Anna Hazare was born on 15th January, 1940 in Bhingar village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state to Babu Rao Hazare and Laxmi Bai. His parents christened him as Kisan Bapat Baburao Hazare.
Anna Hazare was raised up by his childless aunt. He couldn’t pursue his studies beyond 7th standard due to family reasons. He started his career as a driver in Indian army in 1963. He served Indian army for a span of 15 years. During this time, he faced postings in various parts of country and in varied and sometimes harsh weather conditions. Sikkim, Leh and Laddakh, Assam, Bhutan, Mizoram are some of the main stations where he was posted. He also witnessed Indo-Pakistan war in 1965 and he escaped death in an air strike when all of his companions couldn’t survive and became martyrs. He took a voluntary retirement from the Army services in the year 1978.
Clad in a white dhoti, and a white Gandhian cap, he has emerged as one of the most influential non political leader this nation has witnessed since independence. In 1991 Anna started his campaign against corruption. The first case disclosed was that of irregularities done by 42 Forest Officers who duped the government. He had to fight a long battle to get these officials the quantum of punishment they deserved. Afterwards various scams in land dealing and other banking projects were exposed due to the unending efforts of Anna Hazare.
He has won various awards for his dedicated and sincere contribution to the society. Padam Bhusan and Padam shree award winner Anna Hazare lives on his army pension in a small room in Ralegan Sidhi, a village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state. The village is the best example of his vision and perspiration. He has dramatically improved the ecology of drought prone barren land, proportionally increasing the self sufficiency of the inhabitants and raising their economical condition. The village sets the best example of an ‘ideal model village.’ It is due to his efforts only that the state government has started a new ‘model village’ scheme to follow his footsteps.
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“Fight against corruption” is his main agenda and he is advocating implementation of long deferred ‘Jan Lokpal Bill’ as a commencement of the battle. Though, he was working as a social worker for more than two decades but it was recently that he received national attention and support. He stood his grounds firm while asking government to implement long stranded Lok Pal Bill. His 12 days fasting until death while surviving only on plain water demands the highest degree of inner strength and faith in cause. A spinster and a Spartan demeanour lead the whole country and rang a sharp bell in the deaf ears of the government and bureaucracy.
It was impeccable to watch the public support he had gained. He had pressed the nerve of the public. Corruption is a hard known fact. Everyone wants a respite but the people are unable to voice their opinion. In Anna, they found a representative with a clean image and strong determination who can lead them from the front. A protest of 12 days with people pouring in lakhs and the ever increasing statistics showed the highest levels of discipline and tolerance. Indian youth has set up an awesome example of tolerance and civility. His popularity was very much evident on social networking sites and the chat rooms. The youth is totally mesmerized with the simplicity this Gandhian has showcased.