The 2,000-odd residents of the village are worried about the health of their mentor, Anna Hazare, who has gathered support across the globe in his fight against corruption.
As social activist Anna Hazare continued his indefinite fast against corruption for the third consecutive day on Thursday in New Delhi, around 150 people in Ralegan Siddhi village, 79 km north of Pune, remained glued to the only television in Yadavbaba temple. Hazare lives in a small room in the temple.
The 2,000-odd residents of the village are worried about the health of their mentor, who has gathered support across the globe in his fight against corruption. The villagers, for whom Hazare is their kutumb pramukh (head of the family), have been continuously following news bulletins about the activist’s health.
“We are worried this time because Anna is fasting in Delhi. In the past, his fasts have been close to Ralegan Siddhi. We had easy access to him then,” said MV Gaikwad, a retired state telecom employee. Added Thakaram Raut, trustee of the Hind Swaraj Trust, a watershed development training centre started by the activist: “Anna is a mentor and father figure to every home in this village and hence, it is natural for us to be worried about his health.” Raut told DNA that that the residents of Ralegan Siddhi consulted Hazare on issues ranging from marriages in the family to career planning and farming methods.
Several villagers are even travelling to Delhi to see Hazare in person. “Ten villagers accompanied Anna to Delhi. Jaisingh Mapari, the village sarpanch, and seven others, took a flight to Delhi on Thursday morning. Ten others went by jeep,” Raut said.
The villagers, mostly farmers and shopkeepers, observed a day-long band on Thursday. The fields and the streets in the village wore a deserted look as work came to a standstill. On the first day of Hazare’s crusade against corruption, 450 villagers observed a dawn-to-dusk fast at the temple in support of their mentor. On Wednesday, they resorted to ghanta naad (ringing of bells) in front of the revenue official’s office in a symbolic gesture to wake up the government. On Friday, they plan to organise a raasta roko, (road blockage) on the Ralegan Siddhi state highway.
‘My uncle, my inspiration’
Naik Ganesh Hazare, 37, Anna Hazare’s younger brother’s son, says his uncle is his role model. He said Anna, a retired army soldier, instilled in him the love for physical fitness and sport.
“Anna started the practice of being at the school playground at 5.30am for sport and physical exercises. This inspired our generation to take to sport,” explained Ganesh, who belongs to the Army’s Signal Corps. “Anna has been an inspiration for an entire generation of youngsters in our village. Today, he is inspiring the entire nation. I am proud to be his nephew.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}