Pune: Excitement ran high in Ralegansiddhi on Saturday when photographers from the international magazine TIME visited the village for a photo-shoot of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare. It is learnt that Hazare may grace the cover of the newsmagazine in an upcoming issue.
The activist was seen posing in his white khadi outfit, sitting inside the famous Yadavbaba temple, as if lost in meditation. It is not known if the magazine intends to use the pictures for its 'Person of the Year' issue, as TIME is yet to officially make known its decision on this.
Suresh Pathade, a schoolteacher in Ralegansiddhi, said it was a moment of pride for all the villagers when they learnt why the photojournalists were there. "I was telling my students what this would mean to the villagers of Ralegansiddi. TIME magazine is so renowned and Anna's picture and interview in the magazine will reach millions across the world. And because of Anna, people from international magazines have come visiting the village," Pathade said.
Suresh Pathare, PA to Hazare, confirmed that people from TIME magazine had visited Ralegansiddhi on Saturday morning. He said the photo session continued for a couple of hours. "They have taken at least 200 pictures of Hazare in different poses," Pathare said. "The team has also promised to send us a couple of selected photographs soon."
Sarpanch Jaisingh Mapari said that for the villagers the photoshoot was like a major event. "Different kinds of lights were put up inside the temple and also near a peepul tree on the temple premise. A team of two photographers and three journalists were instructing Hazare on the pose and mood for the camera. There was one woman interpreter with the team who was conveying what Hazare wanted to say," he said.
Bapu only Gandhian I know: Anna's ex-blogger
Anna Hazare's former blogger Raju Parulekar, who was in the city even as the TIME photo-shoot was happening in Ralegansiddhi, said: "As per my knowledge, there is only one person who was known for Gandhian thoughts, and that person was Mahatma Gandhi. It is a myth to say that we will make laws against corruption in India. We need to develop a system to stop the generation of black money by making a major constitutional amendment."
Parulekar was here to inaugurate '3 S Bharat', a new forum founded in the city to fight against corruption.
Token strike at Jantar Mantar
It is learnt that Anna Hazare will observe a one-day token strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on December 11 to press for a strong Lokpal bill. Hazare has demanded the bill be passed in the Winter Session of Parliament.
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