Anti-corruption stir gains colour

People’s show of anguish against corruption got a artistic touch in the city on Thursday, what with the students of Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA) turning their body into canvas.

Led by Badal (Nanjundaswamy) an alumni of the institute, the students painted the body of their fellow friends with different facets of corruption- the social malaise, literally injecting strength to social crusader Anna Hazare’s movement. The venue again was ‘Gandhi Square’.

While one of the students lent his bare chest to adorn self with the map of India soaked in corruption, another was proud to display the portrait of Anna. Mime Ramesh from Rangayana was painted with currency notes in different denominations.

Inspired, a three-year-old boy Ronak had his right arm painted ‘Anna’ in Kannada and English, thanks to his mother who encouraged the ward.

On the other hand, college students came in a rally to Gandhi Square and joined India Against Corruption, that has been staging symbolic dharna under the banner of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) since Tuesday.

Akhila Bharateeya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP), Mysore unit that has discovered its strength, in the ongoing dharna, took initiative in bringing the students in a procession from the colleges like- Marimallappa’s, Government Devaraja, Vidya Vardhaka, Maharani’s among several others. The students rented slogans displaying patriotic fervour. Mention must be made of ‘Mike’ Chandru, a professional mike announcer who created awareness among the bus passengers in the day. He took buses on different routes and distributed pamphlets   to garner support for Anna’s fast.

SVYM founder president Dr R Balasubramaniam who has taken the lead, said that like Chandru there are many other volunteers who have been travelling in different parts of fhe city to educate the masses. He called for those interested to emulate them.

Earlier in the day, various Jain organisations took part in the demonstration expressing solidarity with the agitators. Sthanak Vasi Jain Yuva Sanghatan president Budhmal Baghmar, Sumithi Nath Nava Yuvak Mandal president Praveen Lunkar, Terapant Yuvak Mandal president Kailash Pitaliya, Rajendrasuri Mandal Sajjanraj president JCI MRC Susheel led their members including women in protest.

Members of Swabhimani Karnataka Rakshana Vedike took out a two-wheeler rally, while a section of students went around the city on motorbikes waving tricolour. Litterateurs Arvind Malagathi and Hi Shi Ramachandregowda, H R Bapu Satyanarayana, members of Akshara Patashale, Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, Maj. Gen. (retd) S J Vombatkere were prominent among protest participants.

Other places too

Apart from Gandhi Square, two other organisations staged protest demonstrations in different parts. Bhrashtachara Virodhi Andolan sat on day-long symbolic fast at Kamsale Mahadevaiah Circle (near St Mary’s Convent) in Chamundipuram. Corporator M V Ramprasad and others participated in the stir. Members of Communist Party of India (CPI) Mysore district unit waved red flags in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s bust opposite Law Court’s complex. Police in New Delhi must grant unconditional permission for Anna to carry on the stir they said.