A Monsoon in Delhi: Anna Hazare, the Lokpal Bill, and the Future of India

Authors

  • Mark T. Kozlowski University of Pittsburgh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ppr.2011.11

Abstract

Political corruption in India is a perennial problem that has recently been exposed by two spectacular scandals involving the sale of telecommunications spectrum and the troubled 2010 Commonwealth Games. A disgust for this graft and corruption bred a massive protest in Delhi with a hunger strike by veteran activist Kisan Baburao “Anna” Hazare as its centerpiece. Hazare demanded the passage of a specific version of a bill that would establish an anti-corruption ombudsman called the Jan Lokpal. After Hazare had starved himself for approximately two weeks, the Indian parliament passed the legislation that Hazare had demanded. In this article, I examine the political implications of this movement, as well as whether or not the Lokpal will be effective in its mission of combating corruption.

Author Biography

Mark T. Kozlowski, University of Pittsburgh

Mark Kozlowski is a senior Chemistry and Economics double-major at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also an opinions columnist for The Pitt News, an undergraduate researcher in the group of Dr. Nathaniel Rosi, and a speech coach for Mt. Lebanon High School. Mark hails from Wilmette, Illinois and hopes to pursue a PhD in Chemistry.

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Published

2011-12-16

Issue

Section

Cover Story