ANNA HAZARE – GANDHI IN DISGUISE

Kisan Bapat Baburao Hazare popularly known as Anna Hazare is the talk of the nation these days.He has took a great task in his hand that is to remove corruption from the country. Some of us may think him to be crazy and no one will blame us but believe it or not he is surely a silver line in the dark clouds engulfing India’s future. He has took the road which was paved by Gandhi a number of years ago. Considering the impact of Gandhi’s movements on the British, we should be more than hopeful for Anna’s success. The time for the movement is just perfect as people in several countries of the world are taking part in the revolutions against corruption and mis- management. Much water has flowed through the Ganges since Gandhi was fighting for freedom with limited sources. These days media, internet and telecommunication has changed the whole scenario. Now Anna is double powerful than his icon and the fire set by him is spreading in all directions with the passage of time.

BACKGROUND OF THE MOVEMENT

The movement started due to the resentment because of the serious differences between the draft Lokpal Bill 2010 prepared by the government and the Jan Lokpal Bill prepared by the members of this movement.

DRAFT LOKPAL BILL 2010

1. Lokpal will have no power to initiate suo moto action or receive complaints of corruption from the general public. It can only probe complaints forwarded by Lok Sabha Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairman.
2. Lokpal will only be an Advisory Body. Its part is only limited to forwarding its report to the ‘Competent Authority’.
3. Lokpal will not have any police powers. It cant register FIRs or proceed with criminal investigations.
4. CBI and Lokpal will have no connection with each other.
5. Punishment for corruption will minimum 6 months and maximum upto 7 years.


JAN LOKPAL BILL

1. Lokpal will have powers to iniate suo moto action or receive complaints of corruption from the general public.
2. Lok pal will be much more than an Advisory Body. It should be granted powers to initiate Procecution against anyone found guilty.
3. Lokpal will have police powers.To say that will be able to register FIRs.
4. Lokpal and anticorruption wing of CBI will be one independent body.
5. The punishment should be minimum 5 years and maximum up to life-imprisonment.
6. Lokpal will not be a monopoly for particular area.


A 71 years old man is doing what the youth of India should have done long ago. Now this is upto the people of India to shoulder the responsibility.

17. JAWAHARLAL NEHRU - THE FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA

It was William Shakespeare who, in a funny situation in ‘Twelfth Alight’, made one of his characters say, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” The light statement applies seriously to the life of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He was born great, being the son of Pandit Motilal Nehru who was one of the top most successful lawyers of India earning a lot of money and who, it is said, got his clothes washed in Paris. He achieved greatness through his great contribution to struggle for freedom before independence and as an architect of modern India after independence. And he had greatness thrust upon him by the Indian masses who lavished liberal praises on him and made him the darling of their eyes. He was the first Prime Minister of free India and continued to be so till he died in harness in 1964. No other Indian leader influenced national and international politics so much as Nehru did.

Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 14, 1889 at Allahabad. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth as his father, Mr. Motilal Nehru was a leading lawyer of India, and was brought up like a prince. After his early education at home by English tutors, he was sent to
England for higher studies. He took his degree in Law from England and returned to India as a Barrister.

Pandit Nehru came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and devoted himself to the cause of India’s struggle for freedom. He associated himself with Mahatma Gandhi in the long-drawn nonviolent campaign against the British rule in India. He spent the best part of his life in jails and even lost his beloved wife, Kamala Nehru, in the process. On January 26, 1929, it was under his presidentship of the Congress that its Lahore session passed the Independence Resolution. Later he was the author of the ‘Quit India’ Resolution. When India became free on August 15, 1947, Pandit Nehru was made the first Prime Minister of the free nation.

As Prime Minister, Nehru worked hard and continuously year after year with zest and zeal for the progress and development of the country. For the guidance of his countrymen, particularly the youth, Nehru gave the slogan ‘Aaram Haraam Hai’ and demonstrated it by his own example. He was so active and energetic even at the advanced age of seventy five that he made young men blush. Nehru was essentially a man of the masses and good of the common man was always at his heart. For improving common man’s lot, he started economic planning in the country through Five Year Plans.

Nehru was a great lover of children and the children also loved him dearly. They lovingly called him ‘Chacha Nehru’. It is because of his great liking for the children and the children’s love for Nehru that his birthday on November 14 is celebrated as Children’s Day in the country every year.

Nehru was a great patriot who gave his all for the country. He was a socialist through and through who wanted to establish in India a classless and casteless society and who gave the slogan ‘produce or perish’ to the nation. He was also a good writer who wrote and published his ‘Autobiography’, ‘Discovery of India’, and ‘Glimpses of World History’ . His letters written from prison to his daughter Indira were published under the title ‘Letters of a Father to His Daughter’.
This great son of India breathed his last on May 27, 1964 and “an epoch came to an end” with his death. Till the end of his life he kept on thinking of his country and her welfare which fact is borne out by the famous lines of American poet Robert Frost which were found written on his writing pad:

‘The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. ‘

__________

16. MAHATMA GANDHI - THE FATHER OF THE NATION

The name of Mr. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi will always be written in letters of gold in the history of India. He may undoubtedly be regarded as the man of the millennium. In 1936, while lying on his death-bed, Pandit Motilal Nehru called him ‘Mahatmaji’. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore used to call him ‘Mahatma’. In a meeting in Singapore, speaking before the people, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose described Gandhi ji as ‘The Father of the Nation’. This speaks volumes about not only his personality but also his popularity. Today, as soon as, you utter ‘Mahatma’ or ‘The Father of the Nation, the listener will at once understand that you are talking of Gandhiji.

Shri M.K. Gandhi was born at Porbander in Gujarat on October 2, 1869. His father Shri Kaba Gandhi was the Diwan (Minister) of Rajkot state. His mother, Putlibai was a noble and religious-minded lady. At the age of seven he was sent to school for his primary education. At school he was not a very bright student. After passing his matriculation examination, he was sent to England for higher education. He returned to India as a barrister. Then in order to fight a case he had to go to South Africa where he stayed for 21 years. There he fought against the White man’s injustice towards the Indians who were called coolies and treated like dogs. There he started an ashram which was called ‘Tolstoy Farm’.

Gandhi ji came back to India from South Africa in 1915, Rejoined the Indian National Congress and toured India dressed like a common farmer to understand the people and their problems; Then he launched his Satyagrah movement against the British rule in India. His Satyagrah movement was based on Truth and Ahimsa (Non-Violence). He led the historic Dandi Yatra or March where he broke the Salt Law. He was put in prison several times and he faced all the hardships and harassments with peace and patience. He undertook fast a number of times for bringing the Hindus and Muslims together and also to obtain for Harijans the right to enter temples at Kashi and Prayag (Varanasi and Allahabad). In 1942, Gandhi ji began ‘Quit India Movement’ and forced the Britishers to leave India forever. India won her independence on August 15, 1947 largely due to Gandhiji’s efforts.

Gandhiji was a sbcial reformer who worked for the upliftment of the Harijans who lovingly started calling him ‘Bapu’. His wife Kasturba Gandhi also worked with him and was endearingly called ‘Baa’. Bapu ji was also a champion of Hindu-Muslim unity and worked earnestly for the achievement of this objective throughout his life.

Truth and Ahimsa were the two guiding principles of Gandhi’s life. His autobiography ‘My Experiments with Truth’ bears witness to his quest for truth. He never cared for the difficulties of life and showed respect even for his enemies. He never uttered a single harsh word even for his dead enemies. He was a man of simple living and high thinking who always advised people to discard foreign clothes and wear Khadi.

Gandhiji sacrificed his life for his ideals. A fanatic Hindu, Nathuram Godse shot him dead on January 30, 1948 on the plea that he favoured the Muslims. The whole of the world was sad at his death. George Bernard Shaw said, “It is an irony of fate that he who preached non-violence became a prey of violence.”

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ _____________

15. Mr. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM

Variously described as India’s ‘Missile Man’, a ‘Techo-Yogj’, Avul Pakir Jainulabddin (A.P.J.) Abdul Kalam became the twelfth President of India. With the outcome of the Presidential elections panning along expected lines, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was elected President getting nearly ninety percent of the vote value from the electoral college. He was administered the oath to this august office on July 25, 2002. Those who have known Abdul Kalam closely talk about his frugal lifestyle, humane nature and dedication-sometimes he packed in 18 hours of work in a day. He is a man guided by just one mission—_that every Indian should benefit from technology. lveryone who knows him speaks of his impeccable honesty and ability to steer clear of controversies Lt. General (retired) V. Sundaram, who headed missile programme under Kalam, said; “His simplicity and fairness has drawn a lot of us to him. He may take some time to pick up the threads, but I am sure he will succeed in his new assignment.”

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931 in a middle class Tamil family of a town called Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. He received his primary education in a local school of the pilgrimage town of Rameshwaram, His father, Mr. Jainulabddin was not a formally educated man but was well-informed about social and religious things and could read and write English quite well. His father greatly influenced and inspired Kalam in his early years of life. His mother, Ashyamma was a kind and generous lady who showed great affection for Kalam. Two other persons who influenced Kalam in his early life were—the head-priest of Rameshwaram temple, Mr. Lakshman Shastri, and his science teacher, Mr. Shiv Subramanya Aiyer.

After finishing his primary education at Rameshwaram panchayat elementary school, he was sent to Sehwartz School in Ramanathapuram town for further education. On finishing his school, he joined St. Joseph’s college at Tiruchirapalli and passed his B.Sc. Then he took up aeronautical engineering at Madras Institute of Technology. Kalam’s classmate and relative, M.M.A.Noordeen mentions that Kalam took up aeronautics on the advice of Professor Fr. Sequeira while he was at St. Joseph’s college.

In 1958, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam joined the Directorate of Technical Development and Production in the Ministry of Defence. But fame and adulation came to Kalam with S L V-3 project at the Indian Space Research Organisation. R. V. Perumal, the associate director at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, hailed Kalam for his fiery determination to make India a strong and rich nation. Kalam himself has noted four milestones in his career. The years at l.S.R.O.’; when ‘Agni’ met its mission requirements in 1994; the nuclear tests “which made me feel proud as an Indian”; and when he made lightweight callipers for children at the orthopaedic centre at the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad. The man who led the nuclear weaponisation programme and believed “only strength respects strength” is now involved in a brain research centre for mentally challenged children, a project to digitally format knowledge preserved on palm leaves a cochlea implant for deaf children.

For his achievement and services in various fields, he received various awards as recognition. In 1981, he was awarded Padma Bhushan. In 1990, he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan. The nation’s highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna was conferred on him in 1997. These awards testify that he used very little except hard work, motivation and practical approach to lead a brilliant team of what the world for long considered as garage technicians into changing the threat of perception towards India. This boat-owner’s son, who sold newspapers to pay his school fees, is the key behind India’s nuclear weapons programme, the country’s major meal-ticket in diplomacy.

Kalam is strict vegetarian (nicknamed Kalam lyer), teetotaller’ and remains a bachelor. He plays the Veena, writes poetry in Tamil and admires poet Subramanya Bharati. He prays twice a day, and can quote with equal ease from the Koran and the Bhagwad Gita. He says that India’s problem is not with its youth but its national vision. He writes: “The nation should have a vision. That vision should echo in Parliament and the nation should decide. The vision should further echo in family and among children.

Famous quote by him :

Intezar karne walon ko sirf utna milta hai jitna koshish karne wale chod diya karte hain.

_____________

14. PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Nuclear energy can be used for destruction as well as for construction. Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the witness that nuclear energy so far has been used for destructive purposes. Powerful nations have stockpiled nuclear arms which can destroy the world any day. But properly used for the benefit of man, nuclear energy can bring about greatest comforts and better living for all. Nuclear energy has been discovered at a time when it is clear that the earth’s resources of stored energy cannot last more than two hundred years. The world badly needs nuclear power and will need it more in the years to come.

In industry, nuclear radiations and radio-active materials are providing more accurate control in the production of better and cheaper things. In agriculture also, radiation is finding widespread use like to improve the present varieties of fruit, vegetables and crops. And it can be used for inventing new possibilities. It can be used to cure and stop killer diseases in plants so that the yield is increased.

The other main sphere where nuclear energy can help us greatly is the supply of cheap electricity. It can help in easy generation and regeneration of water to produce electricity. It would then easily reach the remote areas or backward countries which have irregular or absolutely no supply of electricity.

In the field of medical sciences, the diseases of the thyroid have been classified with the use of radio iodine which the gland absorbs far more easily. Then there is radiography which needs a small radioactive source and simple equipment. Nuclear energy in the form of laser has proved to be helpful in demolishing tumours, stones, etc. Laser treatment of the eyes has done very useful work.
Thus, with the help of nuclear power, a new dimension has been added to every field.

_____________

13. ELECTRICITY IN THE SERVICE OF MAN

The invention of electricity is one of the greatest wonders of science. This most valuable gift of science has proved to be a boon to mankind. It has become an essential thing in life without which comfortable life is not possible. There is no sphere of life in which it is not used these days. It has completely changed our world as it is very useful in many ways.

Electricity lights our cities, towns and villages. Just a push to a switch makes the darkest of the night full of the day-like illumination. It is used in offices to light them, to run photostat machines, to work typewriters and teleprinters, and to operate computers and other such devices.
In summer season electric fans, air coolers, air conditioners and air conditioning plants are run by electricity to keep houses, offices and other places cool and comfortable. In the season of winter cooking heaters, room heaters and heating plants in offices and factories are run by electricity. Electric bells, steam presses, telegraphs, telephones, refrigerators, machinery, radio, television, and hundred other devices cannot work without electricity.

Electric trains and trams run on electricity and make our journey cheaper, faster and more comfortable and at the same time smoke free. Electricity plays a significant role in industry and agriculture. Big and heavy machines are run by electricity and due to this production of goods and food has increased manifold. The power of electricity also runs cottage and small scale industries. Flour mills, crushers, saw mills and a number of other such devices function with electricity.

Thousand and thousands of newspapers, books, magazines, etc., are published daily. The printing of such a big number of these is made possible only by electricity. Life will not be worth living without such means of recreation as radio, television, cinema, etc., and these run on electricity.
Many diseases today are being cured by electric treatment. Human body can be aaalysed and diseases as well as fractures of bones can be examined by means of X-rays operated by electricity. Plastic surgery is the latest and most useful invention which is impossible without electricity. Thus, it is due to electricity that science has been able to lessen human pain and suffering.

It is not possible to enumerate all the uses to which electricity can be put. In fact, life, its comforts, conveniences, ease and prosperity depend on electricity. Today life without electricity is unthinkable. It is the single most valuable gift of science to humanity.

__________