Who Is Anna Hazare?

Anna Hazare: The Icon of Anti-Corruption and Social Activism in India

Anna Hazare, born as Kisan Baburao Hazare on June 15, 1937, in the small village of Bhingar, near Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, is a renowned Indian social activist and anti-corruption crusader. He is best known for his role in advocating for the Jan Lokpal Bill (citizen’s ombudsman bill) to fight against widespread corruption in India, but his activism extends far beyond this one cause. Over the decades, Hazare has spearheaded numerous social movements aimed at rural development, government transparency, and social justice, becoming one of the most recognized faces of grassroots activism in India.

Early Life and Military Service

Anna Hazare grew up in a very modest family. His father worked as an unskilled laborer, and the family struggled financially, often relying on relatives for support. Hazare dropped out of school after the seventh grade and moved to Mumbai in search of work. However, his life took a pivotal turn in 1963 when he joined the Indian Army as a truck driver. During his service in the army, Hazare experienced a moment of self-realization while surviving a near-death experience during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. This incident motivated him to dedicate his life to the service of the people and inspired his later activism.

After retiring from the army in 1975, Hazare returned to his ancestral village, Ralegan Siddhi, with a newfound sense of purpose. Witnessing the poverty, illiteracy, and drought-stricken conditions of his village, Hazare resolved to transform it through community-driven rural development.

Transformation of Ralegan Siddhi

Ralegan Siddhi, located in the drought-prone district of Ahmednagar, was once a destitute village suffering from severe water scarcity, agricultural decline, illiteracy, alcoholism, and economic underdevelopment. When Hazare returned, he embarked on a mission to transform the village into a model of sustainable rural development. He used a combination of Gandhian principles and participatory development strategies, focusing on empowering the villagers and making them stakeholders in their own growth.

One of Hazare’s first initiatives was implementing water conservation techniques, such as building check dams, contour bunding, and canal bunding, to ensure the efficient use of rainwater. These measures helped raise the groundwater level, turning arid land into fertile fields and improving the agricultural output significantly.

Hazare also promoted the use of biogas plants for fuel and introduced renewable energy solutions to reduce the villagers’ dependency on firewood. He encouraged the adoption of organic farming methods, resulting in higher yields and better soil quality.

Alongside economic development, Hazare targeted social evils like alcoholism. He led a nonviolent campaign, with the help of villagers, to ban the sale of alcohol in Ralegan Siddhi. To make the ban effective, he initiated public meetings and social pressures to encourage people to give up alcohol, which led to improved family life and reduced poverty.

The transformation of Ralegan Siddhi was widely recognized as a model of self-reliant development, with many experts visiting the village to study the impact of Hazare’s initiatives. His work in rural development earned him multiple accolades, including the Padma Bhushan in 1992, one of India’s highest civilian awards.

The Beginning of Anti-Corruption Activism

Anna Hazare’s shift toward anti-corruption activism began with his realization that systemic corruption was a root cause of many social problems in India. In 1991, he formed the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Andolan (People’s Movement Against Corruption), an organization aimed at exposing corrupt practices within the government and ensuring accountability among officials.

His first major success came in Maharashtra, where Hazare led a campaign against corrupt officials involved in embezzling funds meant for village development. His activism resulted in the suspension or transfer of several high-ranking officials and eventually the resignation of Maharashtra’s social welfare minister in 1995. Hazare’s fight against corruption at the state level brought him into the national spotlight as a fearless advocate for transparency and good governance.

The 2011 Anti-Corruption Movement: Jan Lokpal Bill

Anna Hazare’s most notable campaign on the national stage came in 2011 when he became the face of a mass movement demanding the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill, a stronger version of the existing Lokpal Bill that had been languishing in Indian Parliament for years. The bill sought to create an independent body called the Lokpal at the central level, and Lokayuktas at the state level, which would have the power to investigate corruption cases involving politicians and government officials.

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolent protest, Hazare announced a hunger strike, or fast unto death, starting in April 2011 at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, a popular venue for protests. His demand was clear: the government must pass the Jan Lokpal Bill and establish an independent ombudsman to address corruption at all levels of government.

The hunger strike galvanized millions of Indians, particularly the urban middle class, who had grown disillusioned with rampant corruption and the perceived ineffectiveness of the government in curbing it. Protests in support of Hazare erupted across the country, with people staging sit-ins, marches, and candlelight vigils. The movement gained widespread support on social media platforms, amplifying its message and making it a national issue.

Under growing public pressure, the Indian government agreed to consider the Jan Lokpal Bill, and Hazare broke his fast after 12 days. Although the bill was eventually passed in a diluted form in 2013, the movement led by Hazare brought the issue of corruption to the forefront of national consciousness and showed the power of peaceful mass protests.

Criticism and Controversies

While Anna Hazare’s role as a social activist and anti-corruption crusader has been widely lauded, he has not been without his critics. Some questioned his rigid stance during the Lokpal movement, arguing that his approach was overly simplistic and failed to address the complexity of systemic corruption. Others criticized the undemocratic nature of his demands, comparing his hunger strike to political blackmail, and felt that the movement undermined parliamentary procedures.

Hazare’s support for village-level justice systems in Ralegan Siddhi, including public flogging as a punishment for alcoholism, also sparked controversy. Some human rights activists have questioned his adherence to democratic principles and due process, particularly regarding his methods of enforcing social reform in the village.

Legacy and Impact

Despite the criticisms, Anna Hazare remains one of the most influential figures in modern Indian activism. His ability to mobilize mass movements for public causes, rooted in Gandhian principles of nonviolence and self-reliance, has had a profound impact on the Indian social and political landscape.

Hazare’s contribution to rural development, exemplified by his work in Ralegan Siddhi, has inspired countless communities to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, water conservation, and community-driven development models. His anti-corruption movement not only brought significant attention to the issue but also empowered citizens to demand transparency and accountability from their leaders.

Moreover, Anna Hazare’s legacy extends beyond specific policies or movements; he represents the enduring power of grassroots activism in shaping public discourse and governance in India. His commitment to the welfare of ordinary citizens, especially in rural areas, has earned him a place in the hearts of millions.

In summary, Anna Hazare’s life and activism symbolize the fight for a just and equitable society, where corruption, social injustices, and underdevelopment are addressed through collective action and moral leadership. His work continues to inspire new generations of activists to take up the mantle of social change in India and beyond.