The End of a People's Movement

The End of a People’s Movement

5^th of April 2011, Anna Hazare rose to public recognition when he sat on a ‘starve till death’ strike against the widespread corruption in the country. People saw in him the hope of a corruption free India, and participated in it with the fullest of their verve and enthusiasm. After the strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 5^th April, a series of hunger strikes followed. It seemed that the stubborn government had finally bowed in front of an old man and his thousands of supporters. Jan Lokpal Bill, a Civil Society formed, edition of the Lokpal bill which is believed to root out corruption from the nation was finally considered by the standing committee of the Parliament. But as time flew the Jan Lokpal was struck in between nothing and the Civil Society believed that they were cheated by the Government.

The episode of the hunger strikes ended on the 7^th of August,2012 at the same spot where it all began i.e Jantar Mantar. The Team Anna pronounced that it was worthless to waste time on hunger strikes while the insensitive government would sit silently. After ten days of hunger strike of the members of Team Anna, it was decided that this people’s movement would have to take a political form. Speculations began that ‘Team Anna’ would now be ‘Anna Party’. General V. K. Singh, the ex-army general stood with the team Anna and addressed the people by saying “All you have the power to change the society. With that magic wand, you have to end corruption.”

While Team Anna did not make it clear if they will form their own party or find other ways to feed the best people into the parliament but it is clear that the team which kept distance from active politics have jumped into this tricky game. In the language of the Team Anna they will be looking to find a political alternative to the Congress Party.

The response to this decision of the Team was mixed among the supporters of Anna Hazare. While some activists of India Against Corruption voiced their discontent against the decision; many supported this calling it Final War Against Corruption. Political Parties welcomed Team Anna into the political arena and made it clear to the team that a tough road lies ahead.

Time only can decide whether this was the end of a people’s movement or the birth of a new political movement which will build a new India.

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