Protests, rallies,marches, demonstrations, strikes etc. are quite common in India, the world 's largest democracy. People express their angst and emotions through them. They demand justice, social action and government intervention. Most of this public activity is politically motivated. Every now and then we come face to face with them.
But the month of August saw the mother of all campaigns which united the whole of India and made the ruling coalition government sweat profusely.
Anna Hazare, the 74 year old crusader against corruption lit a fire which spread all across India
Middle class Indian society joined in to oppose corruption and scams which have caught several politicians and VIPs in their net.
Mr Hazare went on a fast which lasted for 12 days and kept everyone on tenterhooks and glued to the TV.
I am quite skeptical of the Lokpal Anti corruption bill which is the bone of contention between the government and social and civil activists.
It will take more than a law to eradicate or at least lessen the corruption an d moral decay which has seeped into our society. A change of heart is required.
I took some photos at the local demonstration, marches and speeches in the city center.
(A BBC report)
Mr Hazare's campaign to strengthen an anti-corruption bill has received widespread support, with tens of thousands of people attending protests across the country.
The Indian government has been rocked by recent corruption scandals including an alleged telecoms bribery scam that may have cost the country $39bn (£23bn), suspected financial malpractice linked to the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and accusation that homes for war widows were diverted to civil servants.
A recent survey said corruption in Asia's third largest economy had cost billions of dollars and threatened to derail growth.
A model of Anna Hazare
The horrific face of corruption
Social activists taking a stand
The young and the old join in patriotic fever.
Campaign merchandise. I bought a cloth cap.
A local politician giving an interview.
I am calling Anna Hazare , India' s new Messiah because he was able to rally toegther his countrymen of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life together for a common cause. They found a role model in him, an idealist, a Gandhi like hero.
10 Fertilize my soul:
Thank you Amrita, for your insights in to what is happening in India and the new crusader who is emerging and as I can see from your words and photos, is energizing people toward reforms.
Reminds me a bit like Jesus in the temple overturning the money changers tables. I pray that truth will set the wheels spinning in India .. and corruption of governments world wide will be brought to light.
We live in interesting times. In TV I didn't see any news from India about this issue - so it is next evidence, that we can know many new things from blogs.
Yes, corruption is big problem for every country - in poor countries in Africa and Asia, in post-communist countries like Russia, Ukraine and Poland (maybe in Poland today situation is better, but I remember big anti-corruption campaings from years 2000-2003), and even in rich Western countries like Italy and France (last time I read many articles about corruption affair in France).
Thank You for this post.
Mrs Mac's comment was quite like it. We have reached our very end - the country is in truly a major crisis. We needed someone to move it although Anna is the symbol, the real architect behind is Arvind kajliwal, an ex-Income Tax IAS officer who moved the RTI act in India, bringing all Government organizations under the spanner of the common man, who pays their salaries. Amrita, as you rightly pointed out, corruption in India is not going to die overnight - the thieves are more intelligent than the Policemen they say....at least in India!!
Julia
Excellent photos and stories on this topic. Very interesting. Thank you for giving me a peek into what is happening nationally in your area of the world.
I so wish and hope Anna 's efforts bear fruit.
Look what Wikileaks revealed about Mayawati
Dear Retired Knitter, thank you for your comment. I learn so much from your blog.
i always learn something about India when i visit you ... which is good - our news is all canada/u.s.a based here, with just little peaks into other countries ...
Thanks for your photos and commentary. Nothing about this in the NY newspapers and I have been reading them carefully this week. As a government employee, I know how easy it could be to be corrupt and how critical it is to be honest and be able to look at myself in the mirror each day.
Dear Buttercup, I was thinking about you in New York.
I just created a post about last week 's Delhi blast
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