Jul 03, 2025
Jul 03, 2025
Mr. Anna Hazare on Tuesday began a fast-unto-death in the capital demanding enactment of a stronger Lokpal Bill to give powers to Ombudsman to check corruption. Why is he doing it?
06-Apr-2011
More by : Dr. Gopal Singh
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You have hit the nail on the head in describing the Plight of the Poor. To me creation of space is synonymous to creation of opportunities to improve the quality of life. This can be done through peaceful means. However, there is no reasonable way to change the fate of the poor without wiping out (or significantly curtailing) the corruption in the government. I just posted an article on Analysis of Corruption in India. I will suggest you look into it and give us your feedback. The so called Middle Class (private empowered and marginally empowered segments of our society) have to get involved. They had stopped participating in the political process out of disgust and helplessness. Now there is a hope as demonstrated by the Satyagraha by Anna Hazare. The Begali intellectuals (and others throughout the country) will have to get involved just like Anna Hazare. If their cause is just, well thought out and articulated and the motives are self-less, the rest of Bengal and the entire country will support them. |
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Most of the communities in India (such as Bengali), are succumbed in 'Culture of Poverty'(a theory introduced by an American anthropologist Oscar Lewis), irrespective of class or economic strata, lives in pavement or apartment. Nobody is at all ashamed of the deep-rooted corruption, decaying general quality of life, worst Politico-administrative system, weak mother language, continuous absorption of common space (mental as well as physical, both). We are becoming fathers & mothers only by self-procreation, mindlessly & blindfold. Simply depriving their(the children) fundamental rights of a decent, caring society, fearless & dignified living. Do not ever look for any other positive alternative behaviour (values) to perform human way of parenthood, i.e. deliberately co-parenting of those children those are born out of ignorance, real poverty. All of us are being driven only by the very animal instinct. If the Bengali people ever be able to bring that genuine freedom (from vicious cycle of 'poverty') in their own life/attitude, involve themselves in 'Production of Space’(Henri Lefebvre), at least initiate a movement by heart, decent & dedicated Politics will definitely come up. - Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, 16/4, Girish Banerjee Lane, Howrah-711101, India. |
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Dineshji, Nicely said. |
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Dear Dr. Gopal Singh & rdashby, My comment & reply is late but not too late I suppose, hoping that this will still be read. I had been discussing for last few years, about corruption and mis-governance and how individual's life is affected by it, with strangers, colleagues & friends, relatives etc - whenever I got a chance - in taxis, trains, flights, shopping places, work place etc. With these (short) discussions over the years, I realized that in a democracy, even if people have clear opinion then many of the problems wouldn't exist, including corruption. With this realization, now in such (short) discussions, I encourage/challenge the informal participant(s) to develop a clear opinion by correct concepts and facts. Taking the present case – where, on the dais there were only 160 people fasting but thousands of people just supported - they came, expressed solidarity and went. Similarly, it happened via electronic media too, people sent mails, shared views on facebook, twitter etc. As a result, we saw how the same corrupt politicians were on back foot. It works, supporting in 'whatever ways possible' helps, it helped just now, we saw it (as Anna Hazare has broken fast after notification from Govt on formation of the committee). So, this was to explain what I meant by 'whatever ways possible'. But, I agree with Dr. Gopal Singh's and rdashby's comment. Saying that the 'day has come', that this 'is the wake up call' and defining means to express support are important. It was very effective when mass wore Gandhi topi having name 'Anna Hazare' and when they said "I am Anna Hazare" (although, they need not fast, they need not sit on dais, so it was in reach of general public to support in their own capacity) |
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The point made in your last paragraph is well noted. I "could" have been more emphatic. Sometimes it is more effective to let the reader decide if it is a wakeup call for him/her. The term "could" was used in that context. I do appreciate your point for each one of us to be more specific on how to help Anna toward his cause. My wife & I run a small (400 girls) charitable intermediate college for the underprivileged girls in a village in U.P. The news about what is happening in New Delhi does not make it to these villages that quick. Our students, staff and both of us held a candle light march in the village to support the Jan Lokpal Bill and the efforts of Mr. Anna Hazare. The villagers lined up on both sides of the road and cheered the procession. It was an uplifting experience. Anna Hazare may not be as charismatic as Gandhiji. Neither was Martin Luther King. They don't need to be. They should be just what they are/were. They can be effective in their own rights. Anna has galvanized the nation on this issue. We should not underestimate the power of awareness with a focus and tangible goal. Only time will tell where this leads us to. |
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Mr Bohre in his comment has put his finger on it in his support of Anna Hazare, albeit ambiguously, 'in whatever ways possible, we need to.' The previous commentator, yashaswini, like ambiguously, 'Let us all unite together for this noble cause-Fight against corruption.' Well, one could suggest that the practical method immediately availing is to join the fast. Mr Hazare's action is obviously modeled on that of Gandhi in his fast to death to end the internecine violence in newly independent India. Great though his motive may be, Mr Hazare's status is not charismatic . Consequently, if a fast is the chosen method, it must be done on a scale that matches the effect of charisma, by thousands of individuals all over India who show their support by like action. This was indeed demonstrated by followers of Gandhi in passive resistance to British rule. Of course, in the vastness that is India today, this scale of unified civil resistence against its own government will never be achieved, unless galvanised by a charismatic leader, and no one is applying for the job, except, perhaps, poor Mr Hazare, for whom all support is restricted to the rhetorical. The author is no exception: 'Also, this could be the wake-up call we all needed.' Could be is not a very convincing verbalism for change, certainly not one Gandhi ever employed. |
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I think the day has come, for which many Indians were praying since past few decades ! We will support Anna Hazare in whatever ways possible, we need to. Because we need to secure our future and save it from our corrupt & shameless politician-rulers, who would otherwise feel no shame even to sell soul of India ! |
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The article is commendable. I pray we will see a new India after this movement. Government is immune to whatever is good for the public. So, it is our right to demand a society which would be worth living. Rising cost of living, poverty, crime, India still remaining a "developing country" inspite of having the potential to be "developed" is all consequence of just one word-Corruption. Let us all unite together for this noble cause-Fight against corruption. |