Following is a piece of writing by a Gujarati who visited Anna Hazare’s dharna camp with great amount of curiosity

After India’s world cup victory, there is a huge buzz around India Against corruption Campaign. Since it was happening closer to where I work, I was curious. But still with many questions on my mind.

Who is Anna? Where does he get money from? Should I be supporting him? I tried to seek answers myself.

My office is close to Jantar Mantar where Anna Hazare is camping for fight against corruption. I skipped my lunch, which I thought was the bare minimum thing I should do as a respect to someone who is on Fast unto Death. When I left office, I deliberately asked many people where to find Anna Hazare? Everyone guided me cheerfully be it Policeman or Pan wallah or Parking wallah. As if Jantar Mantar is the only spot worth visiting in Delhi at the moment.

I saw a some sort of euphoria on the way to the venue, I have never taken part in political rally, only close to this was when Madhav Sinh Solanki was thrown out in Gujarat in 1985 and people were on street. But then that was more like a world cup victory parade then a fight. Here you could see an AAKROSH (for the want of better word), Hope, Self-realization and Gandhian discipline. Mixture of emotions all rolled into this moment. If someone asked me what is the meaning of Junoon, I would pick this moment. There were smiles, an emotion on the face that says we are doing our bit. And who were those people?

Starting with school children shouting slogans to various RWA people with banners, Villagers from far off places, office goers, Media people with cameras and some curious guys like me. I must have passed by this area in car many times; never did I realize it can gather people to such a huge scale. The sea of people made it difficult for me to go close to see him but I could feel him. Every small announcement that his BP is normal was cheered as if Sachin has just hit Shoaib for Upar Cut Six. Irrespective of their background, rich poor, Hindu, Muslims, Sikhas, young or adult, child or elderly all were there to support.

After few efforts to sneak in further I gave up as no one was trying to budge from their place. Suddenly I also realized many people lined up near volunteer table at the fag end of gathering. There was rush for something, I also instinctively lined up in the queue hoping to sign some petition for my support. Somewhere in the middle I realized the stampede was for people queuing up for donation. Honestly I felt so much overwhelmed by the emotions. You go to temple you put some money in Bhandara, in exchange of some favor from God. Why would you do that here? But i felt the motive was more selfless and there was this feeling called HUMANE. I started talking to people around me and observed that everyone here was no one. We did not belong to any political party, or any particular status, or any religion. Donation was from 10 rupees to to 1000, it kept on pouring in and every one was also insisting that volunteers write down their mobile numbers and let them know new plans. With each person there was a story, an episode of his or her life on how corruption has crippled his or her life. The general anger was against current leadership and their apathy towards this menace. I decided to contemplate on my encounters with bribes and quietly decided will donate money equal to the sum so far I have paid in bribe. I dont know that is the right thing to do, but It did allow me to clear my conscious.

It was an enormous experience, and it did give me answer on “who is funding him”. I had only heard, from my parents on the movement of Vinoba Bhave or JP or Indulal Yagnik. Honestly some stories I found were quite mythological but today was the day for me to live that moment.

The other question “Should I be supporting him? Actually by this time, the question was Shouldn’t I be supporting him more” and why not. Democracy does give us right to protect our interests through three pillars. If they fail, Media is the fourth pillar. Unfortunately the media is becoming more interested in manufacturing paid news then reporting something for society. Their pathetic approach is what puts us off often. As a citizen you get a chance to franchise your option once in a five year and if you are from middle class you do not even bother to go for voting as you feel its a lost cause anyway. The Anna movement is not a new Phenomenon; this has happened in many places recently thanks to real time (alternative) citizen controlled media such as Facebook and Twitters. Some rightly call this the Fifth Pillar. I don’t know the outcome but law of physics does apply in real life. Movement of tectonic plates does create Earth Quakes and Tsunamis. Lets see what happens this time.

And finally to the first Question Who is Anna? I still don’t know. I could not see him. But I could feel him. Did form matter? He was omnipresent. Anna was in that innocent child shouting slogans to an extremely old man impressing his support to volunteers in his faint voice and determined eyes, or a laborer giving 10 rs donation or some villagers who came all the way with hand made paper cutouts. They were Anna. Being part of that mesmerizing moments I could also say, I am for Anna, I am Anna.

PS : By the time I finished writing the Govt has apparently agreed to the demands and at least bought peace. I hope it is real, but we will not know through mainstream media, as they are more comfortable putting this matter under mattress or confusing people. Facebooks, SMS and Twitters are the place to look for further updates on this.

Finally They say that only C&B (Cricket and Bollywood) unites Indian. I can say they will have to add (fight Against) Corruption also unites Indians; if B is missing for company remember Boforse.