Anna launched book "Swaraj", written by Kejriwal

Amid the indefinite fast launched by Anna Hazare at the Jantar-Mantar, there was a moment to relax when he launched a book named "Swaraj" written by his key aide Arvind Kejriwal. The book as it appears, has been penned down by Arvind Kejriwal and it focus on the agitation against corruption and how to achieve Swaraj.

During launching the book, Anna said, "This book is a manifesto for our times and for the anti-corruption movement, and an effective model for a nation to achieve true Swaraj."

The book tells how 2011 become a milestone for the agitation against corruption by Anna and his team. The fakir from Ralegaon Siddhi shook the bastions of power in Delhi to their foundations. Even the middle class and the elite, who normally confine them to drawing room discussions on politics, joined the movement and took to the streets.

Needless to say Arvind Kejriwal played a key role in the agitation. The main demand of the group was the implementation of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The political class made many promises, but nothing much actually happened, the bill has still not been passed by the Parliament.

This book shows us the way forward, what we the people and what the opinion makers and political establishment in India can do to achieve true Swaraj- Lokpal is only one facet of this true devolution of power to the people. Kejriwal's vision deserves consideration by anyone who wants power to rest with the people, not with netas.

Book, which cost Rs. 99 has been published by HarperCollins India. Although the book is available at Rs. 40 only at the Jantar-Mantar fast venue.

About the author: Arvind Kejriwal is a social activist fighting for transparent and participatory governance. He is considered to be one of the main architects of the Jan Lokpal movement or the Anna movement, which shook the nation in 2011. He graduated in mechanical engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1989 and joined Tata Steel. In 1992, he joined India Revenue Service (IRS). He took a long leave from the government in the year 2000 to set up an NGO, Parivartan. In 2006, he resigned from the government. In 2006, he was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award for his work on Right To Information (RTI).