A taste of democracy
India against corruption demonstration in Pondicherry.
Butter against corruption in Times of India.
Civil Society Stands Strong – Goverment Has Initiated Negotiations With Anna Movement to Pass Lokpal Bill
I got messages on that Mr. Nturvelu that I visited last week in the India Against Corruption movement in was still fasting, so I went back to see him and how activities were still going on on LB Street in Adyar, southern Chennai.
Mr. Nturvelu was, despite of his age of 81 years, feeling well, he told me. However, if I understood it right he would break fast today Friday morning as the Indian Government was now stepping down, starting to negotiate as demands from civil society are too pressing not to be met.
This is a peaceful movement, in a country where many times protests seem to have the tendency to get violent.
Activism!
In India, corruption is a big problem. I have not noted it myself so far (as I did only after a few days in Mexico), but people tell me that it is really bad and that (in contrast to Mexico where people voluntarily bribe to get away with smaller offences) police here force you to bribe, or else you will be beaten up or in other very serious trouble. That is why it makes me so happy to see sooooo many Indians all over the country to go out on the streets and demand accountability of their politicians and public officials.
And as a law student it is very interesting to see the intersection of civil society activism and its impact on the legislative. Will this movement all over India, gathering thousands of people (including many that never before have gone out on the street to take part in action like this), make a parliamentary bill pass? Will a civil citizen like Anna Hazare gather so much public support, attention and pressure that his fast will be able to affect the passing of a bill in parliament?
The Chennai Anna Hazare anti-corruption movement has gathered in an empty construction building not very far from my home, and people I speak to are very sure of that the bill will be passed with this public pressure within a short period of time. The one who impresses me the most is without doubt this man:
Mr. Appai Nturvelu is 81 years old and when I talk to him he has been fasting for three days in support of Anna Hazare’s fast and India’s anti-corruption movement to have the stricter anti-corruption Lokpal bill passed, which will put harder constraints on politicians and public officials. When I ask how it is to fast, if it does not make him feel weak, if he think it really will help, he just clenches his fist and raises it extremely determinedly into the air. His fist glows of resistance. It glows of willpower and it glows of defiance. I get it translated that he is determined to be part of this movement to make a change. I feel my whole within fill up with admiration and the spirit of the place moves me.
People who believe they can make a change, are the people who will make a change.
India 