To Save Gandhi’s Legacy
The Satyagraha being held in front of the Rajghat premises in Varanasi to save the legacy of democratic India developed during the freedom movement and the guiding principle of governance—the Constitution, has reached its 76th day today. Initiated on September 11 (Vinoba Jayanti) by the Sarva Seva Sangh, the “Light the Lamps of Justice – 100-day Satyagraha” will culminate on December 19, 2024. On its 76th day, the Satyagraha began with an all-religion prayer and a Gita recitation.
Surendra Narayan Singh energized the Satyagraha venue with the hymn, “Kaabe mein tera jalwa, Kashi mein nazara hai; Mujhe ye bhi pyara hai, mujhe vo bhi pyara hai”, while Shakti Kumar’s Gita recitation delved deep into the ocean of knowledge.
Today’s fasting participant, Arvind Anjum from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, is inspired by the aura of the Jayaprakash Movement and became a member of the Student-Youth Struggle Front established by him. During the Bodh Gaya Movement, following the Masitpur Firing Incident on August 8, 1979, Anjum went to Bodh Gaya, where he was arrested with others. At that time, he was an intermediate student at Patna College. He spent a month in Gaya Central Jail, marking his first practical experience. In 1980, he returned to Jamshedpur for further studies and was arrested a second time while protesting against Tata Motors for grabbing tribal land in the HUDCO area. He spent 14 days in Jamshedpur jail with his companion Umesh from the Front. His third arrest occurred while protesting outside the residence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
In 1996, he was attacked by mafia goons during a demonstration preparation at the project headquarters, severely injuring his left eye and losing its vision.
After completing his MA in History from Ranchi University in 1987, Anjum became a full-time worker for the Front. He actively participated in the resettlement movement in Chandil, linked to the Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project, contributing to efforts to formulate resettlement policies and national rehabilitation laws. In 1996, he was attacked by mafia goons during a demonstration preparation at the project headquarters, severely injuring his left eye and losing its vision.
In 2005, he actively opposed over 100 MOUs signed by the BJP government in Jharkhand for indiscriminate industrial development, leading the Displacement Opposition Movement. His involvement also brought success in securing displaced people’s rights over fisheries and tourism in Chandil Dam through the Displaced Liberation Front Movement. Anjum served as a full-time member of the People’s Liberation Struggle Front for two and a half decades.
In 2016, he took on the role of coordinator for the Sarva Seva Sangh Publications in Varanasi. Currently, he is connected with the People’s Liberation Struggle Front and actively involved in the movement against the demolition of the Sarva Seva Sangh campus, serving as the Secretary and Coordinator of the Rajghat Complex.
Government officials have allegedly misled courts from lower levels to the Supreme Court with false affidavits.
Arvind Anjum stated that the takeover of the Sarva Seva Sangh campus hides corporate interests. He accused the local commissioner Kaushalraj Sharma, under instructions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of conspiratorially grabbing the premises to develop malls, hotels, and water parks, which would ultimately be handed over to Adani and Ambani. He claimed that Sarva Seva Sangh possesses documentary evidence against these officials, which has been submitted to the court. These officials have allegedly misled courts from lower levels to the Supreme Court with false affidavits. He expressed confidence that justice will punish those involved.
Brijesh Sharma, president of the Farmers’ Assembly, remarked that the BJP government is anti-farmer and anti-democracy. Despite repealing the three farm laws, no relief measures have been provided for farmers. He called it a deceptive government that won elections through dishonesty.
Other participants in today’s Satyagraha included Ram Dheeraj, President of the Uttar Pradesh Sarvodaya Mandal, senior Gandhian Vidyadhar, writer and journalist Shakti Kumar, National Farmers’ Assembly President Brijesh Kumar Sharma, Lok Samiti leader Nandlal Master, Tarkeshwar Singh, Surendra Narayan Singh, Mahendra Kumar, Sonu Kumar, Sister Florine, Manohar Manav from Chhapra, Bihar, and Chandrashekhar Singh from Chandauli.
Jagriti Rahi, Nandlal Master
Satyagraha Coordinators
Ram Dheeraj, Sarva Seva Sangh
