E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi and Contemporary… 103West Asia the protestors had no recognized leadership, theleadership and stature of Hazare played a key role in the Indiancase. An indefinite fast undertaken by a person known for hisintegrity introduced a moral element of self- sacrifice, whichwas used as a source of public mobilization. One may questionthe propriety of having a super ombudsman in the country withthe authority to investigate and prosecute officials suspected ofabusing their public positions or whether it serves the countryany good to undermine the very political institutions having anelectoral mandate. The significance of the Hazare movementlay in its ability to bring the central government administrationto its knees using the resources that a modern-day non-violentmovement can marshal. It was the first time since independencethat the government had to yield to pressure from a non-violentmovement. Hence it has a demonstration effect on people whocould potentially consider nonviolent action as a future mode ofprotest.Participation of civil society leaders can be seen as apart and parcel of the democratic process and a bulwark againstcorporate lobbyists known for their ability to lobby forlegislation advantageous to them. Although, on occasions, theHazare movement resorted to practices that cannot be strictlydescribed as nonviolent such as engaging in personalizedattacks, the movement received unprecedented support fromurban population especially the youth. The demonstrations inthe Arab world also showed an explicit rejection of the AlQaeda strategy of violence. This is the culmination of a trendthat has been developing in the Arab and Islamic world forseveral years. While there was support for bin Laden and hismethods in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq, there has beena rapid decline from then on. The fact that some of theautocratic rulers in the Arab world could be removed by thesheer determination of unarmed people has inflicted a heavy