Victory flags were put up in almost every house in Anna Hazare’s village Ralegan Siddhi where celebrations erupted as the 74-year-old activist broke his 12-day fast at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday.
As Anna broke his fast, thousands assembled to celebrate. “Today is an Independence Day. We have won the second freedom struggle today,” said Subhash Pathare, a school teacher.
Sarpanch Jaisinghrao Mapari added, “We are celebrating a successful revolution. We were not there when Gandhiji fought for our country’s freedom struggle. But we have experienced it while working in this second freedom struggle with this Gandhi of our times.”
The residents of Ralegan Siddhi have fought every struggle that Hazare took up in the past and have celebrated his every victory. But the celebrations on Sunday were unprecedented.
In each household a gudi was hoisted along with a Tricolour and rangolis were drawn in front of the doors. Almost everybody assembled at Yadavbaba Temple ground and danced to patriotic songs including Mere Desh Ki Dharati,Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawano Ka and Kailash Kher’s song on Jan Lokpal Ambar Tak Yehi Naad Gunjenga. “Even the August 15 celebrations were not as good as this,” said Pawan Auti, a class 12 student from Ralegan. “It’s not as if someone has told us to celebrate with such enthusiasm. We feel like doing it.”
“We have celebrated Anna’s victories before but this is first time women are dancing, shedding all inhibitions,” said Kaushalya, daughter-in-law of Anna’s brother Maruti Hazare.
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