I have enough reasons to believe that all these chaotic situations will soon vanish like the morning mist. And the greatness of the country will shine with redoubled intensity.  “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” It makes no difference to me if those determined spirits are headed by Kisan Babu Rao Hazare or are led by an elected Government. It makes no difference to me so long as they truly and sincerely work for a better future of the nation. “Truth and non-violence are as old as the hills.” And I ardently hope these basic spiritual qualities are firmly ingrained in our conscience first. And I would bestow all my blessings to a nation that goes for ‘SWARAJ’ or Self-rule.

By self-rule I mean governance not by a hierarchical government but self governance through political decentralization and community building. I consider direct democracy as the best form of governance for India out of my conviction that India is a nation of diversity and a larger section of people are illiterate. Sparring leaders cannot successfully run a parliamentary democracy of the British-Westminster-model. And Mr. Hazare’s mission to decentralize political authority will pave the way for 

Throughout my life I experimented with truth and derived all my strength from truth and non-violence. Truth is all powerful but it takes time to prevail in the end.   During my life-time I had learned this lesson. I had learnt it when I fought with the British. The oppressive forces use all techniques of suppression. “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.” And if Mr. Hazare is ignored, ridiculed or fought, I am not surprised but I am aggrieved because after 66 years of Political independence also the things have not changed much. I repeat that we have political independence and a so-called democracy which have now become utterly useless.   

When I left the world-stage, I had fervently wished for the rule of truth and justice, honesty and transparency, and equality and brotherhood in this country. I had envisioned a nation that respected all religions. Elimination of untouchability and formation of a casteless society were my motto. And I had picturized a shinning India that protected all its citizens, including minorities of different kinds that had made up this country.  But now I see there is no truth and justice, there is no honesty and transparency, and there is no brotherhood. Religion is used to divide people and create bloodshed. Untouchability still suffocates the weak and downtrodden citizens of this country.

My heart pains. I am aggrieved because with the passage of time the situations have worsened. We fought as slaves against the British but under the leadership of Mr. Hazare Indians have to fight as FREEMEN against a corrupt system and a degenerated democracy. And this is the cruel irony that shatters my heart.

The ideal for which Mr. Hazare has made his stand draws my hearty support and blessings. But he needs to respect the leaders of the country who are elected by common suffrage. We had not sent the British back in one day. Patience and strong determination are indispensable because the circumstances are more sensitive and more precarious as compared to the older days. In my days we fought against the foreigners, but Mr. Hazare is fighting against our own country Ministers. Hence, he needs a great deal of understanding to reach his goals.The corrupt leaders are also our people so a real attitudinal change and a general spiritual uplift are the need of the hour. Therefore,  wait patiently, convince people, brain wash the people about the need for a strong Lokpal bill, form a new party, gather their support to vote, fight elections, win elections, pass all the desired bills. Of course, it will take time to achieve.

I strongly appeal Mr. Hazare to use Satyagrah as a weapon, not as a threat to fast till death. I had undertaken 17 fasts in all, of which three were major fasts-unto-death. All these three had the objective of uniting people against violence, rather than extracting specific concessions from the colonial State. I mean I did not, for instance, went on a fast-unto-death to demand the withdrawal of the salt tax; I had launched instead a movement against it. And at no stage did I ever consider going on a fast-unto-death to demand India’s independence; instead I launched movement after movement for achieving it.  Underlying such a fast-unto-death is the threat of violence: unless you concede my demand, I shall end my life, and in that case you will be swept aside by a torrent of violence that the people, angered by my death, will visit upon you; hence you better concede my demand. A fast-unto-death directed against the government or some specific institution to extract a specific set of demands is therefore an implicit act of violence; it holds out an implicit threat of violence and its success is predicated upon the credibility of this threat. Even when the cause for which such a fast is undertaken is a noble one, the nature of this threat is no different from that of an extortionist who demands that all one’s belongings should be handed over peacefully, failing which violence would be visited upon one. And I differ from Mr. Hazare in this regard.

At the end I would like to extend my best wishes to Mr. Hazare because he had already taken a stick in his hand. He should catch the stray dog without breaking the stick and avoid its bite. It is upto the tactics of Anna.