A day in Ralegan Siddhi with Anna Hazare

It was chilly cold morning, 6am in Pune. As decided yesterday night by me and my roommate Kamal, made a plan to visit Ralegan Siddhi. As Arvind Kejriwal announced on 11^th Dec from Jantar Mantar. He and Kumar Vishwas will visit Ralegan on 12^th Dec. Kamal, was excited about it and when he shared the thought of going, I too couldn’t stop myself. So, when Pune was chilling with cold, we woke up and got set to support Anna Hazare and to see the AAP leaders.

From, Pune Shivajinagar Bus depot, we took a bus which will be going to Aurangabad. On its way, there comes Shurur and from there by Auto or Bus, we can reach Ralegan.

Prashant Chowdhury, a supporter of Anna and a member from India Against Corruption (IAC) joined us on our bus. He came from Delhi and as told by him he was during the movement of Anna in Ramleela Maidan & Jantar Mantar. He asked us, whether we are from IAC or AAP. We said, we support AAP, but we also like Anna’s Ideology.  During our conversation on bus, he was telling us his experiences and stories of those andolan’s. The feeling and exciting was becoming double.  After 1.5 hrs., we reached Shurur. We had vada pao and Tea from the bus stand. Then reserved an auto to reach Ralegan.

Ralegan as I read from Wikipedia is a model village of Environmental Conservation. So, clean, so greenery, serene as if you can drink the drops of peace. With the weather in December, the clear sky, the sunshine and we three, was reaching the place of an international figure. The whole nation talks about him, calls him the second Gandhi. I heard and read a lot about his personality, now was the time to see. Everyone was talking about him, in bus, the autowala, the newspapers.

We reached Ralegan, which was nearly 15kms from Shurur. Anna’s fast was going on, and this was the 3^rd day. The stage was beautifully set up. It was in the outsidepremises of the Yadav Temple. The school kids from the near school started building the ground in huge numbers. The tri-colour flag was flying all around. There was a specific built up stage for the media people. As, I got to know, Anna live in this Yadav temple, he meditates in the morning and then gives his teachings and blessings to children and people coming all around from different parts of country. He was now, sitting inside a small room inside the temple. Doctors were rushing to that room; they were conducting health check-up and various tests and analysis. After sometime, the team of doctors came out and announced on the stage about Anna’s health condition. They said, Anna is doing well, the water regulation in his body is normal, blood pressure is normal and urine flow is good. The doctor said, in this last 2 days he lost 900gms after 1^st day and 700 grams after 2^nd day. After announcing in public, the media covered him for the press conference. 

“Anna Hazare Zindabad”, “Anna Tum Age Badho, Hum Tumhare Sath Hai”, “Vandemataram”, “Inqlab Zindabad”.. In few minutes, this roar went above everything, then in front of us all, Anna Hazare, Gandhi of 21^st century came out. He took the mike and said,”Vandemataram”. He sat down on the stage. He was looking with so much strength like; this 3 day of fasting is nothing in front of his Andolon. He wanted anyway the bill to pass in the parliament, without any change.  

The crowd settled down after few minutes of “Desh Bhakti Slogans”. The program started. A little girl, hardly with age of 5-7 years, came on the mike and addressed something about the movement to Anna and crowd. She was mind blowing, she spoke in Marathi, but whatever she spoke and it was the power in her throat. Followed by the little, a school going boy came on the stage. He then gave a speech in English. Then, with all the musicians on the stage, “Raghu Pati Raghav Raja Ram” was to be sung.  Till then, the whole premises went full. The ambience was perfect. School kids, covered the maximum place, holding placards on their one hand and Tri-colour on the other. They sat in queue and in a very organised and disciplined manner. 

The harmonium, the table all were synchronised properly, It was Anna’s favourite song. All the hands were above hands, they were clapping, flags were flying and I couldn’t even control myself. Tears of love for the nation came down from my eyes too. I never experience such a thing, such an ambience ever. Everyone, sang, Raghu Pati Raghav Raja Ram. Anna was even clapping and was smiling.

There were so many different kinds of persons, humble and modest. Some claimed to be very close with anna, some supported anna without any need or image. A social activist, Mr. Shri Roy asked for 5minutes from us (me & kamal). He asked what we do and what our qualification was. As he said, he too is a mechanical engineer passed in 1970. He spoke to us on some serious issues like how the youth of the country are deviating themselves and getting indulged to those activities which they should not be in. He compared politics during his college time to this time. Plenty changed. Mr. Roy was wearing a simple kurta pyjama. Anyone at first instance can call or have a perception that this man is not educated. But, after interacting with him, he gave me some serious thoughts. He was modest and humble, left his job and got associated with the movement. He talked in English. There were many other people coming from different areas. Bajaj Chakan, supports Anna fully. They came in large and huge numbers. Niranjan Shah who came from Mumbai, very old aged, paralysed, just to support Anna. A team from California reached Ralegan, their leader sang a song for anna on stage and made the whole atmosphere more with fire of love for nation.

Anna can hold his hunger, but we couldn’t. So me and Kamal went to have some food from the nearby restaurant. We had rassa pav and a cold drink. As we were having it, we heared a roar, some said, people from AAP came. We paid for the food and then rushed to see the mob. In the morning only, Prashant told that Arvind won’t come as he is having high fever, later I checked and was confirmed from Arvind Kejriwal’s tweet, that he won’t come. So, I was bit disappointed. But, other leaders, Kumar Vishwas, Sanjay Singh, Gopal Rai, Mayank Gandhi etc. were to come. As they came near the temple premises where Anna sat for fast, the media rushed to cover the leader’s from AAP. At this point, whatever things were happening, it wasn’t right according to me. AAP team leaders, as they promised, they will seat with the Janata, they did. But, Media jumped on them and that made the atmosphere drifted from andolon to politics.

Sufi Gilani was on the mike next, he said so many things about this movement, the govt in centre and about the lokpal bill. He has a powerful voice and spoke really classy. Told, how India needs to get unite religiously and fight together for this bill. Kumar Vishwas took the mike after that and addressed Anna and the people over there. He is one of my favourite spokeman. I loved his speech. He described to the people in no way, AAP and Anna are different. For AAP, Anna is a Guru and Father like figure and they follow Anna’s ideology and one day they will fulfil Anna’s dream. After his speech, Anna congratulated AAP for their victory in Delhi and thanked them for coming them to his village. Anna went inside once again, to have a rest and to talk with the AAP leaders. It was a kind of mid break for the people over there. Mineral water bottle were distributed.

One thing, I forgot to mention, there was one more person who caught my eyes since morning. A man, dressed alike Gandhi, whom I saw many a times over television during Anna’s movement in Delhi. All the time he would fly the flag and watch it flying, he would sing the song, he would chant the slogans with all the feelings and love from his heart. His madness for country is someway different from the rest. Whoever talk for betterment or benefits of India, has always some purpose behind it, no matter who shows it or who not. This person, I don’t know his name, is one of those rear, who has no claims. Talking to him, he said to me, You people are youth, you are the strength of this nation. Our fight will continue, till the time government bends and surrenders to us to introduce lokpal bill. One more thing he said to me, never underestimate anyone. We all have strength and power in our own way. We all can bring the difference to the nation to what it is now. I clicked a photo with whom and later made it a cover photo on my facebook account.

It was again the time for the media and this time it was going to be a news for which the whole nation was waiting. After the long conversation with Anna, people saw Kumar Vishwas and Sanjay Singh to come out. The whole media group covered him and later they brought near the stage of media for the press conference. I found out some space for me and got a frame to see the press conference. The media was throwing questions like rockets. If re-election happens again in Delhi, will Anna support them or not? What Anna said and advised them? Will they bring this movement to delhi and will they force the government to introduce the bill and get it pass quickly or not? Will they form the government in Delhi or will they be contended to be in the opposition?

Now, it was the time for the people to meet Anna. Anna was seating on the stage. A queue was made and people went near to Anna and meet him. Anna smiled and blessed everyone. It was pleasant seeing his smile. We decided to leave after that, we called up Prashant and told we will leave as it was getting late. It was already, 4p.m. Then Prashant told, he will take us to meet Mr. Vikas and Mr. Arya two more people who were all the time with Anna and Arvind during the Delhi Andolon. They were in the training centre, and that way we can also see the training centre which Anna made. Lot’s I have been hearing about this centre since morning. So me and Kamal decided to join and meet them and also to see the training centre.

We took our bags and went towards the training centre. As I got information, people from government sectors come here to get training from Anna’s army. The training centre is a beautiful spot in the village, nearly set about 10 acres of land. There are guest houses with proper rooms and facilities. People come and visit this village sometimes as tourist also and get Anna’s blessings and teachings. We met with Mr. Vikas and Mr Arya. Prashant introduced us to them and they called us, nava-jubak. We talked about the movement and dissociation of AAP with Anna. Mr. Arya called up Sunita (Arvind’s wife) to know about Arvind’s health. He also gave us some pamphlets of his other social activities. When it was 5pm we decided, that we must leave now.

2 young men gave us lift and took us to Shurur from where to boarded the bus to Pune. At shivajinagar, we bid Prashant and shook our hands. Hopefully we meet again. Me and Kamal reached our room at 9pm and threw our body to bed.

A day, I will always remember.