Anna Hazare is a social activist of India who currently came into news while he began a “fast unto death”. He was also an Indian army soldier. He is particularly known for his contribution in Ralegan Siddhi development which is situated in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. Anna succeeded in the mission to make the village perfect and ideal for others. In 1992, Government of India awarded him the prestigious “Padma Bhusan” award.
- Name: Kisan Bapat Baburao Hazare
- Famous Name: Anna Hazare
- Date of Birth: 15th January, 1940
- Birth Place: Bhingar, Maharashtra, India
- Religion: Hinduism
- Nationality: Indian
- Spouse: Unmarried
- Father: Baburao Hazare
- Mother: Smt. Laxmibai Hazare
- Political Movements: RTI (right to information) Act, Watershed Development Programme, Anti corruption movement
- Achievements: Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra award in 1986, Krishi Bhushana award in 1989, Padmashri award in 1990, Padmabhushan award in 1992 and Rabindranath Tagore International Peace Prize in 2011.
Anna's family was very poor at the time of his birth. His grandfather was in the army who was positioned at Bhingar while his father was an uneducated labourer in Ayurveda Ashram Pharmacy. In 1945, his grandfather died but his father remained at Bhingar. Anna’s father leaved his job in 1952 and came back to Ralegan Siddhi. At that time, Anna had finished his education till 4th standard and had 6 younger siblings. The financial condition of his family was tough.
Anna’s aunt who was childless took him to Mumbai and took care of him as well as his education. In Mumbai, Anna completed his studies up to 7th standard and started to do a job because of the bad financial condition of the family. He began to sell flowers at Dadar earning around 40 rupees per month. He began his own flower shop and also brought his 2 brothers to Mumbai to join him in the business. Slowly his income increased around 700 to 800 rupees per month.
Career:
In 1963, Anna began his career in the Indian Army. Anna was posted to number of states such as Bhutan, Sikkim, Assam, Mizoram, Jammu-Kashmir, Leh and Ladakh during his 15year possession as a soldier. In 1965, at that time of Indo-Pak war he was posted at the Khemkaran border. Pakistan started air attacks on Indian base on 12th November, 1965 and all the companions of Anna became martyrs. 1 bullet had conceded by his head so that was an encounter with death for Hazare. The way of his life altered after that incident. He determined to dedicate himself in the service of humanity. Anna took voluntary retirement in 1978 and came back to the village, Ralegan Siddhi.
Anna once contemplated suicide as he became frustrated with life. He had even written a 2 page essay on why he desired to finish his life. One day at railway station of New Delhi Anna came across a book on Swami Vivekananda and at once he bought it. Vivekananda’s photograph on the cover inspired him. He found all the answers of his questions as he began to read the book. The book motivated him to devote his life for the service of others. He understood that striving for the improvement of ordinary people is similar to offering a prayer to the God. He also read several books written by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and Mahatma Gandhi. In 1970, Anna told his parents regarding his verdict not to get married and requested them to arrange the marriage of his younger brothers.
Anna came back to Ralegan Siddhi village after the voluntary retirement from the Indian army. Anna used to visit the village for 2 months each year when he was in the army. He noticed the miserable circumstance of farmers because of water scarcity. He decided to implement a novel project of water management in Ralegan Siddhi. He guided the villagers to start working towards water conservation by keeping an eye on preserving each water drop and fertile soil erosion. As a result of that the level of ground water increased. To hold rainwater, canals and bunds were constructed which solved the scarcity of water and raised irrigation options in the village. Ralegan Siddhi village of Anna became the 1st example of an ideal village.
Social Life:
In 1991, Anna began Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Aandolan (BVJA) as he believed that the development is spoiled by corruption. It was found that by corruption in federations some 42 forest officers had cheated the government of state for crores of rupees. The proofs were submitted by Anna to the government but ruling party’s ministers were involved in the scam so the latter was disinclined to take action against all these officers. On the same issue, Anna again went on indefinite hunger strike in Alandi. Then, the government took action against the culprits. 6 ministers were enforced to leave the job as well as 400 officers from different government offices were returned to home.
In 1995, Anna forced Shiv Sena-BJP government to drop 2 state corrupt Cabinet Ministers. In 1998, he was also imprisoned in Yerawada Jail for 3 months. Anna began to fight for the Right to Information Act. He toured throughout the state to create awareness regarding RTI among the youth. For this law Anna agitated 10 times and when he noticed that Government is not ready to pass this law, he again started indefinite hunger strike in the early 2000s.
After 12-days, the draft of the Right to Information Act was signed by the President of India. For the making Right to Information Act-2005, the same draft was regarded as the base document. Anna raised the corruption charges in 2003 against 4 ministers of the Congress-NCP government but the government disregarded him. Then on 9th August 2003, Anna began his 'fast unto death' agitation and on 17th August 2003 he finished his fast.
On 5th April, 2011 Anna began a “fast unto death” to wake up the government for India. He forced Indian Government to put into practice a strong anti-corruption act as in “Jan Lokpal Bill”. Government of India ignored Anna in the starting but he got support from thousands of people after the 1st day was over. Medha Patkar, Kapil Dev, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, Swami Agnivesh, Jayaprakash Narayan, Swami Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also supported hunger strike. On 6th April 2011, Sharad Pawar resigned from the group of ministers created for examining the draft Lokpal bill 2010. All the demands of the movement were accepted by the Government of India on 8th April 2011 and Pranab Mukherjee appealed Anna to finish his hunger strike. On 9th April Anna finished his hunger strike by consuming lemon juice. Anna had also set a limit of 15 August 2011 to pass the Lokpal Bill in the Indian Parliament
