Something for everyone at Jantar Mantar

Different actions, activities and attitudes mark one end of Jantar Mantar Road where Anna Hazare is fasting demanding a Jan Lokpal Bill to fight graft in the country.

Arch lights have come up, candles have been lit and smoke-spewing earthen pots have been raised in the air. While ‘Vande Mataram’ is sung on the one end of the tent housing Hazare, the other side is alive with a synthesiser and drum beats. And in between a popular Hindi song “Is desh ka yaro kya kahna…” rent the air.

Different tunes and symbols seemed to be uniting against corruption  spontaneously. Mo­st of those streaming in and out are young people though several parents have also trooped in with children in tow.

A big crowd comprising wo­men and girls holding posters and banners shouting slogans “Bhrastachariyo ki kya davayi, Joota, Chappal aur Pitayi” troops into the gathering.

It is not a big place to accommodate the huge crowd but the flow of ‘Jasmine’ supporters is well regulated. One stream holds a banner ‘JNU’, another “Delhi Apradh Virodh Organisation” and yet another has a banner of a housing society. ‘Sri Sri Ravi Shanker is seen on the placard of ‘Art of living’. A number of university teachers have come with their students.

The different musical and vocal songs reach a crescendo as Hazare is set to outline his agreement with the government and the future roadmap.

Arguments and counter-arguments and conflicting views can be heard. But no one disagrees that corruption has reached an unbearable proportion. Poker-faced policemen have nothing to do but to watch the interesting hustle and bustle which is outmatching “the Janpath market crowd” at a stone’s throw from the Jantar Mantar. Idli-dosa shops are doing brisk business.

Television anchors have parked themselves on strategic positions. The vans of electronic media and their discs have ringed the protest venue. Foreign media, too, has evinced keen interest in the civil movement. Michael Peter from Germany is supportive of the movement. “This kind of protest is required. Corruption is the biggest enemy,” says the 45-year-old traveller.

 As one exits the are an old man enters. “Pressure is needed. It does not happen in one day. You see Englishmen took 100 years before we could get them out...,” he says as a parting shot. Did you hear that? Smelling “Jasmine” is a bit too strong.