Hatred for Corruption is universal. The cancer of corruption has inflicted pain, misery and injustice on all citizens for years and years. It knew no bounds, no caste, creed or color. It is no respecter of ethnicity or age. Corruption has slain the happiness of mankind all over the world. The greatest tragedy of the fact is that suffering and misery inflicted by corruption upon a brother is caused by another brother by manipulating systems of authority. The greatest hope and advantage therefore, to win over corruption is to heal the brother causing corruption upon his victim brother. This is where Anna Hazare and his Team are working at today. And therefore, to the people of Dimapur in particular and of Nagaland in general, I say that this simple moment of expression of solidarity with Anna Hazare and his noble crusade against corruption this evening through a peaceful Candle light procession in Dimapur is most timely, relevant, historic and important for all of us which will greatly benefit all those who suffer the scars of corruption alone in silence. The victory of Anna Hazare and his Team in Delhi will reverberate across the country including Nagaland and the Northeast and will usher in hope and opportunity in all spheres life.
Much has been written and telecast about Anna Hazare, the Lok Pal Bill and his mission against corruption for months. And yet, we may not have thought about the man and his purpose seriously till this evening.
Anna Hazare was a former soldier who fought for his country during the Indo-Chinese War of 1962 and the Indo-Pak War of 1965. He once contemplated suicide on railway tracks of Delhi due to frustration in life but was revived by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. Retiring from the Army in 1978, he returned to his village in Ralegaon Siddhi, Ahmadnagar in Maharashtra and worked for the upliftment of his people. Seeing development works so strangled by corruption and red tapism, he formed a public movement against corruption in 1991 called Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Aandolan (BVJA) through which he restored much of the privileges of the downtrodden. From there on, he never looked back. A man inspired by the teachings of Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, he remained a bachelor to be fully devoted to the welfare of suffering people adopting his most popular tool-a non-violent hunger strike or fasting. A man who has restored hundreds of crores of rupees to the poor, Anna Hazare still lives without any Bank balance!
The Jan Lokpal Bill drafted by Anna and Team empowers civil activists and common man to investigate and prosecute people in power for corruption. The Bill when passed in Parliament, will change the history of India and even affect justice systems in the world. Anna Hazare and Team has become the “anti-biotic” against the virus of corruption. Change will now flow from the Ram Lila ground to the rest of India in the crusade against corruption. Healing is near. No doubt evil forces of corruption will tremble and fight against righteousness to neutralize the effects of Anna movement, it is however in the best interest of the Country if the Government chose to accede to the noble desire of the people for the liberation of India in its Second Freedom movement started by the 74-year old modern Gandhi.
If there is any people which is in urgent need of healing against corruption, it is indeed Nagaland. People of Nagaland must embrace without hesitation, the principles of justice against corruption promoted by Anna Hazare and Team. God bless the movement which seeks to heal the sufferings of man.
Much has been written and telecast about Anna Hazare, the Lok Pal Bill and his mission against corruption for months. And yet, we may not have thought about the man and his purpose seriously till this evening.
Anna Hazare was a former soldier who fought for his country during the Indo-Chinese War of 1962 and the Indo-Pak War of 1965. He once contemplated suicide on railway tracks of Delhi due to frustration in life but was revived by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. Retiring from the Army in 1978, he returned to his village in Ralegaon Siddhi, Ahmadnagar in Maharashtra and worked for the upliftment of his people. Seeing development works so strangled by corruption and red tapism, he formed a public movement against corruption in 1991 called Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Aandolan (BVJA) through which he restored much of the privileges of the downtrodden. From there on, he never looked back. A man inspired by the teachings of Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, he remained a bachelor to be fully devoted to the welfare of suffering people adopting his most popular tool-a non-violent hunger strike or fasting. A man who has restored hundreds of crores of rupees to the poor, Anna Hazare still lives without any Bank balance!
The Jan Lokpal Bill drafted by Anna and Team empowers civil activists and common man to investigate and prosecute people in power for corruption. The Bill when passed in Parliament, will change the history of India and even affect justice systems in the world. Anna Hazare and Team has become the “anti-biotic” against the virus of corruption. Change will now flow from the Ram Lila ground to the rest of India in the crusade against corruption. Healing is near. No doubt evil forces of corruption will tremble and fight against righteousness to neutralize the effects of Anna movement, it is however in the best interest of the Country if the Government chose to accede to the noble desire of the people for the liberation of India in its Second Freedom movement started by the 74-year old modern Gandhi.
If there is any people which is in urgent need of healing against corruption, it is indeed Nagaland. People of Nagaland must embrace without hesitation, the principles of justice against corruption promoted by Anna Hazare and Team. God bless the movement which seeks to heal the sufferings of man.
(The above is the speech of Savi Liegise, President of Naga Council Dimapur delivered during the Candle Light Procession in support of Anna Hazare and Team in the protest against corruption and for passage of Jan Lokpal Bill held at August 19, 2011 City Tower, Dimapur, Nagaland)
