It would not be an exaggeration if one said that Hazare’s return to his village of Ralegan Siddhi had all the pomp and splendour of Lord Rama returning to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.
It would not be an exaggeration if one said that Anna Hazare’s return to his village of Ralegan Siddhi had all the pomp and splendour of Lord Rama returning to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.
The atmosphere in Ralegan Siddhi, 79km north of Pune, had a distinct Diwali flavour as men, women and children in their festive best crowded the main road to the village with flowers and diyas in hand, even as the most colourful fire crackers burst in the evening air. There were an elephant, six camels and four horses to greet the hero, even as a large team of musicians played the traditional Maharashtrian percussion instrument of dhol-tasha with fervour.
The 72-year-old social crusader was driven in an open jeep through the small village, even as deep throated slogans of ‘Anna Hazare aago bado, hum tumare saath hain’ rent the air. The icon simply waved back and smiled benignly.
In the village square, where a mandap had been tastefully decorated, Anna was carried on several young shoulders right up to the stage. The Ralegan Siddhi villagers as is their wont, sat in disciplined silence in front of the stage, but some outsiders who wanted to get within hand-shaking distance of the icon, created confusion on the stage. Only when a calm Anna requested them not to crowd the stage, that some sanity was restored.
After the customary warm-up speeches, Anna quickly got to the point. He said, “I had never in my wildest dreams expected the agitation to become so big and national. I was shocked to see some 50 cars to receive me at the New Delhi airport. Every car had a fluttering tri-colour attached to it and the mood was euphoric.”
Anna referred to his visit to the Rajghat to pay obeisance to Mahatma Gandhi as a very emotional moment. “I was overcome by tears as I realised suddenly as I sat before the Samadhi about how goondas in our country were destroying all the great work done by Gandhiji. This thought gave me a greater fillip to fight till the end.”
According to the iconic crusader, the movement had become a success because it had been supported by countless ordinary citizens across the country. “I was surprised to see thousands of common citizens sing, dance and lend me support every single day at Jantar Mantar. The government listened to us because common Indians protested from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The battle has only just begun. It is going to be a long and protracted fight, but my god’s grace we will win.”
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