Till about a year ago, the word ‘Anna’ was just another name. But now, this has become a brand to reckon with; a name everybody or anybody who is somebody wants to get associated with. A leading news channel even bestowed him with the honour of ‘Indian of the Year 2011’, and rightly so. Whether one agrees with Anna Hazare or not, one thing is for sure, everybody is talking about him. Anna has indeed brought the debate about corruption to the fore.
The first time round when Anna staged his fast at Jantar Mantar, thousands joined this man, who was little known back then. Anna soon became a brand and his next fast saw a tremendous response. But, Anna’s recent fast at Mumbai was a damp squib. Was it because people’s expectations were too high? Or, was it because people did not want a corruption-free India anymore? Were people losing faith in the Anna campaign? Or, is brand Anna getting diluted now?
So what is it that created this brand called Anna in the first place that seems to be fast diminishing now? Anna talked about corruption, an issue that touches the lives of everybody across the strata of society. Anna was fighting for corruption when he started and he is still talking about corruption. But, the response of many people has changed. Why? One plausible reason is that they are losing faith in the team that Anna has. A slew of charges against them about financial irregularities has broken many people’s hearts. Then, the Anna team seems to have an opinion about everything under the Sun – be it corruption, drinking, Kashmir or even politics. One move that just did not go down well with many Anna supporters is the involvement of the Anna team in the Hisar by-elections political campaign. Earlier, many people were happy that here is one person with an equally committed team that is not interested in power or politics but, just the good of people at large. And, when team Anna campaigned in Hisar, many people were shocked.
One key component of the creation of brand Anna was the parallel that was drawn with Mahatma Gandhi and non-violence. As time passed Anna made a few slips, some minor ones like the recommendation for flogging people who drink to major ones like death penalty for those who are corrupt. Recently, when somebody slapped Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Anna Hazare was asked for his impromptu response, the latter replied, “Just one slap?” in a derogatory tone. His initial response was a clear approval of this act even though he retracted this statement later, when it was too late. Gandhiji was one person who advocated volunteering for another slap after getting one and was a staunch supporter of non-violence. Anna is clearly not.
When Anna started his anti-corruption campaign, he had little or no funds. Many people were attracted towards him because he seemed to be from amongst the common people who just wanted a corruption free India. But, Anna and his team got carried away. They started encashing on the brand Anna. Crores of rupees began to be spent on his events. Soon it became so commercialized that products with this brand began to be sold ad nauseum. Do protestors necessarily need flags, caps, T-shirts and the like to protest? It was apparent to many that a marketing campaign worth crores of rupees was at play. And, where was this money coming from? Donations from the common man? The simplicity of the Anna campaign was lost.
The timing of any event is very crucial. The first time round in April 2011, Anna was careful to time his event between popular events like the cricket World Cup and IPL matches. But this time, Anna announced his fast in December 2011 even when the Parliament was in session in protest against a ‘leaked’ report even while the government was telling everybody that it would do justice to the Lokpal Bill. This seemed a bit irrational to many. Had Anna done this after the ‘official’ report was released, the response would have been different.
Did the change of venue from Delhi to Mumbai play a role in the lukewarm response from people? This is a debatable point. Some could say that Delhi is the political capital of the country and the best place for such protests. Mumbai, being the financial hub of the country, is too busy for such events. But, this is just a conjecture.
Anna was very careful to choose his team, which played a big role in his success. He chose people from different walks of life, people who had contributed to the development of society at large. But, when charges of financial irregularities started cropping up against them, the image changed. People who are fighting against corruption are expected to have an impeccable background. It was apparent to the people at large that this was a smear campaign by the government against the Anna team but, still it did have an effect. What bothered many was the response of the Anna team. Instead of crying foul, had they just brought to light the facts of cases against them, people would have been satisfied. Unfortunately, this did not happen, much to the chagrin of many.
One thing that has disappointed many people is the inflexibility being shown by the Anna team. It is either their Jan Lokpal Bill or nothing else. The government is playing its cards very well now. It is crying hoarse that inspite of it trying its best to bring a good Lokpal Bill, the Anna team is not cooperating. Many people are also raising objections by saying that who gave the Anna team the right to represent them? And, how can they assume that their solution is the best solution?
The biggest jolt in the face of the Anna team is the fact that there are some Anna supporters who have turned against him. When they come on television and raise their concerns, it paints a very sorry picture of the Anna team. It raises all the more doubts in the minds of the common man. For instance, when a man like Santosh Hegde, whose success against the Karnataka mining scam is still fresh in the memory of the people at large, comes on television saying that he does not support team Anna’s participation in the Hisar election campaign, his opinion does carry weight.
Any event or campaign has a shelf-life and a cycle. Maybe the Anna campaign has run its course or maybe it is just going through a lean phase. Maybe Anna’s fasts are being staged at very small time intervals. Maybe people cannot be expected to leave their jobs or businesses every few months just to join Anna. Maybe people are just fatigued. Maybe people are losing their faith in Anna and his team in being able to carry this campaign to its logical conclusion. Maybe brand Anna is actually getting diluted. Or, maybe one is reading too much into it. After all, Anna is no God and just a human being. But, so is the rest of the country.
There is lot going on debate over TV, but do you know that in UP there is no drug analyser appointed in the last 4 yaers & I really thinh these things should be raised in these election.
Ayurvedic drug manufacturer are making ayurvedic medicine but they are not checking the final composition of their product, and they contain heavy metal like mercury, if the reaction of mercury is not completed than it is poisonous and companies are not doing any analysis of final product, they are using contract worker for production, they are not monitoring the temperature also,if temp is not maintained reaction will not be complete and all the govt employees knows this thing, i raised an RTI but though they told me that they don’t have drug analyser they didn’t gave the same in writing, drug analyser is very important, as per law drug inspector shoul atleast do two inspection of a plant in a years, I hope you raise these issuses also compellin the parties to makee these things election debate and not just cast medicine is for everyone not a single cast.
People should be educated about these things so that they ask these question to there leader.
It is sad that govt is not seen to control corruption. If they their genuine will, they can go towards majority govt. This also needs changing the old candidates or their relatives to new professional. Not doing this will make congress lose their hold forever like many of parties are out of race today.
One thing we all have to digest that no political party actually wants a strong or so-called active lokpal. Be it UPA or NDA, they are different at different forums. They all are playing a game, against ‘Anna’ (mind that only Anna, not team Anna), and the common man.
Mr Hazare should plan his following movements just like a corporate strategy. I think b-school passed must come forward and help him to make effective strategies.
Actually none of Anna’s team specially upper lane with Mr.Anna do have control on their tongue and are arrogant by nature. More over they become anti-Congress instead of anti-corruption and were deviated. When we talk corruption we just look at Congress and center but if we move towards states there is no end of corruption specially Punjab and U.P. where Congress is not ruling. Regarding Mr.Anna, from the day one i always comment that at least i am not impressed about his complete profile and recent happening make me more sure. Now this is clear that these people instead of moving towards making a corruption free society they are making society aggressive and impatient. This is highly worried factor among us.we should wait for better economics nature of the country..control over population..higher literacy rate..better governance specially in states. We will surely overcome the problem of corruption and this can be possible if we collectively work over this.
No, the media was slowly bought over by the political goons. Micro management at every turn to render Anna ineffective is going on. There’s a massive undertaking/ mobilization against Anna and team to neutralize him at every corner. None of that is being reported.
It is actually a media created dilution of Anna movement and the media is working overtime for that purpose. Anna’s movement was a big hit only because of social media and recognizing their potential now Kapil Sibal is trying to use these media to the party’s benifit. Dear Shobhika Puri, always remember team Anna is fighting for a noble cause and we should give our 100% to them. They are not that powerful, so we can disown them at our will, the moment they are found to be corrupt. That’s why a small request, use your blogs to encourage construcive activism and not to mar it.
The people of India understand very well Anna’s anti Congress movement. Now he began to talk of violence, which is not good for the country. People like Anna and Ramdev threaten for the country. They are more aakarmak and arajakta may be spread in the country. The people of India should understand this. In maharashra Anna not a known figure, but media highlighted him as country’s hero. People are leaving his anti Congress movement. Anna is also a dramabaaz aadmi and plan the natak in the span of a few days. Anna’s anti Congress movment reaching final stage.