Author: Somit Sen
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 25, 2011
Unprecedented Numbers Turn Up For March From
Bandra To Juhu, Electrifying Bystanders And Bringing Traffic To A Crawl
Even as a sea of people surged through the
city on Sunday in support of Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption, age
was just another figure in the march. There were several below the age of
five and many in their 70s and 80s. "I love Anna very much," said
Mridini Sinha, a threeyear-old, who could not stop chanting slogans. Mridini
was accompanied by her father, a naval officer, and mother, Sneha. "We
can forsake our pleasures for one day and come out to show that we care for
our country and are united against corruption," said Sneha, while prodding
bystanders to join the march. Hundreds others yelled 'Baghtai kai, shaamil
vha' ('why be mute spectators, please participate') at onlookers at Bandra
station and on Linking Road.
Along the way, protesters blew conch shells,
played cymbals and chanted slogans to show solidarity with Hazare and the
Jan Lokpal bill. Some sang "Dhinka chika dhinka chika, Anna, Anna"
while others intoned "Desh ka yuva yahan hai, Rahul Gandhi kahan hai".
But mostly, there were deafening chants of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata
ki jai'.
Truptiben Patel, a 75-year-old, continued
screaming slogans at the top of her voice without once complaining of tiredness.
Mechanical engineer Akshay Iyer asserted that for the first time in decades
somebody had united Indians. Hotel management student Pradnya Kharat brought
photocopies of the Jan Lokpal bill and notes on it. "I have copies in
English and Hindi and will distribute it during the morcha." Others distributed
Anna caps, small flags.
The atmosphere became so charged that at places
bystanders cried 'Mataram' every time the protesters shouted 'Vande'.
Along the route, some auto drivers parked
their vehicles and spontaneously joined the march. "I saw so much passion
and love for the country in the eyes of the protesters that I could not hold
myself behind," said auto driver Phulchandra Pal.
On reaching Juhu beach, the protesters sang
the national anthem and pledged to continue fighting corruption. "It
was a super response from citizens and we hope it is an eyeopener for the
UPA government, which is dillydallying on the Jan Lokpal bill," said
a member of India Against Corruption. The group will protest outside the homes
of MPs from Maharashtra on Tuesday.
One side of the Linking Road was taken up
by the march, leading to traffic diversions. Traffic cops said they had created
a diversion for motorists at Bandra Hill Road. Several shops en route could
not do business for nearly two hours since the customers were glued to the
morcha.
