Public response to Anna Hazare’s call has surprised social & political activists. It proves that façade of image building through publicity gimmicks, urbane sophistication and articulate reasoning falls flat when confronted by a simple life lived with integrity and faith in Indian values. An old villager with no formal position and organisational base has dwarfed all the ‘qualified and resourceful’ politicians.
Notably, Anna Hazare has revitalised the disenchanted and depoliticised youth of India by using ‘old-fashioned’ tools, symbols and slogans. But now his challenge lies in maintaining this rediscovered unity among Indians and converting their hope into constructive transformation of polity and governance. Will he succeed?