Anna Hazare WHO?

Kisan Baburao Hazare born 15 January 1940 in Bhingar, popularly known as Anna Hazare is an Indian social activist who is especially recognized for his contribution to the development of Ralegan Siddhi, a village in Parner taluka of Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India and his efforts for establishing it as a model village, for which he was awarded the Padma Bhushan 'the third-highest civilian award' by the government of India in 1992. He was felicitated by the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation on 15 January 1987 and by the Pune Municipal Corporation. Hazare had six younger siblings and the family faced significant hardships. Hazare's childless aunt offered to look after him and his education, and took Anna to Bombay.Hazare studied up to the 7th standard in Bombay and then sought employment, due to the economic situation in his household. He started selling flowers at Dadar to support his family. He soon started his own shop and brought two of his brothers to Bombay. Gradually Hazare's income increased to around Rs. 800 per month, a decent income in those times. He started his career in the Indian Army as a driver in 1963. He spent his spare time reading the works of Vivekananda, Gandhi & Vinoba Bhave: they inspired him to become a social worker and activist. During the Indo-Pak War of 1965 he was the only survivor in a exchange of border fire while driving a truck in Khem Karan sector. During the mid-1970s he survived a road accident while driving.

'The face that launched a thousand ships' - A reference to the mythological figure Helen of Troy (or some would say, to Aphrodite). Her abduction by Paris was said to be the reason for a fleet of a thousand ships to be launched into battle, initiating the Trojan Wars.
Anna launched hazaar -e- missiles to hit corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. He has now become Anna Hazard to politicians.

It seems these days everyone wants Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare to endorse their cause.In an attempt to resolve issues - from corruption to Maoists - AH has been fighting against corruption for a long time he is fighting for LB which gives way to strict punishment for corrupt people and even questioning judges if they are involve in a corruption.

"I will fast until Jan Lokpal Bill is passed" - AH

The 73-year-old anti-corruption campaigner AH called off his five-day-old hunger strike on Saturday morning at Jantar Mantar after receiving a gazette notification from the Center regarding constitution of a 10-member joint committee, comprising members from the government and civil society, to draft an effective LPB.

His fast may or may not lead to a movement to cleanse India of its ills. It was essentially a protest that struck a chord in many.In the past, AH’s fasts had compelled the Maharashtra government to drop ministers. This time, what made the difference was that he was in the national capital, under the glare of a media which hyped it up, the fast came after a plethora of scams which had robbed middle class Indians of a feel-good they had experienced in recent years, and the government was anyway on the back foot.

It is true that those who live in glass houses should not cast stones at others. It is possible that those who are supporting an end to corruption may well have paid money to get their child admitted to a school,to buy a railway ticket,or to get a file moving in a government office, or worse. They may be “corrupt” or “clean” in varying degrees. But that does not mean that they cannot cry“enough is enough”,and demand an end to a corrupt system which has corroded our polity and society.

The controversies sought to be created around Anna Hazare’s fast have obfuscated the real issue — which is the enactment of the LB. It was this objective which had led Hazare to undertake a fast and he compelled the Government to notify a joint committee to draft an effective legislation, hanging fire for 42 years.

“This just the beginning of the fight against corruption. Our responsibility has now increased. We will ensure that the LB is passed before August 15, 2011” - Hazare said.

The 10-member Joint Drafting Committee with Cabinet members — Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee (chairman), Home Minister P. Chidamabaram, Law Minister Veerappa Moily (convenor), Telecom and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal & Water Resources Minister Salman Khurshid. Apart from Mr. Hazare, civil society represented by the former Law Minister, Shanti Bhushan (co-chairperson), the former Supreme Court Judge, Justice N. Santosh Hegde, lawyer Prashant Bhushan & RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal.

Corruption is a complex malaise in India. It is rooted in opaque and badly-run institutions that have been fostered and tolerated over the years. Then there is the stifling, post-colonial bureaucracy. Everyone knows the warped government policies, like misplaced food and energy subsidies, are open to abuse. Add to that the failure to reform India’s election system with its shadowy private funding of candidates, many of whom have criminal records. And many people – some now protesting against corruption – have become habitual bribe givers to navigate the system they have lost faith in. More cynicism has bred more corruption. It’s not clear how far Mr Hazare’s campaign will go – but setting up an citizen’s ombudsman will not be the end of corruption. There’s much more to do.

The Congress would do well to remember that it was the use of dirty tricks which gave a fill up to VP Singh’s campaign against corruption during 1987-89,and brought him to power, replacing Rajiv Gandhi. Of course, Anna Hazare is no VP Singh. But the mood against corruption is reminiscent of the late eighties.

AH's efforts include: Transformation of Ralegan Siddhi, Uprooting Alcoholism, Watershed Development Programme, Milk Production, Education, Removal of Untouchability, Collective Marriages, Gram Sabha, Anti-Corruption Protests in Maharashtra, Right to Information Movement & the None of the above (NOTA) - Electoral Reform Movement & Lokpal Bill Movement.

The dream of India as a strong nation will not be realized without self-reliant, self-sufficient villages, this can be achieved only through social commitment & involvement of the common man. – Anna Hazare

I will also like to share one such Campaign Effort for the AH Cause, that is known to me, for which I was a part too!

'threemonkeyscampaign' - 'A Million Voices for Anna Hazare' started by Journalists Hindol Sengupta & Shweta Punj to support Anna Hazare and his fight. It comes from the simple Gandhian image of three monkeys with their hands on their eyes, ears & mouth signifying: See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil. It aimed to gather one million on & offline signatures supporting the campaign & urged each person who signs to send an image, photo or sketch of a monkey to the Prime Minister's Office and the office of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi urging them to remember Gandhiji's teachings! Hundreds of people have lent support to the Three Monkeys Campaign.Also presenting the names of all the people who have, online, lent their support to the campaign & sent their ideas for change. - Anonymous (65 yr old, India)
Anonymous (65 yr old, India)