If Anna Hazare's fast against corruption needs any more oxygen of support, he is getting it by the tonne from netizens. Solidarity messages and reactions kept pouring into The Times of India's website through the day after it highlighted the Gandhian activist's protest. "Anna, I am fasting with you. Will do it till you do it. Since I am not in India, I cannot sit with you at Jantar Mantar," wrote Hemant from Indonesia. His was one of 1,515 (as of 9.10 PM and growing) comments on the news report on Hazare beginning his fast unto death.
There was a sense in most comments that a big change, triggered by Hazare's actions, was imminent. References to the Jasmine revolutions in the Arab world abounded.
"We praised the efforts of Egyptians and Libyans...Now is the time to make a real change," wrote free_verse from Delhi. "...make Jantar Mantar another Tahrir Square of India," urged Advik from Muscat.
Others saw the movement as a freedom struggle. Wrote Mathew, "We all have to wholeheartedly support this great effort by Anna Hazareji, which I will say is the second freedom struggle of our country, to free our motherland from its worst enemies, the corrupt."
Adharsh from Delhi declared he would take one day's leave and join the protest. "This is our second freedom struggle. The real one – against world's richest and powerful mafia (Indian politicians).
" Many wrote about the public celebrations after India's World Cup win. "When India won World Cup, 50,000 people were there at INDIA GATE... WHY NOT NOW for ANNA HAZARE?" asked Abhishek Sharma from Delhi.
Wrote Madhu from Mumbai, "We paint our face to support a cricket game. But never do that on our Independence day... Can we give at least 10% of the passion for cricket to fight against corruption?" Asked Girish from Bangalore, "One billion hearts which were beating Dhak Dhak & Bleeding Blue...will they beat the same way & bleed red?!!"
Distaste for politicials was another common thread in many of the reactions. While one comment said "we no longer have a democracy, what we have is a lootocracy", another respondent in TOI's Facebook page called for sending "these hungry politician leeches packing".
"Hamara PM imandar hai perntu bhrastachario ka sardar hai (Our PM is clean but he leads a corrupt team)," wrote Hemant Gunthey from Jhansi.
There was an overwhelming feeling that the movement against corruption must be sustained. "A request to Times of India to bring this news in the forefront...Please do not downsize this as you guys have a very big role to play," urged Siddharth Behera from Mumbai.
"Is there anything similar happening in Bangalore, I will (be) the first to join, why can't this happen in every state capital," asked Ashokekumar.
Introduction of Shri. Anna Hazare
Anna Hazare is one of India's well-acclaimed social activists. A former soldier in the Indian army, Anna is well known and respected for upgrading the ecology and economy of the village of Ralegan Siddhi which is located in the drought prone Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state. The erstwhile barren village has metamorphosed into a unique model of rural development due to its effective water conservation methods, which made the villagers self-sufficient. Earlier, the same village witnessed alcoholism, utter poverty and migration to urban slums. Inspired by Hazare’s unique approach of salvaging a hopeless village, the state government has implemented the `Model Village’ scheme as part of its official strategy. Hazare is now synonymous with rural development in India.
