Five hundred destitute and orphans in the age-group of 8-15, from the NGO Maher in Pune district, fasted from 9 am to 4 pm on Monday and decided to donate the money thus saved to Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption crusade. The total money saved amounted to Rs19,140.
The 500 children were joined by 138 of their teachers, guides and destitute women from Maher’s 21 centres in Pune district, who also fasted on Monday and joined the children in silent meditation.
The atmosphere in the main hall of Maher’s head office in Vadu Budruk village, 30 km north of Pune, was silent on Monday afternoon, as nearly 250 children sat in quiet meditation without food for nearly five hours.
The children are provided lodging, boarding and education by Maher. Some from the first group of children are soon to become graduates.
The day began with the Maher children participating in a prabhat pheri (morning rally) through the streets of the village raising slogans supporting Hazare’s movement.
Later the children returned to the ashram and sat in silent meditation without food from 11am to 4pm.
Ravina Kate, 16, a class XI student who participated in the fast said, “Anna is fasting for seven days continuously. Fasting for one day was the least we children could do to show our solidarity with his cause.”
Her fellow Maher inmate, Manoj Vighave, 15, class IX student said, “Anna is the second Mahatma Gandhi and has staked his life to get us a good Jan Lokpal Bill. We were determined to lend our support by fasting today.”
The children concluded their fast with a soulful rendition of Mahatma Gandhi’s popular bhajan, ‘Raghupati Raghava Rajaram’.
Founder director of Maher, Sister Lucy, told DNA that the children of Maher were deeply inspired by Hazare’s campaign against corruption. She said, “We discussed the Jan Lokpal Bill and Anna’s ongoing fast with the children and it was the children who suggested that they fast to lend their support to Hazare.”
President of Maher, Hirabegum Mulla said, “The Jan Lokpal Bill is important for the common people of India. Anna has been fasting for the seventh consecutive day in Delhi and we felt we needed to contribute in our small way. I am proud of what our little children did today.”
