Author: Linah Baliga
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 21, 2011
URL: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-21/mumbai/29911666_1_fasting-hazare-rest-house
For 68 people at Azad Maidan, the past five
days have been like no other in their lives. They've been on an indefinite
fast since August 16 and divide their time between a dais at the historic
ground and a rest house at Dongri Mahajanwadi. They haven't gone home since
the pro-Anna Hazare agitation started.
The rest house is manned by the police and
arranged by the Mumbai team of the group India Against Corruption. On the
fifth consecutive day of fasting, apart from weakness and minor ailments,
the agitators said they remained steadfast in their resolve to not give up
till Hazare gets his demand of the Jan Lokpal bill being passed by Parliament.
It's a steady routine for those fasting.
The day begins at 8 am. After drinking warm water, they meditate and do pranayam.
They say a prayer for the country and follow it up with some yoga. After this,
they sing the national anthem.
"The meditation helps keep the inner
balance. Positive energy gets transferred from person to person. Had I been
home, I would have been tempted to lose my resolve," said Dr Ratna Magotia,
63, a cardiac surgeon and one of the 68.
A bus ferries the people fasting at 9 am
to Azad Maidan, the ground that has become the centre-stage in Mumbai of citizens'
protests against corruption. "There is a CD to which we listen to help
meditate. A continuous supply of warm water also helps. Every time we see
the crowds interested in the agitation, we get inspiration . Even while lying
down on the dais, whenever protestors mouth slogans, our hands automatically
go up. We believe we can win this battle," said Nanda Mandlik, 52, a
housewife from Vashi.
Mandlik said it's good that the people fasting
have a place nearby to retire for the night, as they are not in a condition
to go home. Courtesy the IAC team, there are helpers who assist women to the
washroom. "When we stand up, we feel giddy. So we get help from girls
who assist us to the washroom at Mahajanwadi," said Mandlik. There are
seven women and 61 men put up in separate rooms at Mahajanwadi. They live
like one big family in the rest house, with no economic or class barriers
dividing them. Three doctors show up regularly to check their blood pressure
and advise them.
"Some are dehydrated, their BP has gone
down, and two are feverish," said Dr Kalpana Kamani, general physician,
Chinchpokli. "But they have got strong willpower. So we are not giving
any medicines. It's difficult to fast for five days."
Anita Singh, 39, of Panvel, was vomiting
on Friday and had to be given medicine. Deependra Gupta, 18, who is fasting
and an active volunteer, passed out from exertion while addressing a gathering.
Both recovered and are still with the 68.
