The Revolution called Anna Hazare

In India, Anna Hazare is corruption’s worst enemy and the good news is that he has taken the all-important first and biggest step to tackle this menace.

Had he not read that book on Swami Vivekananda (as the story goes), he might not have chosen serving his fellow humans as his life’s motive. In that case, the Lokpal Bill might still have been a ‘bill in theory.’ Anna has served people in various avatars – 15 years of service in the Indian Army, pioneering rainwater harvesting in his drought-prone village in Maharashtra, rallying to build schools and provide electricity to the people of his village and much much more.

His winning tactic is ‘hunger strikes.’ Gandhiji would be so proud, not only to see a determined social activist using his non-violent means but also the causes behind his rallies.

Anna Hazare has been a defining figure against corruption, soon after launching a popular movement - Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Andolan or People’s Movement against Corruption. Ever since, he has used his winning tactic on several occasions, leading to multiple incarcerations and resignations of various guilty politicians. One of his defining wins was the enforcement of the revised Maharashtra RTI Act, which formed the basis of the RTI 2005, enacted by the Central Government.

The year 2011 has put Anna on a new pedestal. His rallies against corruption achieved new heights, with the huge support that they received from the nation - in person, in spirit and in social and professional media.

Anna’s fast in April 2011 attracted supporters from multiple states and from various realms of society and professions. It led to the formation of a joint committee of government and civil society representatives to draft a strong anti-corruption bill. However, the government very smartly, or so it thought, excluded all its employees, the CBI and the PMO from the Bill’s purview. The media needs to be thanked here – daily coverage of the facts, progress and intricacies of the bill enlightened the common man in terms of the raw deal he was getting.

It is this realisation that made thousands of people stand with Anna during his second fast in August 2011. The fast was only delayed by Anna’s arrest, immediately followed by demonstrations by people, forcing the government to sanction his release. Not only lawyers and celebrities, but also the opposition party was on his side, which strengthened the movement all the more. With every move of the ruling party being scrutinised, the fast spanning 13 days and tens of thousands of people showing support in person, the government had to cave in to the pressure and agree to work with Anna’s team and pass the Lokpal Bill. After all, it was what the ‘people’ wanted.

Anna’s topi has become a symbol against corruption. In fact, Kiran Bedi advised citizens to always keep a topi on their person and reveal it if asked for a bribe. Anna Hazare has become one of the most powerful brands in India. 

However, the usage of ‘Brand Anna’ by advertisers has been extremely limited and there is a reason for that. Anna Hazare has committed himself to serving the people for over four decades. His objective is extremely simple, yet tremendously powerful – he wants equal opportunity for everyone and he wants the guilty punished. He is not looking for endorsements to earn the extra buck. To be able to garner support of this magnitude from all realms of society speaks volumes of Anna Hazare’s credibility and commitment as a person. But showcasing this with a product would taint it all – the product, Anna himself and the cause he stands for.

Anna Hazare has done what governments spanning nearly 42 years could not do – enact the Lokpal Bill. It clearly indicates how deep-rooted corruption has been and how every government in power has failed to take accountability.

Along with ensuring that the government does not digress from the Jan Lokpal Bill, Brand Anna now needs to use all this mileage to enforce a change in mindset. Corruption is ingrained in the Indian mind and the Indian mind is an emotional one - it might be a case of Brand Anna talking to us through creative TV and mobile adverts and encouraging us to be part of a ‘clean India !’

We are seeing a revolution unfold before us. If we are in support, it is imperative that we participate and utilise our skills to further this noble cause.