When they marched along the American west coast
with a mission in their minds to save India from the whirlpool of
corruption, more and more Indians living in the United States of America
turned up in group to encourage them. The ‘Dandi March second’ from San
Diego to San Francisco has become a big event when the walk spread across
the globe through social networking sites like Face book and Twitter.
A six member Indian team with
tricolor flag moved the streets; young and old alike came to them
enthusiastically. They provided the team food, water and shelter along with
their whole hearted support .When the march moved ahead, a common platform,
and a unique blend of Indianness has been invigorating, against corruption.
The team significantly called their initiative as Dandi March second with
Gandhiji’s way of protest in mind. Mahatma Gandhi marched 240 miles (320
kilometers) from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, to unshackle India from the
clutches of British rule. Their small initiative has become a big event when
the walk spread across the globe through social networking sites like
Twitter and Face book.
One of the core members of the team, Sasidhar Kalagara, lead software
engineer, Los Angeles spoke to M. Rajesh for Calicutnet, its objective and
incredible experiences. Excerpt from an exclusive email interview:
What prompted you to organize such an
innovative ‘walk’?
Corruption has been growing alarmingly and public money has been either
looted or misused widely in India. As concerned citizens of the mother
country, we really wanted to do something, at least to make a common
platform to think against corruption. We don’t want to ditch about it, when
something happens. The very thought of making all Indians alert on the
corruption issue became a motivation to us.
How did you discuss the mission and
realize it among your team?
We consist of a group with five to six people who planned this idea and
started looking for all the possibilities to make this happen. We began
working with cities in the US for taking permissions. Simultaneously, we co-ordinated
all like-minded groups who would come forward in support of this cause. We
started using social media to share the information in face book and
twitter. It embarked on getting momentum and we have requests from different
corners of the globe that they would like to organize similar events in
their city in support of our walk. So we prepared common documentation and
shared information with global groups.
How was the response from the people?
We got an amazing response, as we have more than 400 people who participated
in various legs for the last ten days since we begun on 12th March though we
have only six people who engaged full time in 240 mile route from Sandiego
to San Francisco. We have more than twenty cities across US, organizing
walks on March 26th, in harmony with our mission. We also coordinated walks
across the globe in various countries and more than fifty centers in India.
Is it effective to make such move outside
India?
We thought it would be a platform across the world to bring all concerned
citizens of the country on one common platform to get this evil fixed.
Whether it is in India or outside India, we should fight for the change of
our corruption-driven system and make sure tainted are punished and the
money plundered should be brought back and used for the development of the
nation. We should have system in such way that everyone should be afraid of
indulge in corruption.
What is the most important aspect of
Indian corruption, in NRI point of view and how it can be tackled?
We should have independent anti- corruption agency which deals with
corruption at all levels. It should have power to investigate and punish
anyone who loot public money. The present anti -corruption bodies are
obliged to the regime and investigating bodies whereas the decision making
power is still centered on government. When a member of the ruling party
itself is corrupted, how they will be able to take action against him?
So itself, the agency should be free of government interference. In many
cases they are arrested and released after sometime. But the money plundered
will still remain with them and they will happily enjoy it after they come
out of the jail. This march emulates Mahatma Gandhi’s march for Indian
freedom; our fight is aimed to bring freedom from corruption in India and to
enact a crucial “Jan Lokpal” bill.
Do you think India's image has become a
“scam driven country”?
All the recent scams have created a bad image for the country, globally. But
we are not pointing fingers on who is wrong. We are pointing out that our
system is weak and we need make changes to the structure that it becomes
strong. So that we won't see such instances in future.
Most cherished moments?
One of our core members got a call from an editor from Chhattisgarh
newspaper one day, asking for more information. After discussing with us he
straight away booked his tickets and flew to US. He has walked all the way
for covering the whole event. We have one more person at the age of seventy,
Mr.Kewal from Tucson, Arizona. Heard about this on television, he was
inspired by our mission and in no time, he joined us for the walking.
A supporting march was organized in Chennai on 26th March along with many
other cities in India and abroad on the account of conclusion of the USA
march.
“As many as 200 social activists and Gandhians took part in the march
organized at Marina Beach.S.P Ambross; retired IAS officer inaugurated.
Prominent Gandhian Kumari Ananthan addressed the gathering near Gandhi
statue. “-told A. Subramani, one of the Indian coordinators of Dandi March
second to Calicut net.
Varma Dantuluri, Sripal Reddy, Prasanna Meda, Ravindra Nandam, Sreekanth
Kocharlakota and Pooja Tripathi are among the other core group members of
Dandi March second.
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