Anna Hazare, is a well known name for anyone who is following news from India at present. He's a 74 years old Gandhian, social activist who had entered the seventh day of indefinite fast (no food at all, just water) to pressurize the present Indian government to bring Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's Ombudsman Bill) in the parliament.
What made him so well known in India and around the World?
It's the web 2.0
India ranks 3rd in maximum users on Facebook after USA and Indonesia. Facebook, Twitter and Orkut which has new generation of India as its "residents" is responsible for bringing the awareness about this campaign that he had started some eight months back. Today the youth of India is no longer satisfied with old channels of information like print or electronic media. The social media provides them the information and the freedom to express their opinions. Everyday 45,000 new users get connected to various social media websites and their total number is estimated to be 45 million by the year 2012. They've showcased their liking of web 2.0 by tweeting, blogging, and YouTubing (is this a term or have I coined a new one today?). Mr. Hazare’s Facebook profile page itself has over 103,000 ‘Likes’ and more than 2000 video related to 'India against corruption' have been uploaded by the supporters of Anna on the YouTube.
In the beginning of this civil movement, the Government of India expected it to be a low level affair. But they were surprised by the presence of large number of youth (whose number is swelling day by day) in this protest; few politicians as well as some bureaucrats even ridiculed it as a passing frenzy of the youth. According to them these immature young people ( majority of whom are students of engineering, medical and management institutes) just tweet and banter on different platforms of social media . They were proven wrong when the message of this movement was campaigned using the same platforms they ridiculed. The ruling party members forgot to realize that this uncorrupted generation is tech savvy, they are well connected with each other and the rest of the world 24X7, they read and write blogs and they have downloaded apps like 'India against corruption' on their smart phones.
Yesterday,when these digital natives landed on the ground zero (Ramlila Ground) to support Anna Hazare,I think many apathetic bureaucrats and politicians must've lost their sleep.
Facebook users reach ground zero to support Anna
Today, in a peaceful protest march from India Gate to Ramlila Grounds, around 100,000 people participated and more than 50% of the participants were 'Digital natives' of India.
ANNA SUPPORTERS AT INDIA GATE
This 'social movement' for eradication of corruption has now transformed into 'social networking movement'. People of India are showing to the world that social media is not just for sharing pictures or just staying in touch with each other; it can be used to show their solidarity for a cause as well as voicing their opinions. Today in India, the social media is proving itself to be worthy of playing a role in bringing major change in the society. If this peaceful civil movement will yield the desired result then the social media will make a mark in the history of the nation.
References:
1. Facebook users reach ground zero to support Anna[Video] Retrieved August 21,2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eM7X74TTjU
2. ANNA SUPPORTERS AT INDIA GATE [Video] Retrieved August 21,2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAElt8uaUzA
3. Anna Hazare [Picture] Retrieved August 21, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Hazare
4. Hindu Story on the Role of Social Media in Anna Hazare's India Against Corruption Campaign(April 11, 2011) [Blog]Retrieved August 21,2011 from
http://www.gauravonomics.com/blog/hindu-story-on-the-role-of-social-media-in-anna-hazares-india-against-corruption-campaign/5. Mukherjee, D. (April 8, 2011)Social Media takes on Social Responsibility-India Against Corruption! [Blog] Retrieved August 21,2011 from http://brajeshwar.com/2011/social-media-takes-on-social-responsibility-india-against-corruption/
6. Jain,S. Power of Social Media in India (August 20,2011) [Web article] Retrieved August 21, 2011 from http://tech18.com/power-social-media-india-infographic.html
No comments:
Post a Comment