Will Anna’s vision survive without Kejriwal’s action?

The first time they were invited to join the ‘revolution’ the crowds were promised a chance to participate in the “Second Freedom Struggle”– freedom from corruption this time. Tired of having to grease palms for claiming what is rightfully their, they heeded the call. In the thousands, in pouring Delhi rain, they lined the roads of central Delhi volunteering to be ‘arrested’. Children bunked school, adults took casual leave from work and congregated to see in flesh, this Gandhi reincarnate they had seen on television. When he was detained the morning of the launch of the struggle their blood boiled. “Just like the British treated the freedom fighters,” said the swelling angry crowds near the aptly named Shahidi Park at ITO, where buses took the ‘arrested’ thousands to a sports stadium which was the makeshift ‘jail’. The movement was soon densely populated, in parts on the social media. The movement orchestrated in whole by the dynamic Arvind Kejriwal. He had found his Gandhi and Anna had found someone who would bring him all the attention that he sought. He was the perfect Gandhian for the impassioned crowd who knew Gandhi mostly from the film by the same name, walked amongst them once again. Kejriwal, was the plain speaking angry young man who had woken them up from a coma. For many young people in the movement, Gandhi Jayanti was a public a holiday, a dry day they stock up in advance for. However, this year on Gandhi Jayanti, they had to take a final call. Will they choose Anna Hazare or Arvind Kejriwal, the man who gave them a revolution to call their own. The loyalties are still divided on this one Anna to the aam junta, is still the man who looks like he was just what the nation needed, complete with dhoti, Gandhi cap and a benevolent smile. Something that Arvind Kejriwal, the now baptized politician lacks. But he has the fire, say his supporters.

Anna has the spirit, feel those on the other side. The smarter ones stay on the fence offering moral support to both. Two years of nurturing an anti-corruption movement has resulted in the birth of a political party. From point of view that read as: “all politicians are thieves” to “we will change the system”. Arvind supporters say he has taken a very brave step, it’s not easy being a politician anyway. Just imagine waking up everyday and donning a hide thick enough to deflect barbs yet porous enough to ensure all praise is sucked in. Anna Hazare posters have now been replaced with those of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. The “I Am Anna” days seem to have come to a close for now. It is Arvind, the common man, “Mai hoon aam aadmi…mujhe chahiye Janlokpal” – “I am the common man, who the flock may want to go with for now. The party has just begun, but Arvind Kejriwal has displayed his IIT trained systematic thought process once again. The name of the party will only be announced on 26 November, it will be chosen from the selection given by the people, he has assured. Good move, keep them guessing, keep them interested. Anna keeps his smile in place even as he keeps a distance from the political party.

He will campaign for “his Arvind”. But does he not owe that to the activist who was the strategist and planner making Anna known the world over. Is it not fair that Anna helps Arvind become one too? Or will he wait till the Anna Hazare anti corruption movement fades away only to be remembered as a well intentioned experiment that bore no results?

Will Anna’s vision survive without Kejriwal’s action? Maybe yoga Guru-turned political activist Ramdev has a plan B in place .