The last decade has seen India emerging as one of the fastest growing economies in the face of a global economic meltdown. The year of 2010 saw Delhi host the Common Wealth Games, followed by the exposure of shoddy preparations, gross financial mismanagement and reports of rampant corruption in awarding lucrative contracts to dubious firms. The high and mighty became richer. This was followed by various other scams running into billions of worth of dollars of the taxpayers’ money.
The year of 2011 saw, Anna Hazare, a Gandhian social activist sit on a fast with few people supporting him in New Delhi demanding the formation of an independent ombudsman- the Jan Lokpal to investigate the corruption at high levels. The massive support to the protest from people in every major city, from every walk of life, in the country made the government sit up and take notice. The protest seemed to take the shape of a Gandhian mass movement with people joining the fast, wearing Gandhian white cap and determined to be non-violent.
This paper set out to explore if this movement has resulted in any change in the attitudes and behavior of people resulting in participatory development. A questionnaire was drawn with four thematic statements inter-linking this movement and the effect it had on people’s own attitudes towards participatory development. Twenty five respondents sent their views via electronic medium on issues of their own understanding of participatory development and the role gender within that context, their own stories and if they had played any role in the movement.
The research analysis did not conclude a straight answer and was able to establish that participatory development does not exist in its entirety in India despite it being understood as the only way to holistic development. The reasons appeared to be more diverse and varied and were unable to indicate any changes in inner conscience vis-à-vis personal lives as in Gandhian philosophy; making it imperative that a further and more extensive observational study may be needed to understand why participatory development still remains a theoretical concept at large.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Context
3. Review of Literature
4. Research Methodology
5. Challenges in primary data collection
6. Results:
7. Analysis
8. Conclusion
9. References
Research Objectives and Themes
This dissertation explores whether the anti-corruption social movement in India, led by activist Anna Hazare, has fostered a shift in individual attitudes and behaviors that contributes to participatory development. The study examines the extent to which this movement reflects Gandhian philosophy and whether it has empowered citizens to engage proactively in development processes and address systemic corruption.
- The influence of neo-Gandhian social movements on public attitudes toward participatory development.
- The relationship between everyday corruption, individual accountability, and social justice.
- The role of gender within the discourse of participatory development and social activism.
- The effectiveness of digital and ethnographical research methods in capturing the "cultural mood" of contemporary India.
- The gap between theoretical support for development and actual, sustained civic participation.
Excerpt from the Book
Indu's story
“I am from government education department. I had visions of working with a department that would be clean and full of ideals. Soon after, one experience after the other changed my views. Soon after my appointment, based on my qualification, I was made the school in-charge. Grants sent by the government (scholarships for SC/STs, money from health department, money for midday meal etc.) was deposited in school account under my name. It was not long after that the relevant officers from those departments started taking keen interest in meeting me personally. An officer from health-welfare department advised me, “Madam, there is Rs. 50,000.00 grant from our department for your school. You can keep Rs. 15,000.00 for yourself. All you need to do is just sign here.” I felt my world crumbling around me. This was about ‘taking’. There is whole lot where I could not get anything done like reclaiming arrears for medical leave, maternity leave etc. without paying the clerks whatever amount they wanted. Even today, if I want my file to be taken to the district officer, want a transfer, want to remove a suspension, I can just pay the bribe and get my work done.”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on the Anna Hazare-led movement in India and its potential impact on participatory development and civic attitudes.
2. The Context: Describes the political and social climate in India, specifically the prevalence of systemic corruption and the rise of the "India Against Corruption" movement.
3. Review of Literature: Reviews existing theories on social movements, Gandhian philosophy, and the relationship between economic growth, political corruption, and civil society.
4. Research Methodology: Explains the ethnographical approach and the use of an open-ended questionnaire to gather qualitative data from diverse participants.
5. Challenges in primary data collection: Details the practical obstacles faced by the researcher, including personal exigencies and the difficulty of gathering responses for qualitative analysis.
6. Results:: Presents the profile of respondents and initial data gathered through questionnaires and social media interactions.
7. Analysis: Synthesizes the responses, examining the participants' understanding of participatory development, their experiences with corruption, and their perspectives on the social movement.
8. Conclusion: Provides final reflections on the findings, suggesting that while there is awareness of participatory development, meaningful, sustained civic action remains sporadic.
9. References: Lists the academic sources and documents cited throughout the dissertation.
Keywords
Participatory Development, Anna Hazare, India Against Corruption, Gandhism, Satyagrah, Systemic Corruption, Social Justice, Empowerment, Civil Society, Public Accountability, Gender Roles, Ethnography, Democracy, Governance, Social Movements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this dissertation?
The research investigates whether the anti-corruption social movement in India led by Anna Hazare has effectively translated into a more active, participatory form of development among the Indian citizenry.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The core themes include the relevance of Gandhian principles in modern globalization, the pervasive nature of everyday corruption, the role of gender in development, and the discrepancy between intellectual support for reform and actual individual action.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to determine if mass public protests against corruption lead to sustainable changes in individual attitudes toward civic duty and participatory engagement in governance.
What scientific methods were employed?
The research utilizes an ethnographical approach, combining qualitative data from open-ended questionnaires, informal interviews, and analysis of relevant public domain documents.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body covers a comprehensive literature review, detailed methodology, the presentation of respondent profiles and "stories" of corruption, and a deep analytical assessment of the relationship between these personal narratives and national democratic processes.
Which keywords characterize this research?
Key terms include Participatory Development, Gandhism, Systemic Corruption, Civil Society, Social Justice, and Public Accountability.
How do participants relate "everyday corruption" to their personal lives?
Participants describe "everyday corruption" as a harsh reality they encounter in basic public services, often feeling compelled to pay bribes to avoid extreme stress or administrative delay, highlighting a lack of systemic fairness.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the effectiveness of the movement?
The author concludes that while the movement successfully highlighted corruption, it did not foster sustained, deep-seated behavioral change, as many supporters remained passive in their daily lives after the initial enthusiasm faded.
- Quote paper
- Anil Bajpai (Author), 2012, Neo- Gandhism has led to Participatory Development in India post social movement led by Anna Hazare., Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/279850
