A Day with Anna- Part -3

Often, the day at the ground sees a steady stream of religious leaders – Swami Agnivesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. As they share the stage with Anna Hazare, sadhus in the crowd cheer.


Volunteers hand out pamphlets in Hindi and English on the Jan Lokpal Bill, which Team Anna insists can deal with corruption much more effectively than can the Lokpal Bill tabled by the Government in Parliament.


The concern for Anna is all pervasive. Online there's a queue of tweets for prayers on Anna's health and well being. Offline, at the ground, the crowds are remarkably restrained. Anna comes on stage to a huge roar and says he is fine, despite the 5.5 kilos drained over the last eight days.
Not just at the ground, but just outside is a decent-size crowd. The crowd never dwindles – as some leave, others come. The Delhi Metro is their preferred choice of vehicle to reach Anna, to make their voice heard and to do, as they believe, something tangible for the country.

Posters and placards are an inherent part of any campaign. The Ramlila Maidan sees scores of cloth and paper banners and posters - sometimes with a touch of humour, cynicism or just the plain truth.

There's music for the soul too, synchronized, spontaneous , loud , adding strength and colour to the campaign.

As the day winds down, the crowd looks to the dias and the man holding centrestage, waiting for his next move.

Backroom talks, on-camera bytes, assurances, passionate speeches, slogans, a day at the ground sees all this and more. It sees a frail 74-year-old refusing to relent.

Singers, prominent personalities share the stage to uplift the spirit. The crowd makes its own music and song to boost flagging spirit and nourish tired bodies.

Most of the day, Anna Hazare lies on the stage on a mattress, propped by several bolsters. At times he shifts indoors or addresses the crowd before calling it a day.

At the Ramlila Ground, the night will give way to another day. Another day with hours that count down to history as it unfolds.

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