From somewhere in India, Sumit’s parents call up every day to check on his health – Sumit has taken up ‘fast unto death’ in support of Anna Hazare’s ‘fast unto death’ demanding the Jan Lok Pal Bill to be passed by Central Government -their action plan can be seen anywhere in the print, electronic or web media. His parents are extremely supportive of his initiative and haven’t even questioned him once about the extreme step he has taken up.
Sumit, 30 years old, an event manager, is amongst the 5 people who have taken up ‘fast unto death’ at Freedom Park, Bangalore.
The other 4 being:
M K Gandhi – 51 Yrs – Yoga Instructor,
Indra Dutt -30 Yrs – S/W Professional,
Ashutosh Singh – 30 Yrs – Business Consultant,
Anand Yadwad – 30 Yrs – S/W Professional
When I met these people yesterday at the Freedom Park, it took me a long time to figure what I was going through. There is nothing charismatic about these guys; they come from usual walks of life, have families that are concerned about their health because of the means they have adopted.
They don’t deliver a speech that boils blood in your veins. There is no entertainment quotient either. But since the time I met them, whenever I think that few people’s fast enters its 4th day today, I feel a shiver down my spine. And when I think of last night, I remember the conviction in the voice of the person who looked pale, dull but not disheartened.
For today, I am not concerned with the usual questions going around: What actions the Government will take, what angle the politicians will introduce to the whole situation, whether the means adopted by them is right or not, what is the practical feasibility of the Bill, etc.
I am concerned that if 5 people are ready to die for genuine demands from the civil society, I, as an individual, am bound to at least do 1 thing that they expect from the eventual beneficiaries: Be there with them for some time in a day and cheer them up.
It’s time we sort out our own emotions, casual thinking and drive down to Freedom Park.
It’s time we take off 1 hour from our schedules and make sure that we just don’t sit in our houses and enjoy the freebies without putting a basic effort from our side. It’s time for us to look beyond our personalities and just go to meet these people just as human beings, thereby marking support for the cause that we are as much impacted with.
Every day at 730pm at Freedom Park, a “Candlelight Protest” is performed. With a candle in my hand, I will be there for these people. I saw the energetic smile on their faces seeing people pouring in. I am sure they need us. They surely do!
I leave the choice to you to decide your course of action.
(Feel free to contact me if you need help with directions, etc.)
P.S.: As you read this in cities other than Bangalore, do check out where a Indra or a Gandhi or Sumit or Ashutosh or Anand is sitting on a ‘fast unto death’ in your respective cities.
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