On 9 August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi Anna Hazare ki anti-corruption movement
launched the Quit India Movement, ...
August Kranti Maidan is a park in central Mumbai known as Gowalia Tank Maidan where Mahatma Gandhi issued the Quit India speech on 9 August 1942 decreeing that the British
must leave India immediately or else mass agitations would take place.
The call mobilised the citizens to a huge Civil Disobedience movement as
the British refused to grant independence till the War was over.
The closest suburban railway station on the Western Railway line is Grant Road.
The Gowalia Tank was initially used to bathe cows. Go - Walia comes from the marathi word Gaie (cow) Wala
(owner of the cattle). The cattle owners would bring the cows to be
bathed in the waters of the tank. The Maidan that exists over there
presently was built over the tank, which still exists underground.
Gowalia Tank was also a very prominent tram terminus. Trams would start
and finish there and one could travel to the Prince of Wales Museum in
one anna (six paise).
The Maidan is now a popular playground. Cricket is the popular game
although the monsoon season is primarily for football and volley ball.
The ground has been split into 5 smaller grounds. The largest one is the
playground, with one playground for children, one garden for promenades
which is frequented by senior citizens and one ground is used by the Fellowship School. The last park area houses the Smarak or martyr monument which is a white marble tower that cradles a pink lotus atop it.
A central road cuts through the maidan grounds and connects the
August Kranti Road with Hughes Road. The ground connects Tejpal Road and
Laburnum Road, Alexandra Road and August Kranti Road
On August 9, 1925, a handful of youth
challenged the British might by looting the money meant for government
treasury being carried on 8 Down Saharanpur-Lucknow train at Kakori.
Seventeen years later,
on August 9, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi launched the
Quit India movement which caused an irreparable dent to the foundation
of the colonial rule. August Kranti, as it was popularly known, the
Quit India movement was unique in the sense that it was led by the "aam
adami" as all leaders were arrested in advance by the Raj to scuttle the
movement.
This year, on August 9, Anna Hazare launched his
anti-corruption movement The difference is that in 1942, the Congress
party was leading the movement but today the party is in power and
has gone all out to scuttle the people’s movement.
It is a possibility that Anna may not succeed this time as he did in April this year when the government bowed to his demands. But it doesn’t bother me because Anna has already succeeded in generating hope in the hearts of the "aam admi" that corruption can be tackled. It was reflected in the huge countrywide support Anna got following his arrest on August 16. Freedom did not come in 1925 or in 1942 but the events eventually led to the downfall of the British Raj. The ”hope” generated by Anna will certainly make an impact, if not today, then tomorrow or day after. Eventually, the "aam aadmi" will make the government, be it at the Centre or in the states, irrespective of the party in power, to pay for their misdeeds. The Congress government can stop Anna from sitting on fast unto death in Delhi but will it be able to stop crores of Anna supporters who are in every nook and corner of India.
The Lokpal is no longer a legislation issue to be decided by Parliament but has become a symbol of fight against corruption. People are seeing it as a weapon to counter the might of babudom. Corruption is the root cause of all backwardness and poverty in the country. All issues can be resolved once corruption is taken care of. Therefore, people should not get carried away by caste and communally sensitive issues the Congress might raise to divert public attention. The fight against corruption will be a long battle and may not end with Anna’s fast. It would be the beginning of the test for the people. Those fighting against corruption will have to keep their faith intact, as Martin Luther King, who led the US civil rights movement, said: "Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the entire staircase."
The question is, why is the Congress overconfident and arrogant today? Why it is belittling Team Anna's efforts and using derogatory language? The party was initially apprehensive about an adverse impact on the elections in five states when Anna went on hunger strike in April this year. It agreed to form a joint committee to draft a "strong" Lokpal Bill to check corruption. But after the polls, the Congress is overconfident because it lost only in Tamil Nadu, that too because of the anti-incumbency factor against Karunanidhi. As a result, majority people had to vote for Jayalalitha who during her rule in the past faced equally serious corruption charges as DMK is facing now. Similar situation prevails in rest of India. Today, there is no alternative before people as all the political parties are equally corrupt.
In the coming days, more attempts will be made to divert public attention from the issue of corruption – such as caste census, job and education quota for Muslims and several other politically divisive issues will be floated to divide people. Congress has challenged Anna to fight elections. If being elected is important for bringing about a reform, in order to check "communalism", the Congress should ask Rahul Gandhi to leave his secure Amethi seat and contest elections from Gandhinagar against LK Advani. India not only requires, governance free from corruption, but also corruption-free elections, often won by use of money, muscle and mafia. Not to forget communalism and casteism.Politicians use such methods when they fail to deliver. Corruption-free governance would eventually lead to corruption-free polls.
Another point on which people would have to be catious. Team Anna recently met members of the parliamentary standing committee examining the government Lokpal Bill. Asked for his reaction, Lalu Prasad Yadav said: “Team Anna has burnt copies of the Bill, it’s an insult to Parliament ... these people also say that army and police are with them, it's anti-national.” After listening to Lalu, I understood why Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement against the corrupt regime of Indira Gandhi failed to make a lasting impact. Among other things, JP had given a call to army and police not to obey the orders of "illegal" Indira government. Lalu was in JP movement and used it to launch his political career. JP failed because of leaders like Lalu.. Let's pray that there are no Lalu-like elements in Anna's team.
Why do we need a strong Lokpal? Anna Hazare wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for help to get permission for a place in Delhi where he could stage his fast in his fight against corruption. Anna was forced to write to the PM after his team was made to run from pillar to post by police and various government departments. But the PM asked Anna to go back to the police. Clearly, the intention of the government was to force Anna bow to its wishes and not hold a fast. Same tactics are used by every government department to force people run from pillar to post and finally accept the wish of babus, ie, pay bribe to get their legal and genuine work done. People need an institution where they can go for redressal of their problem when they are not heard from top (PM) to bottom (peon).
What is the meaning of inquilab (revolution)? Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal, under whom entire education system of India comes, is a learned man. However, he does not seem to understand that education can bring knowledge but not wisdom. That's why he took exception to the word inquilab used by a few Anna supporters. He said Team Anna is instigating people to revolt. Sibal would have not made such mistake, if he had understood the meaning of Inquilab as explained by Shahid-E-Azam Bhaghat Singh -- "Bomb and pistol do not make a revolution. The sword of revolution (inquilab) is sharpened on the whetting-stone of ideas". India needs an ideological revolution against corruption. Mr Sibal, please also read the concept of Total Revolution propounded by Jayaprakash Narayan.
Who is a Gandhian? Ambika Soni said Anna's language in the letter to the PM was not Gandhian. She perhaps doesn't know the meaning of Satyagrah as defined by Gandhi himself. Satyagrah means assertion of truth with the soul force and prick the conscience of the adversary. Anna did not he cross the boundaries of Satyagrah when he wrote to the PM. She also said that the letter has signature of Anna but has been written by others. Congress leaders including the PM are run by remote control from 10 Janpath, hence they see others with the same lens. Soni said that Team Anna should obey rules and take permission from police for protest. In Lucknow, people have been allotted a place for agitation but Congress party always holds its protests on main road, blocking traffic and burning vehicles.
What is corruption? Manish Tiwari, in highly derogatory language, levelled corruption charges against Anna. He gave reference of inquiry conducted by Justice PB Sawant. Tiwari should also express his view on the Supreme Court order whch struck down appointment of Chief Vigilance Commissioner by the PM. He should also explain his government's reluctant to act against black money despite strict stand of the Supreme Court. Anna got clean chit from the allegations levelled against him long back. Tiwari also said that Anna has not replied to a query filed under the Right to Information by a person regarding his service in army. He should also reveal the identity of the person who filed the query in May this year after Anna's first round fast in April. And why question 45 years after Anna left army?
What is unconstitutional? Besides raising questions over funding of Team Anna's campaign, Digvijay Singh said that laws are made in Sansad (parliament) and not on Sadak (street). The Congress allegedly spent over Rs 500 crore in 2009 Maharashtra assembly elections for the "paid newsl", exposed by senior journalist P Sainath. Will he also explain why of 430 candidates fielded by the Congress in 2009 Lok Sabha elections, 261 were crorepatis. The average worth of a Congress MP was Rs 3.38 crore in 2004, which increased to Rs 6.86 crore in 2009. Mr Singh, how come assets of MPs doubled between 2004 and 2009 despite economic recession. There are 41 Congress MPs with criminal charges in the Lok Sabha. In such a situation, people will have to agitate in Sadak to make Sansad hear their demand.
What is undemocratic? Congress leaders said that BJP was behind Anna's Lokpal campaign. But ouster of BS Yeddyurappa after being indicted by the then Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde (a member of Team Anna) in mining scam proves that Team Anna is not being managed by BJP. Congress also said that burning of copies of the government's Lokpal bill by Team Anna in protest was an insult to the democracy, because it is the property of parliament. In February this year, the UP Vidhan Sabha passed UP Local Self Government (amendment) Bill 2011. It provided that local bodies election will not be contested on party lines and instead of direct elections, the mayor will be elected by the members of the local bodies. The Congress leaders protested by burning the copies of the duly passed law.
What is morally correct? Salman Khurshid said “We will be fasting in Ramazan. Anna is welcome to fast along with us”. Khurshid must be aware that the fasting in the holy month of Ramzan is about cleansing of soul and clearing of conscience. It’s about controlling greed, which is the source of all evil. We all need to follow these principles. When the judiciary ordered to combat corruption (as in the case of black money, CWG scam and 2G scam), the PM described it as overreach of the judiciary. And, when Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India exposed scams, Manmonhan Singh said that CAG had crossed its mandate. When media raises the issue of corruption, he says that media should not conduct a trial. In his eyes, every institution which exposes corruption is wrong.
Is Anna doing wrong? Mahatma Gandhi said “I hold the opinion firmly that the civil disobedience is the purest type of constitutional agitation. Of course, it becomes degrading and despicable, if its civil, i.e., non-violent character is a mere camouflage. If the honesty of non-violence be admitted, there is no warrant for condemnation even of the fiercest disobedience, because of likelihood of it leading to violence. No big or swift movement can be carried on without bold risks, and life will not be worth living if it is not attended with large risks. (Young India, 15-12-1921) ... Civil disobedience is the inherent right of every citizen. He dare not give it up without ceasing to be a man ... Civil disobedience is never followed by anarchy. However, criminal disobedience can lead to it ... (Young India, 5-1-1922.)”
In my previous posts, I have explained that Team Anna's version of Lokpal can be established within constitutional framework. The Lokpal will only be a tool to fight against corruption. Ultimately, the privileged lot have to change and put an end to corruption. But I would also like to tell Congress leaders, who have accused Team Anna of insulting Parliament, Indian tricolour and the Constitution, that people can overlook scams like 2G and CWG but will never forgive or forget the insult of Kargil martyrs. Congress leaders connived with top army officials to usurp the flats meant for families of Kargil martyrs is Adarsh society. It was an insult to the entire nation, no matter the amount of money involved in the scam was much less than other scams.
source :TOI
It is a possibility that Anna may not succeed this time as he did in April this year when the government bowed to his demands. But it doesn’t bother me because Anna has already succeeded in generating hope in the hearts of the "aam admi" that corruption can be tackled. It was reflected in the huge countrywide support Anna got following his arrest on August 16. Freedom did not come in 1925 or in 1942 but the events eventually led to the downfall of the British Raj. The ”hope” generated by Anna will certainly make an impact, if not today, then tomorrow or day after. Eventually, the "aam aadmi" will make the government, be it at the Centre or in the states, irrespective of the party in power, to pay for their misdeeds. The Congress government can stop Anna from sitting on fast unto death in Delhi but will it be able to stop crores of Anna supporters who are in every nook and corner of India.
The Lokpal is no longer a legislation issue to be decided by Parliament but has become a symbol of fight against corruption. People are seeing it as a weapon to counter the might of babudom. Corruption is the root cause of all backwardness and poverty in the country. All issues can be resolved once corruption is taken care of. Therefore, people should not get carried away by caste and communally sensitive issues the Congress might raise to divert public attention. The fight against corruption will be a long battle and may not end with Anna’s fast. It would be the beginning of the test for the people. Those fighting against corruption will have to keep their faith intact, as Martin Luther King, who led the US civil rights movement, said: "Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the entire staircase."
The question is, why is the Congress overconfident and arrogant today? Why it is belittling Team Anna's efforts and using derogatory language? The party was initially apprehensive about an adverse impact on the elections in five states when Anna went on hunger strike in April this year. It agreed to form a joint committee to draft a "strong" Lokpal Bill to check corruption. But after the polls, the Congress is overconfident because it lost only in Tamil Nadu, that too because of the anti-incumbency factor against Karunanidhi. As a result, majority people had to vote for Jayalalitha who during her rule in the past faced equally serious corruption charges as DMK is facing now. Similar situation prevails in rest of India. Today, there is no alternative before people as all the political parties are equally corrupt.
In the coming days, more attempts will be made to divert public attention from the issue of corruption – such as caste census, job and education quota for Muslims and several other politically divisive issues will be floated to divide people. Congress has challenged Anna to fight elections. If being elected is important for bringing about a reform, in order to check "communalism", the Congress should ask Rahul Gandhi to leave his secure Amethi seat and contest elections from Gandhinagar against LK Advani. India not only requires, governance free from corruption, but also corruption-free elections, often won by use of money, muscle and mafia. Not to forget communalism and casteism.Politicians use such methods when they fail to deliver. Corruption-free governance would eventually lead to corruption-free polls.
Another point on which people would have to be catious. Team Anna recently met members of the parliamentary standing committee examining the government Lokpal Bill. Asked for his reaction, Lalu Prasad Yadav said: “Team Anna has burnt copies of the Bill, it’s an insult to Parliament ... these people also say that army and police are with them, it's anti-national.” After listening to Lalu, I understood why Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement against the corrupt regime of Indira Gandhi failed to make a lasting impact. Among other things, JP had given a call to army and police not to obey the orders of "illegal" Indira government. Lalu was in JP movement and used it to launch his political career. JP failed because of leaders like Lalu.. Let's pray that there are no Lalu-like elements in Anna's team.
Why do we need a strong Lokpal? Anna Hazare wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for help to get permission for a place in Delhi where he could stage his fast in his fight against corruption. Anna was forced to write to the PM after his team was made to run from pillar to post by police and various government departments. But the PM asked Anna to go back to the police. Clearly, the intention of the government was to force Anna bow to its wishes and not hold a fast. Same tactics are used by every government department to force people run from pillar to post and finally accept the wish of babus, ie, pay bribe to get their legal and genuine work done. People need an institution where they can go for redressal of their problem when they are not heard from top (PM) to bottom (peon).
What is the meaning of inquilab (revolution)? Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal, under whom entire education system of India comes, is a learned man. However, he does not seem to understand that education can bring knowledge but not wisdom. That's why he took exception to the word inquilab used by a few Anna supporters. He said Team Anna is instigating people to revolt. Sibal would have not made such mistake, if he had understood the meaning of Inquilab as explained by Shahid-E-Azam Bhaghat Singh -- "Bomb and pistol do not make a revolution. The sword of revolution (inquilab) is sharpened on the whetting-stone of ideas". India needs an ideological revolution against corruption. Mr Sibal, please also read the concept of Total Revolution propounded by Jayaprakash Narayan.
Who is a Gandhian? Ambika Soni said Anna's language in the letter to the PM was not Gandhian. She perhaps doesn't know the meaning of Satyagrah as defined by Gandhi himself. Satyagrah means assertion of truth with the soul force and prick the conscience of the adversary. Anna did not he cross the boundaries of Satyagrah when he wrote to the PM. She also said that the letter has signature of Anna but has been written by others. Congress leaders including the PM are run by remote control from 10 Janpath, hence they see others with the same lens. Soni said that Team Anna should obey rules and take permission from police for protest. In Lucknow, people have been allotted a place for agitation but Congress party always holds its protests on main road, blocking traffic and burning vehicles.
What is corruption? Manish Tiwari, in highly derogatory language, levelled corruption charges against Anna. He gave reference of inquiry conducted by Justice PB Sawant. Tiwari should also express his view on the Supreme Court order whch struck down appointment of Chief Vigilance Commissioner by the PM. He should also explain his government's reluctant to act against black money despite strict stand of the Supreme Court. Anna got clean chit from the allegations levelled against him long back. Tiwari also said that Anna has not replied to a query filed under the Right to Information by a person regarding his service in army. He should also reveal the identity of the person who filed the query in May this year after Anna's first round fast in April. And why question 45 years after Anna left army?
What is unconstitutional? Besides raising questions over funding of Team Anna's campaign, Digvijay Singh said that laws are made in Sansad (parliament) and not on Sadak (street). The Congress allegedly spent over Rs 500 crore in 2009 Maharashtra assembly elections for the "paid newsl", exposed by senior journalist P Sainath. Will he also explain why of 430 candidates fielded by the Congress in 2009 Lok Sabha elections, 261 were crorepatis. The average worth of a Congress MP was Rs 3.38 crore in 2004, which increased to Rs 6.86 crore in 2009. Mr Singh, how come assets of MPs doubled between 2004 and 2009 despite economic recession. There are 41 Congress MPs with criminal charges in the Lok Sabha. In such a situation, people will have to agitate in Sadak to make Sansad hear their demand.
What is undemocratic? Congress leaders said that BJP was behind Anna's Lokpal campaign. But ouster of BS Yeddyurappa after being indicted by the then Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde (a member of Team Anna) in mining scam proves that Team Anna is not being managed by BJP. Congress also said that burning of copies of the government's Lokpal bill by Team Anna in protest was an insult to the democracy, because it is the property of parliament. In February this year, the UP Vidhan Sabha passed UP Local Self Government (amendment) Bill 2011. It provided that local bodies election will not be contested on party lines and instead of direct elections, the mayor will be elected by the members of the local bodies. The Congress leaders protested by burning the copies of the duly passed law.
What is morally correct? Salman Khurshid said “We will be fasting in Ramazan. Anna is welcome to fast along with us”. Khurshid must be aware that the fasting in the holy month of Ramzan is about cleansing of soul and clearing of conscience. It’s about controlling greed, which is the source of all evil. We all need to follow these principles. When the judiciary ordered to combat corruption (as in the case of black money, CWG scam and 2G scam), the PM described it as overreach of the judiciary. And, when Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India exposed scams, Manmonhan Singh said that CAG had crossed its mandate. When media raises the issue of corruption, he says that media should not conduct a trial. In his eyes, every institution which exposes corruption is wrong.
Is Anna doing wrong? Mahatma Gandhi said “I hold the opinion firmly that the civil disobedience is the purest type of constitutional agitation. Of course, it becomes degrading and despicable, if its civil, i.e., non-violent character is a mere camouflage. If the honesty of non-violence be admitted, there is no warrant for condemnation even of the fiercest disobedience, because of likelihood of it leading to violence. No big or swift movement can be carried on without bold risks, and life will not be worth living if it is not attended with large risks. (Young India, 15-12-1921) ... Civil disobedience is the inherent right of every citizen. He dare not give it up without ceasing to be a man ... Civil disobedience is never followed by anarchy. However, criminal disobedience can lead to it ... (Young India, 5-1-1922.)”
In my previous posts, I have explained that Team Anna's version of Lokpal can be established within constitutional framework. The Lokpal will only be a tool to fight against corruption. Ultimately, the privileged lot have to change and put an end to corruption. But I would also like to tell Congress leaders, who have accused Team Anna of insulting Parliament, Indian tricolour and the Constitution, that people can overlook scams like 2G and CWG but will never forgive or forget the insult of Kargil martyrs. Congress leaders connived with top army officials to usurp the flats meant for families of Kargil martyrs is Adarsh society. It was an insult to the entire nation, no matter the amount of money involved in the scam was much less than other scams.
source :TOI
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