Author: Avinash Kalla
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 21, 2011
URL: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-21/special-report/29911781_1_anna-hazare-foreign-hand-indian-media
Blocking the body blows from an assault it
had not expected, the Congress, rather bizarrely, saw a "foreign hand"
strengthening Anna Hazare's resolve against corruption. But if news coming
from across the world is any indication , there might be more than one foreign
hand - from Spain to Italy, Russia to the UK - fuelling the fire sweeping
through India . Most, of course, have readily bestowed upon Hazare the 'modern-day
Gandhi' epithet.
"He is old, determined, sincere, non-violent
and ready to give up his life for the greater cause of the nation. He is perfect
story material," says a senior journalist at CNN.com in London describing
the fascination of the western media with Hazare and his Lokpal movement.
Though it took some time for the media in
these parts to wake up to what's happening in India, Hazare is now a permanent
fixture on their websites, TV channels and news pages.
'La Republica' , the Italian newspaper , talks
about how India's hero "returns to lead an anti-corruption drive"
. Lorenzo Perelli, a journalism student from Italy living in the UK, says,
"This is the first time I am hearing about this guy in the Italian media.
Following the coverage in Britain, Italians now seem to have picked up and
are keeping readers updated."
Spanish newspaper 'El Pais' led with the
headline: 'Protests shake India for the release of anti-corruption activist'.
And not just that, their portal ran features stressing how corruption has
"overshadowed the celebration of 64 years of Indian independence".
Also following closely the developments in
India is 'Russia Today'. The news channel has been trailing the Lokpal campaign
ever since Hazare was arrested on August 16. He's been featuring in their
news bulletins ever since.
Media in the UK and US have, of course, given
the event larger space. The BBC, 'Guardian' , 'The Times' , CNN, 'TIME' ,
'New York Times' , 'Wall Street Journal' and 'Washington Post' have dedicated
sections to the movement. Interestingly, most of these have been referring
to Hazare as the new Gandhi. Why? "In Britain and in the USA, Gandhi
still has a following, even among non-Indians, and this guy is following the
Mahatma's footsteps. The comparison is natural," says the CNN journalist.
But the comparison, unlike in the Indian media,
has gone a little too far, feels Daya Thussu, co-director, India Media Centre,
University of Westminster, London . "Merely adopting a few techniques
and lifestyle doesn't make him the new Gandhi. But that bit can be understood.
However, some news channels are comparing the events in India to the Arab
spring. That is too much and over the board." Thussu ascribes this to
a lack of understanding of the Indian system in the western media.
Even as the argument continues, the number
of overseas Indians coming out in support of Hazare has been quite amazing.
In London, a group of professionals have been demonstrating outside the Indian
High Commission every evening from 6-9 pm since August 16. They plan to keep
this on until Hazare's effort back home bears fruit.
Calling themselves India Against Corruption-Great
Britain, these people also plan to make the most of the ongoing cricket series
as they start 'Cricket Giri' at the Oval. "Starting Saturday, every time
the Indian team plays anywhere in the UK, our supporters will be in the ground;
every boundary scored or wicket taken by India will be cheered by a Mexican
wave and chants supporting Anna," says Prasad Unnikrishnan, an IT professional
from Bangalore working in London.
Indian students in the University of Surrey
also carried out a symbolic march in and around their campus. "Though
we can't be present in India, through social media tools we can show our support
for team Anna and the cause," says Chintan Salva, a masters ' student
at the university.
In Canada, too, a group of former IITians
kept a day-long fast. "In Toronto, members of the IIT Alumni Canada (IITAC)
fasted in their corporate offices and working places," says IIT Kanpur
alumnus Rakesh Kumar Verma, a research fellow at the University of New Brunswick.