Saluting Satyagrahis of Anti Corruption movement

Anti Corruption movement has gone deep into the smaller towns of India.  Gandhian Anna Hazare has been on indefinite fast for the past 10 days since 16th August, demanding Jan Lokpal.  The Government has not shown any serious concern for the public sentiments.  Many of the middle class youngsters have come on street across the nation holding national flags and chanting Jai Hind.  The recent exposures of scams like 2G, CWG have angered people and they want a better governance.

Satyagrahis at LB Road, Chennai who completed 10 days of fast

Thousands of Satyagrahis on indefinite fast along with Anna Hazare in many centres.  Due to health conditions, some of the Satyagrahis were advised by doctors to drop out.  Today (26th August 2011), India Against Corruption organisers at Delhi have advised all the Satyagrahis to withdraw from indefinite fast on the 11th day, so that they could focus on other protests.  However Anna Hazare is continuing his fast, till the Government agrees to pass a legislation.

At Chennai, 18 Satyagrahis completed their fast on the 11th day.  Norre Vattan, another partner group of Action 2020 have started indefinite fast three days back in support of Anna Hazare and they said they would continue till Anna Hazare stops his fast.  

India Vision Group and Action 2020 Team salute the great Satyagrahis for their patriotism and commitment to the nation.  Please see the pictures of those great men and women who are fighting for the nation.

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Quit India Movement 1942 - interesting historical facts

Today is 9th August 2011.  The same day, 69 years back, i.e. 9th August 1942 is one of the important days in the history of Indian freedom movement.

I am sharing the following interesting information for the knowledge of our young and old generation.  This will give some idea about the sacrifice made by our leaders during the freedom struggle.

World war II and Gripps Mission

The Second World War started in the year 1939 between Britain and Germany.   In 1942, then British Governor involved India, without consulting Congress leaders.  This angered the Congress leaders.

In March 1942, British Government sent a delegation under the leadership of Stafford Cripps, what is popularly known as Cripps Missin, to negotiate with Congress leaders and make them to agree to participate in the war on the Britain side, in turn for a promise of freedom.  The leaders did not agree for the proposal, as they wanted to maintain neutrality in the war.  

Preparation for civil disobedience

On July 14, 1942, Indian National Congress passed a resolution demanding complete freedom to India from British.  The resolution also stated that if the British did not accept the demand, Congress would start a 'mass civil disobedience'.

Since Britain was engaged in the peak of world war II, this resolution met with some controversy.  Sri C Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) also opposed the resolution and he even quit the Congress. (Rajaji joined back Congress later)  Rajaji  was telling Congress that time was not a right time to go for civil disobedience, as the entire world was engaged in World War II.  But all other Senior leaders accepted this resolution.  Even other political parties like Communists, Hindu Maha Saha and Muslim League did not support the call.

"Do or die' call in the historic session on 7th August 1942

The historic session of Indian National Congress was held from 7th August 1942 at Gowalia Tank Maidan, Mumbai (now known as August Kranti Maidan).  In the midnight of 8th/9th August 1942, the Congress passed the famous 'Quit India resolution', which electrified the country.  This has become the popular 'Quit India Movement' and mass civil disobedience movement was launched with Mahatma Gandhi's "Do or die" call.

Quit India movement turning violent

Within few hours of the resolution and call, all the national leaders were arrested.  Since there were no leaders  outside, the movement became violent.  The people burnt the Govt. offices and violence could not be controlled by the Congress.  British Govt. moved the army and more than one lakh people were arrested.  During this period, the contact of the leaders with the masses were cut off. During this period, Mahatma Gandhi lost his wife Kasturba Gandhi and his trusted secretary Mahadev Desai, who were also in the jail.  Mahatma also was losing health. 

Different reasons for 'violence' like absence of top leaders, mistaken impression of do or die call, inducement by British rulers indirectly are attributed .

Huge crowd at Gowalia Tank Maidan on 9th August 1942

Hoisting of Indian Tri-Colour

When the Quit India movement was started on 9th August 1942, British Police treated the masses brutally.  At that time, Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the Indian Tricolour in the Gowalia Tank Maidan proudly.  This was the first time, when Indian Triclour was hoisted.  

Underground radio station

During the movement time, Aruna Asaf Ali and Usha Mehta (a student) were broadcasting the underground news through an underground radio station (42.34 metres).  They were shifting the broadcasting equipment frequently, to avoid being captured by British Police. 

It may be noted that all the leaders and freedom fighters  who participated in the movement were released only after three years, after the World War II ended.  

Freedom to India

After the World War II,  Labour Party won the elections and captured power in Britain.  They took initiative to transfer power to the interim Government headed by Pandit Nehru.  India got the full Independence on 15th August 1947.

Though Quit India movement has generated controversies at that time, definitely, this movement is being considered as one of the important milestones in Indian freedom movement, to force the Britain to handover the power to Indian leaders.

On this day, let us salute those brave freedom fighters for their great sacrifice.  

Jai Hind

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6th UnConference of Action 2020 focuses on career guidance and edu loans

Action 2020 is a platform for more than 30 like minded youth organisations to come together, deliberate on various individual and common projects.  This is part of the online India Vision Group.  The leaders of Action 2020 team used to meet every year during January and July as 'UnConference', to deliberate on their achievements and failures.  In the concept of UnConference, all the participats are equal and every one particpates equally.  Though a broad agenda is fixed earlier, the agenda is finalised based on the needs of the participating members.

Kannagi Nagar Project

6th of such UnConference was held on Saturday the 6th August (this year delayed by a week), at Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School.  40 leaders/representatives from 25 member organistions participated.  During this UnConference the members reviewed the common projects like 'Kannagi Nagar Project', where some of the member organisations actively participate along with Chennai Police and Rotary Club of Madras East, to decriminalise the area. Vinod of Azreya, the Project coordinator explained the activities  Many teams from Action 2020 are involved in this project.  Suyam is providing technical support. 

Education Loan Task Force

Through Education Loan Task Force (ELTF), Action 2020 is creating awareness about education loan to students and parents across the nation and also take up the cases, where poor and intelligent students are harased by banks, with higher authorities.  Through ELTF, the banks reconsidered and reopened the cases of nearly 300 poor and brilliant students for granting education loan.  Strategies for creating edu loan awareness were also planned.  K. Srinivasan, Convenor of ELTF clarified many of the doubts along with Mr Ravikumar, Coordinator of Action 2020. 

Career Guidance Programme

In many of the rural centres, students do not get proper guidance to plan their career and studies.  It was also decided to start a career guidance programme to the rural students through our volunteer network.  Initially, it was decided to start the programme at Nagappatinam district as a pilot project. Shiva and Ravi, coordinators of Action 2020 will be coordinating this project.

Rules and procedures for registering and managing trusts

Many of the youngsters group together to do social work.  They do it informally.  Many of them want to formalise through trust or any offcial body.  Expert input was given on the various procedures governing trusts, societies, etc.  Mr Nandhakumar, Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai and Mr Prasanna, a social worker shared the rules and procedures for formation of a trust and other formalities to be complied with. 

'Thuli' event - competition for special children 

This year's UnConference was made to coincide with the annual event 'Thuli' organised by Punnagai and Dream India in the same veneue.  Nearly 400 children from various homes and orphanages participated.  They participated in various competitions and entertainment and bagged lot of awards.  Punnagai and Dream India are the partner organisations of Action 2020.  Through this 'Thuli' event, they were able to motivate the young special children to achieve more and more.

Natarajan of Dream India and Aum Murugan of Aum Foundation took the lead in organsing the UnConference jointly with 'Tuli' project.

The tag-line of Action 2020 is 'Together to act'.  All the team members have individual capabilities and strength.  When, we pool all the strengths together, the members are able to achieve more than what they could do.  

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