March 1, 2009, Sunday afternoon – the stage was set at Parliament Street, New Delhi with the slogan “Walking can cure some deadly deseases like corruption and terrorism”.
YFE, Radiocity and Nasscom and other organisations joined WAYE and Art of Living. Abound with energy, the street had over thousands of youngsters sporting the tricolor tattoos and t-shirts proclaiming the country as their valentine. The presence of inspirational, patriotic music and mellifluous singing provided the event with the historic combination of youth and patriotism.
“If our youth generation is not happy with their present and is worried about the future, then they have to begin the change themselves and get more and more people to join them..” – Dr. Krian Bedi
Supporting the initiative were other eminent personalities like:
- Mr Bitta – Chairman, All India Anti-Terrorist Front
- Mr Prahlad Kakkar – Ad Guru & CEO, Genesis
- Mr. Arvind Kejriwal – Pioneering RTI activist and Magsaysay Awardee
- Mr Anirudh Bahl – Editor, Cobra Post & Writer
- Prof. Binod Khaitan – President, AIIMS Faculty Association
- Chaudhry Zile Singh – President, BMS
They addressed the audience with practical advice on how to combat terrorism on both at the grassroots and higher levels using powerful tools like the RTI, Citizens Charter, e-governance and the power to vote.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living, conceptualized The March and His vision is to create responsible leaders who make the country a better place to live in.
“The whole country is just looking at you, for you to take leadership. The youth of India should come upfront and unite against terrorism and corruption. Let us have a prosperous and just India.” – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) with their 160 Delhi Union extended their upport to this initiative. As a mark of solidarity, the public transport system of BMS, including autorickshaws, rickshaws, tempos, buses etc, did not ply at the airport railway station, during the March from 2 pm to 5 pm.
Students and faculty from the deaf and dumb society symbolized the common man that day, he who are forever denied voice. They inspired us with their presence and instilled more fire to fight against all the injustice.
Numerous citizens, educational institutions, Residents’ welfare organisations, Social service organisations, Cultural organisations, Corporate houses, NGO’s, Youth & citizen forums including Nasscom Foundation, Navjyoti, Navdaanya, Transparency International, BMS, among other notable names participated in the March.
Dr. Kiran Bedi congratulated the youth for their efforts ensured “I am with you in this fight”. She condemned the present politics, the working of the Indian Police System and she then read out the oath and ten thousand individuals pledged not to be corrupt, not to support corruption and not to let corruption happen in and around them.
Addressing the gathering, Khurshed Batliwala, Director, WAYE, reminded one and all about our childhood story of the single stick that breaks easily and the bunch of sticks which could stand the hardest pressure.
“The greatest danger that our country today faces is that of good people doing nothing.” – Khurshed Batliwala
Prahlad Kakkar amazed at the huge presence said, “When the young educated people of this country decide to be the change they want to see, no force on earth can stop them.”
A six year old boy, a college graduate, a journalist, a village woman, a watchman, a papadwala, a havaldar, a seventy year old man – all joined hands with one mindset and belief, ‘Bharat badal raha hai‘
The March began at 5 pm from the Parliament Street to India Gate. The air was filled once again with the slogans of “Inqilab Zindabad”, “Youth for Equality”, “Zinda ho to aawaaz karo, Himmat ho to saath chalo” … The last time such a March happened, the Mahatama had got India her freedom, this time Indians marched to free the country from ‘Black British‘, a term coined by Mr. Arvind Kejriwal.
At the India Gate, participants saluted the India Gate and prayed for a revival of the same energy that got us Independence from the British.