August 26, 2011
Who Is Anna Hazare? Any Counterpart in Pakistan?
Not a day has passed over the past few weeks that Anna Hazare, 71, an Indian social activist, has not been in the news both in India and abroad. Demonstrations and rallies have been held in almost all major cities of India in support of his demand for the promulgation of an effective and forceful law to get rid of corruption from India, a ubiquitous canker causing much pain and pathos particularly to the weaker sectors of the society.
The law drafted by the Congress government to satisfy the demand was found wanting by him and his followers; so, they have drafted a bill that they want the Parliament to approve - an unusual procedure.
Hazare was briefly put in jail, but it proved counterproductive since it merely added to the frequency and intensity of the demonstrations in his support. He was set free, and he continues to fast, a Gandhian measure, to put moral pressure on the government and draw public support to his demands.
For a clear comprehension of the situation, we have first to know who this man is and how he has suddenly emerged on the forefront as the leader of a massive movement and as the face of India’s fight against corruption. Seldom has a social activist captured attention of Indians around the world like Anna Hazare.
Son of a poor unskilled laborer in a Maharashtra village, Hazare could not pursue his schooling beyond class seven. For, he had also to work as a day laborer in Bombay, where he had moved with his aunt, to support his large family that had been sinking in debt. His grandfather had served in the army, so he too kept applying for a place in that outfit. Meanwhile, he started a small business selling flowers that gave him a monthly income of Rs.700, a substantial amount at that time; but he fell in bad company and indulged in several vices.
However, in 1960, at age 20, he succeeded in joining the army and became a truck driver. He narrowly escaped death twice in the course of his duty. That set him thinking about the purpose of life. He felt convinced that God had saved his life twice because he was destined to perform bigger tasks. While this thought was churning in his mind, he came upon a booklet “Call To The Youth For Nation Building” by Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu philosopher of late nineteenth century. The contents changed his entire outlook on life. He decided to devote the rest of his life working for the society. He gave up the thought of marriage and continued to read more books by the Swami as well as by Mahatma Gandhi and Acarya Vinoba Bhave. He became a Gandhian in belief, outlook and practice. He had spent 18 years in the army and could have continued indefinitely, but he decided to quit and return to his village, Ralegan Siddhi, to help solve its problems.
He found the farmers struggling for survival and their suffering prompted him to pioneer rainwater conservation that put his little hamlet on the international map as a model village. His agitations got the villagers a school, electricity and several development projects. Eradication of corruption from society became his chief concern.
In 1995-96, he forced the Sena-BJP government of Maharashtra to drop two corrupt cabinet ministers. In 2003, he forced the state government to set up an investigation against four ministers. In April this year his fast for four days brought thousands out on the streets in support of his crusade against corruption. That crusade continues and hopefully the anti-corruption bill drafted by his team will be passed. The authorities realize that they cannot be dismissive of the mass appeal of Hazare. He has almost acquired the status of a saint. He donated his land for a hostel building in his village and lives in the village temple with a bare minimum of personal belongings. He has been given numerous awards for his social uplift work, including Ramon Magasaysay award, Padma Shree and Padma Bhoshan.
That brings us to the query: Is there any one in Pakistan who can be regarded as Hazare’s counterpart? Yes, there is: Abdul Sattar Eidhi. His social welfare activities are too well known to merit repetition here. Like Hazare, Eidhi too has received the Magasaysay Award, in addition to the Lenin Peace Prize and Nishan-e-Imtiaz. But, it must be added quickly that the outstanding services of Abdul Sattar Eidhi are confined to the social sector and do not involve any struggle against the government and authorities like those of Anna Hazare. Matter of fact, there are numerous other foundations, like the Chhipa Wefare Association, which are doing excellent humanitarian work. Ramzan Chhipa of this foundation is also a much-revered person. But, these prominent figures operate in their well-defined humanitarian fields not in conflict with the political leaders of the country. Hazare, on the other hand, has been standing up to the political and administrative authorities in support of his villagers’ demands. This time he has picked up an issue – corruption - that affects the entire Indian society.
Matter of fact, the extraordinary tempest currently passing through the Arab world is driven mainly by anti-corruption emotions of the people. In Pakistan, during the 1980s the governments of both Nawaz Sharif and Benazir were dismissed for corruption. The current regime of Zardari has become notorious for its scandals of corruption. So much so that for the first time, Transparency International could not issue its report on the corruption situation in Pakistan for 2010, as the government disallowed the students of the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, to collect, like in the past, the data for
Transparency’s report.
Imran Khan’s current ‘dharnas’ – sit-down protests - resemble somewhat the agitations of Hazare in India. But they have hardly created a dent in the position of the ruling regime. Why? Perhaps because the people have become inured to the cries of corruption. Perhaps they have reached a stage where corruption strikes to them as a way of life. Then, the hold and fear of the ruling oligarchy, masquerading as democracy, is so strong that the common man has no will left to come out from under the jackboot to breathe the fresh air of his own land. The feudal structure of the society has remained antagonistic towards education. The serfs remain submerged in ignorance, deprivation and total servitude to the feudal lords. They constitute the bulk of the population and to them talk of a corruption-free society is but a remote fantasy. They are more concerned with problems touching their lives: frequent stoppages of power supply, high cost of living, scarcity of potable water, absence of health facilities and of the rule of law, etc.
Immediately after independence, India abolished feudalism and launched intensive projects for mass education. Its economy has been recording laudable growth rates. Now, the people can afford to spend time and effort to align with Anna Hazare to cleanse the society of the canker of corruption. Democratic norms are so well established in the country that the voice of Hazare is heard and reacted to, unlike that of Imran Khan, that goes waste like a cry in wilderness.
Arifsyedhussaini@Gmail.com
