While Anna Hazare and his disbanded team worked day and night to ensure that their fight against corruption could keep its sanctity intact, they failed miserably. And, one year since August 16 last year is not too short a period to write off Anna and his defunct team, given the fact that they are in tatters now. In my private discourse, I have been comparing Anna's movement/agitation with a rather completely contrasting in both degree and nature phenomenon of Revolt of 1857. Both proved great headache to the ruling dispensation at their very outset, but ultimately vanquished by the government's strategy. And, both prepared a mindset in the nation for a greater fight. The massive movements failed because they lacked organization and a clear strategy.
This strategy makes a clear distinction between Ramdev's movement and Anna's agitation. This explains why Anna and his erstwhile team failed to preserve the mass support and pouring that they got at the Ramlila Ground following the Independence Day celebrations last year. On his part, Ramdev has a better organization and a discreet but seemingly clear strategy to counter the government. Emotion can make people join a mass movement, but only an organization can keep them moving along the movement. This is where Ramdev is an improved Anna.
After last year's midnight swoop on sleeping protesters and supporters of Ramdev, who showed an utter cowardice while dealing with state action, the saffron leader looks wiser. He is drawing crowds, through his well established network throughout the country, close on the heels of a flop show by Team Anna. With latest act, Ramdev has somewhat salvage his lost pride. This may give some sleepless nights to the already weary UPA government, but if Ramdev supporters remain peaceful and do not misinterpret the yoga teacher's call for revolution, the anti-black money movement augurs well for India's democracy.
