Independence Day blackout for Mumbai, maybe
Lights out? Here's what you do. Find a big stick, glue a steel tumbler to the top ...Never mind that in the lead-up to Independence Day more people in India were searching for Lady Gaga on Google than for citizen ombudsman Anna Hazare, whose fast unto death for the eradication of illiteracy, hunger and corruption in India is set to begin tomorrow.
The question many Mumbaikars and Indians are asking themselves today is whether responding to Hazare's call to switch off their lights from 8-9 p.m is an appropriate expression of patriotism?
"On August 15, at 7 p.m., Anna will appeal to the nation to join the hunger strike for the sake of the country and appeal to everyone to turn out their lights between 8-9 p.m.," Arvind Kejriwal of Team Anna told reporters last week.
"We appeal that in that one hour of darkness, they should light a diya [an earthen lamp] which will signify a ray of hope to remove illiteracy, hunger and corruption from this country," Kejriwal added.
But with the Union government and Hazare's war of words escalating over the weekend -- it's Congress accusing Hazare of corruption this time -- the lights-out campaign itself may get snuffed out.
Either way, Independence Day 2011 will likely be remembered for the dramatic efforts of Maharastrian social activist Anna Hazare.
