiping his chair clean until he arrives, will not work. Either he should take the heat, or give someone else the reins. It may be abold move, but replacing the PM right now may just be what the doctor ordered to show that you are serious about change. Such big scams have happened; in any other organization, heads would have rolled. Why haven’t they in the Congress?

Three, blatantly obvious, is to pass the Lokpal bill. No whining, no clever debates, no bashing team Anna , media or opposition. As one ad says – just do it. And when you do it, don’t get super-clever , high-IQ lawyers to modify clauses that take away the spirit and essence of the bill. Too many eyes are on the bill now, and frankly, no matter how smart your people are, they can’t outsmart millions.

These are exciting times for Indian politics. Younger leaders of both major parties can use the current turmoil to initiate change within their own party, which not only positions their party to win elections, but is also good for the nation. For, whether Congress or BJP, all we want is a better India, isn’t it?

Anna Says, " चांडाळ-चौकडीला नेस्तनाबूत करा !"RISE AND FIGHT AGAINST ‘GANG OF FOUR’ !

Anna literally writing for his blog !!!

My Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Namaskar!

Kiran Bedi has been accused of being involved in air-travel corruption. She has time and again made it clear that if she has done such a thing and used the money for the benefit of her family then the government should take help of one of its own inquiry agencies and if found guilty should take stringent actions against her.

But the government doesn’t seem forthcoming in taking such a step. To accuse and humiliate seems to be the mantra of the few. This is not the first time that such accusations have been leveled against Kiran Bedi. Every member of ‘Team Anna’ had to face accusations and character assassination by the ‘gang of four’. Who are these people? Those are the very same people who are not in favor of Janlokpal Bill.

Let’s give it a thought to the initial days of the movement when Joint Committee was to be formed to draft Janlokpal Bill. Who were the people opposing the Committee?  You will realize these were the very same ‘gang of four’ who stood in opposition. After much deliberation on 5^th April 2011 I began my fast on Jantar mantar where people gathered in large numbers. It was then they realized their mistake and agreed to form a ‘Joint Committee’.

चांडाळ-चौकडीला नेस्तनाबूत करा !

 

On 4^th June 2011 as Ramdev Baba’s agitation was in progress on Ramlila Maidan I was supposed to meet him on the following day i.e. 5^th June 2011. But on the night of 4^thJune 2011, at 1:30 pm the Delhi police launched a brutal attack on the unsuspecting crowd of men and women old and young alike and innocent children. The Government’s intention was clear-‘Anna Hazare and Ramdev Baba should not meet’. By ruthlessly beating up women was the Delhi police trying to prove they are man enough? Who were these men who did lathi charge on the women? Those were the same people who are now playing accusatory games aren’t they? The mystery will surely unfold.

Joint Committee was formed but these people did not want the Janlokpal Bill passed. This ‘gang of four’ now started accusing Shri. Shanti Bhushan and Shri. Prashant Bhushan on the CD issue. Like Kiran Bedi, Shri. Shanti Bhushan and Shri. Prashant Bhushan too maintained their stand on being innocent and asked the government to conduct an enquiry in to the matter. But these people are aware that their aim will not be fulfilled if they follow the legal path. The only way out was to spread dissention in ‘Team Anna’ thereby spreading misconceptions among people who will be dissuaded from participating in the movement.

One of the honest members of Team Anna, retired Judge Shri Hegde Saheb who was responsible for sending the BJP Chief-Minister behind bars was also accused. Who were these people? You will soon understand that these were the same ‘gang of four.’  Accusations were leveled against Arvind Kejriwal and he was attacked with slipper in one of his gatherings. Who was behind this act? On 16^th August 2011, I was to hold a demonstration in Delhi demanding the government pass the Janlokpal Bill. It was for more than a month that I was trying to seek permission for obtaining a venue for the same through letters and personal visits.  But purposefully we were not assigned a place for my fast and the matter was stretched until 15^th August 2011. They applied IPC 144 on all the public places in Delhi. Finally we de cided we will get ourselves arrested and go on fast in jail. The ‘gang of four’ were behind this conspiracy is now clear.

Early morning at 6’0 clock on 16^th August 2011, I was arrested from my house. I had not committed any crime hence they had no right to arrest me from my house. These people wanted to humiliate me intentionally. I was sent to Tihar Jail. It was four in the afternoon till necessary formalities were completed and we were taken in to Tihar Jail. We were allotted one room, set of clothes and at 6:00 pm an officer came with the news that my sentence was pardoned and I was free to leave. We have been directed to leave you at the place where you were arrested from.

I was surprised as the government had arrested me because my protest was causing disharmony and within next two hours I was set free! Had the government had some sort of divine intervention? Is this government a joke? You arrest someone at your whim and then set them free. Is this democracy? The police resorted to lathi charge on the peaceful protestors and whisked away Ramdev Baba to Haridwar in the middle of the night at 2:00 am by plane and was prohibited from stepping in to Delhi. His movement was crushed and now the ‘gang of four’ wanted to do the same to me. Their plan was to release me from jail and under the pretext of taking me home bundle me in to a car and take me to Delhi airport where an air-force plane was waiting to taxi out. Next I was to be flown to Pune and kept at unknown place; all this to thwart my m ovement in Delhi. Who was behind this conspiracy? These were the same people who were spreading derogatory remarks about ‘Team Anna’. Their conscious is not clear. I was suspicious right from the beginning when the jail authorities planned to release me within two hours of my arrest. I flatly refused to leave the jail premises. I told them if I was given a seven day sentence then I will stay in jail for seven days.

The said officer passed on my message to the senior D.I.G who said I had come out of the jail to meet him in his office hence I cannot go back. I replied, ‘I came here because you wanted to speak to me and now you say I cannot go back, this is wrong on your part. You are not letting me go back in the prison neither I am stepping out of the prison gate. You have to push me or else carry me out.’ I refused to budge out of the jail. Thus the tables were overturned on the ‘gang of four’ as the officers carried out discussions with the government past one in the night. My decision had landed them in trouble. They were clueless as to what was to be done. For the next three days I was neither in jail nor outside jail. I was in D.I.G’s office. I had not had my bath for three days as there was no bathing facility there. Thu s the people realized that the government had covert plan in its mind and hence the people lost their temper. The ‘gang of four’ had conspired to put me in jail so that they can cast aspersions on my team.

The government had no alternative but to grant permission to carry out my agitation on Ramlila grounds. When I came out of the jail I was overwhelmed by the large crowd that had gathered there. Whenever the ‘gang of four’ tried to play mischief their tables were overturned and once again they found themselves on the receiving end. For the next two and half months Joint Committee met seven times. The issues raised by Team Anna were discussed at length and then they did a turn-a-about. We will present your draft of Janlokpal Bill before the cabinet they assured us but in reality they presented government’s weak draft which had deadly loopholes in the issue bypassing what we had to say.

I do not blame all the ministers from the Congress party or the Government as a whole. There are some righteous and committed people in the government but they cannot raise their voice because of this ‘gang of four’. We are dashing off letters to all our members that saints, Mahatma’s, Prophets and Great men had to endure hardships and criticism when they tried to do good to humanity. (I appeal to my closer ones) Please do not react again and again on any or repeated allegations made by the ‘gang of four’ (and their agents from various fields). People are wise enough to understand what the truth is. Thus it becomes futile on their part. Corruption has driven people to their brink. People are weary of the rising corruption level. That is the reason the people of this country are unhappy with the present government.< /p>

Corruption has given way to inflation. It is becoming difficult for the common man to run his house. The common man understands we are fighting for his sake. Hence no matter how many aspersions are cast on us people’s support for us will remain undeterred. We have to move ahead through the obstacles. People who chose the path of righteousness always have to face difficulties. But truth has always prevailed as seen in history. So we should keep walking the path of truth.

The only thought that keeps us going and binds us together is it doesn’t matter if someone is trying to spread dissent in the ‘Team Anna’ or maligning our reputation. Why do people stoop so such low level? They have their own reasons. They are afraid if Janlokpal Bill is passed they will be stripped off their power. They will no longer be able to take bribe. Hence under any circumstances they will see to it that the Janlokpal Bill as a law does not come in to existence. They will keep blaming Team Anna so they can go on doing corruption.

The number of Ministers who are opposing Janlokpal Bill in Cabinet is handful. It is similar to a village where there are 2 to 4 goons who hold the entire village to ransom. In government there is a majority of people who are righteous but can’t go against these ruffians. Leaving aside these specific 4 to 6 people no one points a finger at us.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured us in writing that he will pass a law in favor of Janlokpal Bill during this winter session. He has also given this assurance before television channels. Shri. Salman Khurshid too has promised people that he will see to it that Janlokpal Bill is passed during the winter session. This shows that righteous people are in majority as to ‘gang of four’. The way these people are leveling allegations against Team Anna it shows they are not bothered for the well-being of our nation or society at large. They are casting aspersions on others for their own selfish interests. They are quite capable of pressurizing the government not to bring Janlokpal Bill and if need be might take help of the handful belonging to the opposition party.

But I think this storm will give birth to Lalbahadur Shastri’s Congress, Vallabh Bhai Patel’s Congress and Kamraj’s Congress. Today people will carefully sort out the unwanted from the list and this to happen is the need of the hour. In order to achieve a bright future and corruption free India the country and its country men have to do this. If need be I too will tour the nation and campaign for the cause.

I will be writing a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the draft for the Janlokpal Bill to be passed should be put on the internet so that people can have a look at it and not limit it to the Joint Committee. Late Prime Minister Shri. Rajiv Gandhi before making amendments in the 73^rd and 74rth Act had sent a letter to 5.5 lac villages to call for Gramsabha vote. When we speak about democracy, Independence and Republic we have to take the people of this country in confidence before any law is drafted. But as per Prime Minister and the other Ministers assurances I have kept on hold my agitation till the winter session. If the law is not passed in the winter session then I will tour the five places where assembly elections are due to be held and then tour the rest of India during national elections. People should make it a point that they form a resolution on the Janlokpal Bill to be passed in Winter Session or else we will once again agitate and send it across through their village panchayat and Gramsabha to Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and to the President. From all over India 35 to 40 lac resolutions should reach the government.

When resolution for Lokpal Bill is passed a bill for Lokayukt should be brought and the state’s Chief-Minister, Governor should pass a resolution for this purpose. The directives for Lokayukt Bill will be sent on behalf of the Government. Before that a resolution comprising of our demands should be sent to the Chief-Minister and the Governor of our own state. We are short on time hence please send the said resolution as soon as possible. Those who are trying to create mischief will learn a lesson. This is the only opportunity we have in order to get a corruption free India, ‘now or never’. If the Government goes back on its word and refrains from passing the Janlokpal Bill then it will have to face much more damage than they are facing now. But if a stringent Janlokpal Bill is passed then the government will be able to bounce back from the damage it has faced till now. For the past 25 to 30 years I have led agitations without taking in to consideration any political party, person, part of society, state but have always kept in mind the well-being of the nation. Henceforth my agitations won’t be any different.

Inquilab Zindabad! Vande Mataram! Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

K. B. Hazare (Anna)

Anna Says: 1963-2011- My untold stories for my respected enemies !

For the last few years people have been talking incoherently about my organization and me. So the common man should be made aware of ground realities as they are being misled. Hence, I am trying to clear some misconceptions here.

In the year1962 China attacked India causing loss to human lives and financial loss. With the aim of doing service to the country I joined army in the year 1963. In my twelve years of army service I had to put up a fight against 11 army officers for the soldiers lodging, boarding and other questions. Following this I occupied a special place in the heart of the soldiers and they gave me a pen name ‘Shastriji’.

In my 12 years of service I spent most of my time on the border. I served on border of Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal and in Leh, Ladakh, Kashmir, Mizoram, Bengal, Assam and ice-capped regions of Himalaya. As I always put up a fight for the good of the soldiers I was purposefully sent to remote areas. But this did not deter me from my goal, which was service to the nation and failed to break my spirit. In spite of the hardships and troubles, it was clear in my mind that I was doing this for my country and after 12 years of service I got the right to pension.  The role of ‘Jai Jawan’ was for my country and now to fulfill my role of ‘Jai Kisaan’ I took voluntary retirement from the army.

After my retirement from the army when I returned home I was appalled to find my village Ralegan Siddhi in pitiable state. My village was struck by famine so there was water and food shortage and nearly 80% people went to sleep on empty stomachs. Villagers travelled 4 to 5 Kilometers in search of work so that they can have a decent meal. As there was no source of income people resorted to making country liquor. Due to these liquor shops atmosphere in the  village was contaminated.

It pained to see my village reduced to this state. I decided to pull out my village from this cycle of destruction. With the help of the villagers I was able to shut down the liquor shops. I created jobs for the villagers so there could be some source of income available for them. I started water-shed development projects thus changing geographical conditions of the village and bringing about economic and social change. In the village where there were once 30 to 35 liquor shops now you will not find a single shop selling cigarettes, Gutka, tobacco or bidi. The village that was once famous for its liquor now exports nearly 5000 liters of milk. In the past, 300 acres of land would yield one crop at the most but now after implementing water-shed development project a 1500 acre land now yields two crops.

Ralegan Siddhi has become independent and self-sufficient. Today you will not find a single person hungry instead milk, vegetables and food-grains are being exported. Now it is difficult to find farm hands. Initially school was till 4rth standard but now children in the village can avail of higher education like art, commerce and science. For the education purpose eight farmers donated 12 acres of their land to the trust as gift. Schools, hostels, temples amounting to crores of rupees have been built by the villagers on their own. Not a single penny has been taken as a donation from an industrialist residing outside the village or from abroad. School children have brought laurels back home in sports at the district, state and national level. They have even represented India at international level in sports.

1975 marked the beginning of development projects and with the help of the villagers it was a huge success but corruption started eating at its roots and even one paisa out of ten paisa did not reach the village project. Hence since 1990 I am fighting against corruption with the hope that someday it will be curbed. Taking my fight a step ahead in 1997 I established the ‘Anti-Corruption Jan Andolan’ because I believe that to speed up structural development in the country and to stop corruption are the same side of two coins. These two things go hand-in-hand is my belief after many years of experience and will mark a bright future for our nation and society at large hence I am working simultaneously on both.  In order to fulfill my commitments I have formed various trusts but many a times there are people who hurl accusations and counter-accusations in spite of the good work being done thus misleading people.

On 27^th April 1997, some Ministers from the coalition government accused our Hind Swaraj Trust of being involved in corruption. On 10^th May 1997 I went on fast demanding an enquiry against the corruption charges leveled on our Trust. Then Chief-Minister Shri. Manohar Joshi through a charitable officer sat up an enquiry on the trust and later on 19.05.1997 declared that Hind Swaraj Trust had no irregularities as such nor were they responsible for any corrupt activities.

When coalition government was in power I had exposed some of the ministers and they had to resign under corruption charges. I was put in jail thereafter by the government. But later on they were forced to release me and pardon my sentence due to the mounting pressure from all over Maharashtra as people voiced their discontent against my arrest.

In the year 2003, I had strong proof that Shri. Suresh Jain and some Ministers were involved in corrupt activities. I tried to convey this to the government through letters. After trying to communicate with them through letters for over 10 to 15 times I went on fast on 9^th August 2003. The Ministers too went on fast insisting that if an enquiry is set up on the Ministers then Anna Hazare should also go through the same.

Maharashtra Government on 9^th September, 2003 set up an enquiry committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Hon. Shri. P.B.Sawant. I along with four other Ministers faced the enquiry committee. For the next 1 and ½ years the enquiry committee’s work would begin at 11 in the morning and end at 5 in the evening.

As the Sawant Committee’s enquiry progressed some of the Ministers demanded permission to be granted to have a look at our Trust papers. On 9/6/2005, the enquiry committee had this request put up to us and we readily agreed to show our papers to the Ministers. On behalf of the Ministers, a team of six Chartered Accountants came over to our village and for six days minutely scrutinized the papers. Nearly papers measuring a half-full tempo were xeroxed but not even a 100 rupee worth corruption was found and neither any irregularity was cited in the trust’s work.

Sawant Committee submitted its report to the Government on 23rd Feb 2005. Of the Ministers found guilty Shri. Vijaykumar Gavit was set free as his offense was less compared to the others. The Committee explained in detail how Shri. Suresh Jain, Shri. Padmasinh Patil and Nawab Malik were involved in corrupt activities. Our Trust was called up for minor irregularity and for not submitting papers on time.

As the three Ministers were pronounced guilty by Sawant Committee on 10^th March 2005 they were asked to resign.

In order to prove the innocence of the Ministers found guilty by Sawant Committee, the Government on 25.4.2005 appointed Sukhthankar Committee to begin its probe. The Sukhthankar Committee submitted its report on 22^nd Sept 2005 and found one of the Ministers guilty. I along with the rest of the three Ministers was proved innocent and set free.

We urged the Government not to take the judgment submitted by Sukhthankar Committee prima facie as it had flaunted all rules. Even the High Court directed the Government to follow the report submitted by Sawant Committee but the government did not pay heed to our request so on 25^th December 2005 we went on fast. On 3^rd Jan 2006, the government assured us they will form a committee headed by Advocate general hence we broke our fast. But as no action was taken we once again decided to go on fast on 2^nd October 2009 with the demand that based on Sawant Committee’s report including us everyone should be thoroughly scrutinized. Maharashtra’s Home Minister directed the Director General of Police to conduct an enquiry as per Sawant Committee’s report and on 9. 10.2009 we were given a letter stating the same. We broke our fast. In spite of pursuing the matter to such an extent the Government did not bother to take any action on the tainted ministers but in fact supported them. On 10^th October 2011 I wrote a letter to Hon. Chief- Minister Prithviraj Chavan that as per the P.B.Sawant Committee’s report an enquiry should be initiated on us and the said Ministers or else I will be forced to begin my agitation.

The accused Ministers have filed cases against me in various courts in Maharashtra their aim being to keep me busy in court cases. But my lawyer friends are fighting these cases for me without charging a single rupee.

Recently on 14^th September 2011, Manish Tiwari quoting from the irregularity found by Sawant Committee report accused me of being corrupt and said ‘Anna Hazare is steeped in corruption from head to toe’. I sent a legal notice to him through my lawyer for maligning my name and he in return has apologized in writing admitting his mistake for the same. Throughout my entire life I have been very particular and not let anyone slander my character.

There are many people out there who throw accusations and counter-accusations on our organizations but fail to see our work and contribution done for the betterment of the society and the nation. People from all over India and abroad visit a tiny village like Ralegan Sidddhi to have a glimpse of our development activities. Till today 6 lac people have paid us a visit and taken inspiration from us. Five people have done their PH.D on our village’s development. Government felicitated me with Padmahree & Padmbhushan. It is unfortunate that some people tend to ignore these positive realities. The color of goggles you wear will color the world for you. Those people having doubts regarding the activities carried out by our trusts can personally have a look and we will help in clearing all your doubts. But I feel one should f or no reason not indulge in incoherent discussions.

Inquilab Zindabad!  Vande Mataram!  Bharat Mata ki Jai!  Jai Hind!

Anna Says:My approach towards Conspirators Controversies !

 

Ralegan Siddhi

18th October 2011

My Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Namaskar!

My movement has given rise to incoherent discussions in political circles and I do not pay heed to them.

It has been proven time and again in history that if you are working in this social field you should keep your ego aside and be able to digest insult and humiliation only then it is possible for you as a social worker to do some constructive work for the nation. People always throw stones at trees that bear fruits as it is futile to throw stones at bare tree.

I am the keeper of my conscious and ignore what others have to say. My convictions are always matched by my readiness to give them effect.

Always walk the path of truth for truth is supreme. No one has dared to wrong the truth.

No doubt we will encounter difficulties and worries on the path of truth but truth has always emerged victorious and can never be defeated. This has proved time and again in history.

I have heard illogical discussions and interpretations crop up due to political rivalry and it has been a part of my life for the last 30 years.

All this fails to break my spirit.

This gives me the strength to walk the path I have chosen and will keep going ahead!!

Jai Hind! Bharat Mata ki Jai! Vande Mataram! Inquilab Zindabad!

K. B. Hazare (Anna)

Nation Building:Only then will Anna’s real agenda be complete

How will history judge Anna Hazare? As a person who started the process of bringing down corruption?

Or as a leader who breathed new hope and fire into rebuilding India? By backing his demands a month ago with the ultimate pledge, his life, Mr Hazare moved the nation.

Parliament rose, people sang, youth marched and the mood even in urban “can’t care less” localities was one of a rare moral triumph. He blew the first bugle of the second freedom struggle. The Ramlila Maidan standoff and a stronger Lokpal Bill seem to favour Mr Hazare’s legacy as a person who can stop the Ravan of corruption.

But the true call of a second freedom struggle has to be more positive. Freedoms are won in a democracy by building, not just by bringing down. Mr Hazare’s life shows this building bias in his village Ralegaon Siddhi, where he worked tirelessly for over two decades. That experience created by an ex-subedar of the Army has given the country a village development model that has been emulated by other builders.

From Panchayat leader R. Elango near Chennai, to Joe Madiath of Gram Vikas in far-off Orissa, many take inspiration from his work, and they in turn inspire young nation builders. This message is more difficult, it is more long-term, but that is precisely why it is the unfinished agenda that Mr Hazare should now turn his attention to.

When our nation was born in 1947, our founding fathers were exercised about a key question that the world was asking: Will India maintain its territorial integrity? As a new-born democracy, wrested from a colonial power, pockmarked by princely states, could India remain intact?

Mahatma Gandhi was of the view that thousands of villages that comprised more than 80 per cent of the new-born Indian republic would form the basis of local governance, innovation and creation.

Unfortunately, Gandhi’s early demise put paid to this argument. Our founding fathers initiated the compromise India needed at that time — to keep the nation intact, government had to rule over citizens and it would do this through central planning. Maintaining the political integrity of our nation and at the same time involving citizens in development was declared difficult.

Nearing 65 years of Independence, as the first generation retires, a new generation of young citizens is taking to the battlefield through other means. The iron framework of the government, designed in the days of the Raj to keep citizens in check, is being scrutinised, both for integrity and performance.

Mobile phones, SMS, Twitter and Facebook are the new weaponry in this encounter. TV cameras project this theatre of confrontation to billions of others. The question of integrity and character, long festering among our citizens, gets ignited by candle marches.

However, in this drum roll of a new battle, we have to remind ourselves that Mr Hazare’s life has been to “build” as much as to “bring down”. For the second freedom struggle to be successful, young India has to connect with that more fundamental human urge — to build. This was in evidence in 1997, when I visited Ralegaon Siddhi with 200 young Indians.

We were travelling the country to meet change-makers as part of the 50th anniversary of India’s Independence, and this was our penultimate stop. Mr Hazare had transformed this sleepy, alcohol-prone and largely destitute village into a model of prosperity.

He was determined to pay the debt he owed the Almighty, for having spared his life when his Army battalion was wiped out. During the short time we spent with him, we got a glimpse of his formidable staying power.

Mr Hazare rose at 5 am and worked till late at night, meeting people, solving problems, mentoring enthusiasts and building a new village development model by enlisting enterprising young Indians — all with that quiet dignity, underpinned by deep resolve, that has been on show across the nation.

Only if we give such a purpose-driven message to our young citizens will the true task of the second freedom struggle be accomplished. This is not just about turfing out corruption, it is also about building stronger institutions, effecting development in every district, getting citizens to take part in that development, asking citizens to be involved in the process of nation building through enterprise.

This our founding fathers left for later, left it for us, you and me. Citizen-led development has to focus on the smaller towns and villages of India where the eight per cent growth economy has failed to penetrate. Here, too, modern tools of technology like mobile phones and SMSes can be used gainfully — for an end that is purposeful, long-term and constructive.

The same tools that can get a government to bring in legislation can be used to solve the numerous problems India faces in its hinterland, particularly if these solutions are decentralised and people-driven.

This agenda of enterprise-led development, or udyam janit vikas, has the power to unleash the creative and “building” spirit of young India. It can provide the necessary sense of purpose to millions of young Indians who will enter the workforce over the coming two decades.

It will convert them from job seekers into job creators, particularly in the smaller towns and villages of the country where unemployment and underemployment is endemic. The candle lights will then search for integrity while lighting the fires of hope, purpose and long-term development. If we light that fire, we will be able to build a country of substance.

Mr Hazare message of integrity has a complementary message of lifelong service to rural development and enterprise. In 1997, during the first yatra in Ralegaon Siddhi, Mr Hazare had echoed the call of the soil he so dearly loved. He said, “One grain has to bury itself alive to give birth to a field of crops. By burying itself, the grain does not die. India today needs people like that grain.”

This is Mr Hazare’s true message to those young Indians touched by his spirit. These young citizens will be like seeds scattered across India, giving birth to our second republic. Only then will Mr Hazare’s real agenda be complete.

Anna - Am I against Congress ?

When I am opposing Congress it doesn’t mean that I am supporting BJP or some other party. They too have not come clean yet.
My dear sisters and brothers,Namaskar! 

I will be issuing an appeal to the people not to cast their vote for the forthcoming legislative assembly elections to be held in five states along with Uttar Pradesh if the government does not pass the Janlokpal Bill in the Parliaments Winter session.  When I made this announcement on Gandhi Jayanti people from every corner of the world have been trying to get in touch with me and my associates to know what exactly my stand on the matter is. I want to clear a few things.

64 years have passed since our country achieved freedom. Majority of times Congress has been in power. After attaining ‘independence’ our country should have transformed in to ‘Surajya’(welfare state in true sense) In real sense there should have been development instead of exploitation of nature and human beings.  Nothing of that sort happened. Development today is an illusion created by the government and at the same time people are being cheated in to believing that development in real sense is being carried out (here the party in power does not matter). Corruption has crossed its  all limits. Even a meager 10 paise of the one rupee spent for development does not reach the common man. The money disappears before it percolates to the society. It is becoming unbearable for the common man to survive in such conditions. Hence it was necessary that the parliament and the law-making body pass strict anti-corruption laws to curb corruption. Unfortunately the ruling Congress party did not take any initiative. The present laws are not implemented effectively or they do not wish to do so. This became clear when Janlokpal Bill was not passed earlier. That is the reason I resorted to protest and later fasting and now I am forced to take a stand on elections.

The demand to pass Janlokpal Bill which is one of the effective tool to fight corruption is being voiced in Parliament for the last 42 years. No political party has ever shown their (true) support and neither they are interested in creating a corruption free India. The ruling Congress party is more so ever responsible for this state of affairs. As the corruption level rises our country is left with a staggering amount of debt, inflation is on rise, unemployment and economic disparity has intensified thus bringing about a halt to development. The common man is the one who is suffering. If the Congress is unwilling to take strong steps to change the situation, unwilling to pass anti-corruption laws then people should not cast their votes for the Congress party and thereby should not send Congress representatives to the legislative assembly or Parliament. I will surely wait and watch if the Janlokpal Bill is being passed in this winter session. Till then I will maintain my silence. I will give government that is the Congress an opportunity to take action or else will tour all over India raising a storm in its wake.

I want to state clearly that my stand is not influenced by political motive. I am not biased when it comes to extending support to any political party; either in power or in opposition. When I am opposing Congress it doesn’t mean that I am supporting BJP or some other party. They too have not come clean yet. The voters before casting their vote should keep in mind the candidate’s character, his contribution towards the society. People should vote such candidates who always think of the society at large, think of well-being of the country.

Only such people are capable of being elected to maintain the purity of our democracy.  They could belong to the ruling party or to the opposition. In this lay the bright future of our country. It is of utmost importance that people remain aware. The ruling party and the opposition fight among themselves rake up issues and create controversies but this is done so as to mislead the common man. When a favorable opportunity for corruption arises they join hands.

26^th January 1950, India became a sovereign republic. Subjects became masters and we elected representatives to legislature, parliament, as per the democratic norms. The elected representatives were the servants appointed by the people to take care of the day to day affairs of the state. Instead the servants started behaving as our masters. On 26^th January the master went in to a state of slumber and the servant resorted to theft. This plundering won’t stop until and unless the master awakens. An awakening of sort has been created with the fight for Janlokpal Bill. Now is not the time to doze off. We have to stay awake for this is not the responsibility of a single person but the onus is on the nation as a whole.

 Jai Hind!  Inquilab Zindabad!  Vande Mataram!  Bharat Mata ki Jai!

K. B. Hazare (Anna)

Ralegan Siddhi,

12th October 2011.

अण्णा: कॉंग्रेसबद्दल बोललो – का ?

कॉंग्रेसला विरोध याचा अर्थ भाजपला किंवा अन्य कोणत्या पक्षाला पाठिंबा असा नाही. कारण भाजपासारखे पक्ष सुद्धा काहीं धुतल्या तांदळासारखे स्वच्छ नाहीत.

बंधू - भगिनींनो ,

नमस्कार, 

 

भ्रष्टाचाराला  प्रभावीपणे आळा घालण्याची क्षमता असलेले जनलोकपाल विधेयक सरकारने संसदेच्या हिवाळी अधिवेशनात मंजूर केले नाही तर उत्तर प्रदेशासह ५ राज्यांमधील आगामी विधानसभा निवडणुकांत कॉंग्रेसला मते देऊ नका, असे आवाहन मी करणार आहे. गांधीजयंतीच्या दिवशी मी ही घोषणा केल्यापासून देश-विदेशाच्या कोना-कोपऱ्यातून अनेक लोक त्या संदर्भातील भूमिका जाणून घेण्यासाठी माझ्याशी व माझ्या सहकाऱ्यांशी संपर्क साधत आहेत. ही भूमिका येथे स्पष्ट करत आहे.

देशाला स्वातंत्र्य मिळून ६४ वर्षे झाली आहेत. यातील बहुतेक काळ  कॉंग्रेस पक्ष सत्तेवर आहे . स्वातंत्र्यानंतर स्वराज्याचे सुराज्य व्हायला हवे होते. निसर्गाचे, माणसांचे शोषण न करता खऱ्या अर्थाने विकास व्हायला हवा होता. पण तसे झाले नाही. जगातील अनेक देशांमध्ये खरोखरच विकासाचे प्रयत्न चालले आहेत, आणि आपल्या देशातील राज्यकर्ते मात्र विकासाचा आभास निर्माण करत एका अर्थाने जनतेची फसवणूक करत आलेले आहेत (राज्यकर्ते , मग ते कोणत्याही पक्षाचे असले, तरी यात फारसा फरक नाही). परिणामी भ्रष्टाचाराने सीमा ओलांडली आहे. विकासासाठी दिलेल्या एक रुपयातले दहा पैसे ही जनतेपर्यंत पोचत नाहीत. भ्रष्टाचाराची गळती सगळा पैसा संपवते आहे. त्यामुळे सामान्य माणसाला जगणे अशक्य व्हायला लागले आहे. या भ्रष्टाचाराला आळा घालण्यासाठी कठोर कायदे संसदेने, विधीमंडळांनी करायला हवे होते. कॉंग्रेस सरकारने ते केले नाही, आणि जे कायदे केले किंवा होते, त्यांची नीट अंमलबजावणी केली नाही. तसे करण्याची त्यांची मनापासून इच्छा नसल्याचे 'जनलोकपाल विधेयका' च्या निमित्ताने स्पष्ट झाले. म्हणून आधी आंदोलन - उपोषणाचा मार्ग अवलंबावा लागला. आता मतदानाबाबतचे पाउल उचलावे  लागत आहे.

भ्रष्टाचाराला आळा घालण्यासाठी 'जनलोकपाल विधेयक' मंजूर करण्याची मागणी गेल्या बेचाळीस वर्षांपासून होत आहे. संसदेत सहा वेळा हे विधेयक मांडले गेले. पण कोणत्याही पक्षाने ते उचलून धरले नाही, मंजूर केले नाही. याचा अर्थ देशातील भ्रष्टाचार संपवण्याची , 'भ्रष्टाचारमुक्त भारत' निर्माण करण्याची त्यांची इच्छा नाही, हे स्पष्ट होते. सत्ताधारी कॉंग्रेसची त्यात अधिक जबाबदारी आहे. वाढत्या भ्रष्टाचारामुळे देशावर हिमालयाएवढ्या कर्जाचा डोंगर उभा राहिला आहे. महागाई, बेकारी, आर्थिक विषमता वाढते आहे. विधायक विकासाला खीळ बसली आहे, आणि सामान्य माणसाला जगणे मुश्कील झाले आहे. ही परिस्थिती बदलण्यासाठी, भ्रष्टाचार निपटून काढण्यासाठी आवश्यक ते कायदे करायला सत्तारूढ कॉंग्रेस तयार नसेल, तर अशा पक्षाला, त्यांच्या प्रतिनिधींना जनतेने लोकसभेत / विधानसभांत पाठवू नये, म्हणून कॉंग्रेसला मतदान करू नये, असे म्हणावे लागते. संसदेच्या हिवाळी अधिवेशनात 'जनलोकपाल विधेयक' मंजूर होते का नाही, याची वाट अवश्य पाहू. तोपर्यंत सरकारला - पर्यायाने कॉंग्रेसला संधी देऊ. त्यानंतर मात्र देशभर फिरून वादळ उठवल्याशिवाय राहणार नाही.

येथे आणखी एक गोष्ट स्पष्ट केली पाहिजे. एखाद्या पक्षाला विरोध आणि एखाद्या पक्षाला पाठिंबा असा राजकीय दृष्टीकोण या भूमिकेमागे नाही. कॉंग्रेसला विरोध याचा अर्थ भाजपला किंवा अन्य कोणत्या पक्षाला पाठिंबा असा नाही. कारण भाजपासारखे पक्ष सुद्धा काहीं धुतल्या तांदळासारखे स्वच्छ नाहीत. मतदारांनी उमेदवाराचे चारित्र्य, कार्य याचा विचार करून इतर पक्षांमधील चांगल्या व्यक्तींना मत दिले पाहिजे. अशी चांगली माणसे संसदेसारख्या लोकशाहीच्या पवित्र मंदिरात गेली पाहिजेत. मग ती सत्ताधारी पक्षात असोत, की विरोधी पक्षात बसोत. ही माणसे देशहिताचा, समाजहिताचा विचार करतील. त्यातूनच या देशाला  उज्ज्वल भवितव्य मिळू शकेल. 

हे सारे घडायचे तर नागरिकांनी अखंड जागरूक राहावे लागेल. सत्ताधारी आणि विरोधक हे काहीं प्रश्नांवर एकमेकांशी भांडतात, काहीं प्रश्नांवर भांडल्यासारखे दाखवतात. जनतेची दिशाभूल, फसवणूक करतात, आणि 'खायच्या' वेळी मात्र एकत्र येतात. २६ जानेवारी १९५० रोजी भारतात प्रजासत्ताक झाला, प्रजा मालक झाली आणि आपल्या वतीने कारभार करण्यासाठी सेवक म्हणून तिने, प्रातिनिधिक लोकशाहीनुसार संसदेत, विधीमंडळात प्रतिनिधी पाठवले. विश्वस्त म्हणून काम करण्याऐवजी ते प्रतिनिधी मालकच असल्यासारखे वागायला लागले. पण २६ जानेवारी रोजी जो मालक झाला तो मालकच झोपून गेला. त्यामुळे सेवकांना चोऱ्या  करायला मोकाट रान मिळाले. मालक जागा असल्याशिवाय या चोऱ्यां थांबणार नाहीत आणि चोरांना अद्दल घडणार नाही. 'जनलोकपाल विधेयका' साठीच्या आंदोलनामुळे आता मालक जागा झाला आहे. त्याला परत डुलकी लागता कामा नये, तो जागाच राहिला पाहिजे, ही जबाबदारी एकट्या व्यक्तीची नाही, आपणा सर्वांची आहे.

 

जय हिंद ! भारत माता की जय ! वंदे मातरम  ! इन्किलाब झिंदाबाद !

 

कि. बा. हजारे (अण्णा)

राळेगण सिद्धी ,
१२ ऑक्टोबर २०११.

 

Anna Says: Steve Jobs, "मरावे परी, कीर्तिरूपे उरावे"

End of a revolutionary in the ‘World of Communication’

"मरावे परी, कीर्तिरूपे उरावे"

My dear sisters and brothers

Namaskar!Steve Jobs will always be remembered for his unparalleled contribution to the world of technology. The news of his death is saddening.

Steve Jobs was one of those who sculpted the history of technology by bringing about a revolutionary change that brought the world together. He enabled a line of direct inter-personal communication between people staying in different places at different levels. His contribution will be remembered forever. Jobs used his imagination and futuristic viewpoint as he worked on his research hence his revolutionary thoughts will always hold an important place in modern history.

In the last few years this has been proved time and again with incidences taking place in some of the countries. Technology has been of great help for spreading awareness and organizing people and can be used as an effective tool for those who are suppressed and have to deal with injustice and corruption. Steve Jobs innovations have brought about a revolutionary change and are a great form of support. I have personally experienced this during my fight for Janlokpal Bill. Without any doubt, we will need it at every step of our life.

Steve Jobs is no more. Though he is not present physically his work has immortalized him forever. Here, I will quote Samarth Ramdas, a saint from Maharashtra, "मरावे परी, कीर्तिरूपे उरावे", (‘marave pari kirti rupi uraave). It means, ‘When a person is no more he should be remembered for his work’. In today’s modern world, he will remain with us at every step of our life, forever.

I hereby pay my humble respects.
R.I.P Steve Jobs

K.B. Hazare (Anna)

Video: Anna: Do Not Vote Congress (Hissar Election 2011)

Anna Hazare Tells Govt, Bring Jan Lokpal Bill in Winter Session Or Quit

Ralegan Siddhi: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare lashed out at the government saying that the Centre had the least intention of bringing forth the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Addressing the Ralegan Siddhi Gram Sabha on Gram Panchayat Day, Anna Hazare rejected the Gram Sabha resolution  conferring the title of Mahatma on him. "I am not a Mahatma, I am an ordinary worker and shall continue to work as an ordinary worker", he said amidst applause.

Hazare asked the government to bring the Jan Lokpal Bill, presently under consideration of Parliament Standing committee, in the winter session of Parliament or quit. 

"Bill laana hoga ya jaana hoga" (Bring the Bill or quit), he said.

On the 2G issue controversy involving P Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee, Hazare said, this was merely a "fake fight (noora-kushti) " between the two ministers and the public was not interested in it.

He appealed to the people not to offer bribes nor take bribes.

Hazare stressed on the importance of Gram Sabha as the fulcrum of rural development.

Hazare has disclosed in a TV interview that he intends to set up young candidates with an honest record to fight as independents in the elections.

Hazare said he has no desire to hold any post as it would not then be possible for him to continue with the work he is doing at present.

"I don't desire to be the president. Whatever work is being done by me today won't be possible if I hold that post," Hazare said in a TV interview.

"Several people tried to persuade me to become an MLA or an MP, minister but I am not interested in these posts either. Whatever I can do today, I won't be able to do so after becoming a minister," he said.

Meanwhile, Hazare reiterated his decision to begin a hunger-strike on the last day of the winter session of Maharashtra Assembly if the Congress-led state government failed to bring in a legislation for a strong and effective Lokayukta in the state.

Stating that he was influenced by the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekaannd, Hazare said he was carrying out his work based on ideologies of these two great persons.

We can live Gandhi if ....

The question may sound grammatically inaccurate and the scholars of English would rush to kick away the word ‘can’, and bring in its place a ‘could’, knowing that the great Apostle of Peace is no more!

But I, being a bit ignorant, deny accepting that Gandhi- the Mahatma has ceased to exist.

For me, Gandhi was not a frail figure draped in loincloth, with a pair of spectacles that fell flat on earth on January 30, 1948, succumbing to the bullets of a religious chauvinist.

For me and many, I believe, Gandhi still exists. And not just on the posters in the government offices, or on the currency notes or in the various statues standing adamantly at various places around the world.

The Mahatma lives and breathes and survives in the hearts and deeds of people like Anna Hazare.

Because Gandhi was not someone made of merely flesh and blood, but a code of conduct, a way of life, and if I may dare to say - a religion, that is still followed around the globe in painfully small numbers.

So, how many of you think that Gandhi – as a religion – can be applied to abet terrorism? Anyone? I would not be surprised to find that there are really very few takers of this idea?

Because a generation that has been witness to heart wrenching terror strikes like 9/11, 26/11, etc. would find it difficult to swallow the idea of a peaceful truce with merchants of blood and terror. We saw the result of trying to broker peace with the militants when a towering man like Burhanuddin Rabbani, ex-Afghan President and the chairman of Afghan Peace Council was assassinated by a man who came in the garb of a messenger of militants. On the other hand, America, that was compelled to unleash a war on terror post 9/11 attacks, has been able to wipe out the terror associated with the names like Osama bin Laden, Anwar al-Awlaki and many more, though it came at the cost of trillions of dollars and millions of lives, a large chunk of them being innocent ones.

So, in today’s context, how can the philosophy of truth and non-violence raise its solemn head and talk about the peaceful means of combating terror?

To the question that how a weapon-less person or state can disarm a violent tyrant, who is hell-bent on unleashing terror, Gandhi’s answer was this:

“Behind the death dealing bomb is a human hand that releases it, and behind that is still the human heart that sets the hand in motion. And at the back of the policy of terrorism is the assumption that terrorism, if applied in sufficient force will produce the desired results, namely bend the adversary to the tyrant’s will. But supposing people make up their mind that they will never do the tyrant's will, not retaliate with the tyrant's own methods, the tyrant will not find it worth his while to go on with his terrorism.”

The Mahatma claimed that if sufficient food was given to the tyrant there will come a time, when he will have had more than surfeit. Gandhi also said that violence never resulted into anything good and even if it seemed so, it was just temporary. Only non-violence can lead to a state of permanent peace. Can we expect al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Taliban and others of this ilk to talk and reply in this Gandhian language of non-violence? No is the most obvious answer, but why can’t it be a yes. As Gandhi said, behind every bomb is an intention that has taken birth first in the heart and who knows, a change of heart could work wonders. Terrorism that’s prevalent today is mainly fanned by religious extremist feelings, a deep perception of certain people who feel that their rights have been usurped - a perception that has been propagated for so long that it has stopped being a thought and turned into a reflex and here is where the non-violent chord needs to be struck.

A thorough cleansing of the mindsets at the global level is the need of the hour. All the negative feelings like hatred, jealousy, anger and greed need to be rooted out entirely, because these are what lay the foundation of monsters of terror. Though it may take a considerable chunk of time, but given the credibility of Gandhi’s actions, in a due course of time we may see the frequency and effect of numbers like, 9/11, 26/11, declining, all thanks to the most fortunate date in the history – 2/10.

Yes, 2/10/1869, i.e. 2nd October – when Mahatma had incarnated on this very earth in flesh and blood. As Indians, we ought to be proud of being born on the same soil where a Mahatma lived and died for the sake of the nation. Simultaneously, as Indians we also have a duty to perform, to be the harbingers of non-violence and truth and all the solemn attributes that Mahatma Gandhi had imbibed in his life that turned him eternal.

Gandhi will exist forever and continue to be a beacon for us, but only if we choose to dislodge him and free him from the paintings and placards and essays like this and enshrine him into our hearts and day-to-day lives and be a part of his extended eternal life.

We can live Gandhi if we choose not to hit to any scooterwaallah who dented our newly purchased dream car; if we refuse to let anger rush through our veins when a cricket ball from the neighbourhood targeted our favourite cup of lemon tea through the windowpanes; if we can prevent ourselves from yelling at a servant who just burnt our costliest party gown while ironing it; if we manage to stop losing our cool on our driver who couldn’t get the car serviced in time and got us late in a very urgent board meeting…these could sound too trifle incidents when compared to tackling terror, but such minor steps must be taken first so that terror dies on daily basis. And may be a day will come when a man won’t kill another at a toll booth just because he demanded Rs 27. May be a day will come, when the Gandhian wave of truth, non-violence and love will sweep away all the hatred and anger, leaving a peaceful world, living with Gandhi.

So, this October 2nd, I plead to all to soak in Gandhism as much as possible and allow that day to come sooner.(Courtesy: Supriya Jha, Zee)