Although there are more student supporters for Anna Hazare, 74-year-old Syed Sajjid Ahmed does not want to be left behind when it comes to following in Anna’s footsteps to fight corruption.
“I wanted to do my bit to support Anna,” said Solar Ahmed, as he is fondly called.
“I want to spread Anna’s message,” he said, as he sat in his solar-powered car, which looks like a golf cart. Ahmed will go on a ten-day trip from Bangalore to Cochin, visiting over 200 villages, to spread Anna’s message.
Flagging off the trip spanning over 1,000km, HS Doreswamy, veteran freedom fighter said: “People across the country have been demanding a strong Lokpal Bill. This trip will help unify and bring more voices to this demand.” He said that the need for a strong head at the helm of the Lokayukta would also form a part of the awareness campaign.
In each state, at least 150 volunteers will escort him, said Chandrakanth, an India Against Corruption volunteer. “Ahmed will be escorted by volunteers in each state,” he said. He added that every 125 km, the group would stop to talk to the villagers about Anna Hazare and the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Although Solar Ahmed has only studied till Class XII, he began experimenting with solar-powered vehicles, beginning with his two-wheeler, in 2002.
He began his experimentation with electrical items in school. A car, jeep, an auto and a three-wheeler bike are some of his designs.
“These are only modifications of the same vehicle. I neither have the funds nor the external support to make
separate vehicles,” he said, adding that although everyone encourages him, there is no support.
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