Power of truth

All of us read in our history books that a saint named Mahatma Gandhi got our independence from Britishers. He used non violent means of protests. But i always wondered what is non violent means of protests. You do hunger fasts, dharnas, refuse to wear foreigner clothes, leave your jobs and don't take your salary. In other words since you are suffering so you take on more suffering. And if above all are not enough you should be also prepared to go to jail and face police brutality. But you can not strike back at the system. What is this, why would have Britishers left because of this. Indeed India gained independence after the second world war. At that time several countries gained independence from Britishers, since England was too weak to govern its large empire after second world war. So it does not seem to me that Gandhi's method had any significant impact on date of our independence. When i read history books than it seemed to me that his methods rather worked to delay a mass armed uprising against british. As people who wanted to remove the Britishers used to adopt to non violent mean to vent out their anger. Though indeed it is up to argument whether such a rebellion was possible in un-united India and what it might have achieved.

But now more than half century after his death, Anna Hazare is using his methods to fight against corruption. Some say his methods are unconstitutional. Some say his methods are undemocratic. But since when Gandhi's methods have become unconstitutional and undemocratic in our country. Since when fasting is assault to our democracy. Who is Anna Hazare ? Why cannot our government would have ignored him. This UPA government is the most stable government since 1991 congress government. This congress government is not dependent on whims of 10 20 MPs. It is a government elected by elections where 41.7 crores citizens voted. Still the government is so easily bowing down to Anna's demands. Except few points all the parties has agreed to all the demands of Anna. And how much open support he has. Except people circulating posts on facebook for likes how many people have hit the streets, may be lakhs at most a few million in a country of 1,250 million people. Still government is afraid why because truth cannot be denied. A government which is assortment of corrupt politicians have no power to act on any principle because they don't have any principle either. But the same government has been fighting terrorism and naxalism. Thousands of life has been lost on both sides against fight with naxalism over two decades still no progress has been made. But a 74 year old man who is fasting for 14 days who certainly is not going to allowed to fast till death has shook the conscience of nation.

Its is not known how much dilly dallying will take place. How much time government will take to implement what it agrees to. But Anna Hazare has shown power of Gandhi ji methods. Infact in our democracy they can be only stronger.