The Anna Hazare Pledge

India Corruption-Free At Last

Dear All: It is all ok to get misty eyed and proud of finally having a corruption-free India. Please, do read the pledge. Heres the simpler version.

I WILL NOT GIVE A BRIBE !

http://news.yahoo.com/india-anti-graft-activist-vows-continue-crusade130141633.html

India's anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare drinks coconut water and honey to break his fast

Just before Hazare broke his fast Sunday, one of his aides led the gathered crowd in a pledge: "I take an oath that in my life I will never take a bribe, nor will I give a bribe." And, so the root of corruption lies in too many people - even the so-called

middle class and the poor willing to give a bribe - and unwilling to suffer the hardships, i.e., make sacrifices, that NOT GIVING a bribe entails. Happens every day in trains in India when one is trying to get a sleeping berth in a long train journey.

"We the people of India give ourselves a corruption-free India," one supporter in the crowd told NDTV news channel, paraphrasing the opening sentence of the country's constitution.

"The question is where do we go from here," said Raj Kumar Sagar, an advertising executive in the capital. We don't have to go farther than the mirror to find the true cause for corruption. I sincerely hope we can all live up to this pledge - of not giving a bribe. That will do it. But there are consequences - like a sleepless and uncomfortable train journey! And, there are many many other uncomfortable consequences depending on the situation where bribe is either given or demanded. Bribery thrives because ordinary people, everywhere, not just in India, desire something and want it at any cost. Some are lucky to have money to throw around. Corruption-free at last if only we can get rid of the giver and not just harp about the taker! Here it is, just recite the simpler version.

I WILL NOT GIVE A BRIBE !

Very sincerely

V. Laxmanan Email: vlaxmanan@hotmail.com

A new Gandhi? India graft activist leaves jail to begin his fast against corruption
'We have not seen this kind of thing in the last 60 years in India,' supporter says

India's most prominent anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, on truck wearing white cap, waves to the crowd during a procession to a protest venue in New Delhi on Friday, Aug. 19. Thousands of cheering supporters braved the pouring rain to greet Hazare as he arrived at the Ramlila fairground hours after he stepped out of a New Delhi jail to wild cheers of "Long live Mother India" and a shower of rose petals. Hazare began a public hunger strike and mass protest Friday, adopting the tactics of liberation hero Mahatma Gandhi to push for government reform. (AP) Share

Dear All: Somehow, all of this reminds me of the Bollywood classic movie GUIDE where character Raju (played by Dev Anand) fasts for rain!

Notice the Twitter and Face Book Accounts now! Twitter is for where and when to protest - NOT where and when to FAST. Face book is for where and how to express support - NOT to urge people to join by FAST. I am usually more concerned about vacations of US Presidents, like BO's vacation at Martha's Vineyard! NY Times says it is good for him and good for us all! (Actually they said this abt Teddy Roosevelt but worth repeating now!) Welcome to 21st century politics. Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 4, verse 16. Kim karma kimakarmeti kavayopi atra mohitaahaa l 4.16 l BG

What to do (kim karma)? What not to do (kim akarma)? These are not easy to decide and delude even the greatest experts (kavayo means a great expert). It did rain in the movie GUIDE. Very sincerely V. Laxmanan

Some highlights of the fast

AH refused to leave jail until he was allowed to fast publicly. "....the whole country is Anna." Supporters were making final preparations for his fast.

A medical team was on standby to monitor Hazare's health Students, lawyers, teachers, executives and civil servants have taken to streets in cities and remote villages stretching to the southern end of the country. Dabbawallas, were reportedly set to go on strike in sympathy with Hazare. (Dabbawallas bring lunch, so their strike is good, everybody is now forced into fasting!) Several Twitter accounts have been set up by supporters to send out messages of where and when to protest. India Against Corruption page on Facebook has more than 370,000 followers where links and messages of support are posted. Hazare (Anna) became the unlikely thorn in the side of the ruling coalition (still is!) when he went on hunger strike in April.

Give a thumbs up and forward if you wish to fast for AH. Very sincerely V. Laxmanan
************************************************************************************* Photos: Indian social activist Anna Hazare

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1. Advertise | AdChoices Policemen form a human chain around Anna Hazare as he arrives at Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi on Aug. 19. (Tsering Topgyal / AP) Share

United against corruption the new India.

India's most prominent anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, on truck wearing white cap, waves to the crowd during a procession to a protest venue in New Delhi on Friday, Aug. 19. Thousands of cheering supporters braved the pouring rain to greet Hazare as he arrived at the Ramlila fairground hours after he stepped out of a New Delhi jail to wild cheers of "Long live Mother India" and a shower of rose petals. Hazare began a public hunger strike and mass protest Friday, adopting the tactics of liberation hero Mahatma Gandhi to push for government reform. (AP)