Veteran social activist Padma Bhushan Anna Hazare interacts with LPU students

Jalandhar: India's most admired veteran social activist Padma Bhushan Kisan Baburao Hazare, popularly known as Anna Hazare, interacted online with thousands of Lovely Professional University (LPU) students. Occasion was a nationwide unity driven effort “Ektar Bharat”, on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, organized by one of the 250 students’ organizations ‘Techyons” at LPU. Presently 83 years old, Anna Hazare has led various important movements untiringly for the nation's welfare including promotion of rural development, government transparency, abolishing corruption and more.

Informing that his inspiration sources are Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekanand, Anna Hazare invoked students to make their life meaningful and worth living. Sharing that in his youth he was aimless, considered human life futile, and so wanted to commit suicide. However, life stories of these great men of the country taught him to seek bliss in the service of the village, common people and the country. He also learnt that destruction comes with the exploitation of nature and humanity. This inspired him to make his life meaningful through service and service only without expecting any reward. He asked students to set targets and proceed onwards unflinchingly.

Remembering his military life and participation in 1965 Indo-Pak War, Hazare Ji shared that he came across many fatalities of fellows around; however, he had no harm. Then, he decided this new life is for the nation only and since then he is agile in social works and expected the same from LPU students. He also emphasized that, “undoubtedly thousands of students are participating in the live discussions and interactions, if only 50 of them will do in accordance to my expectations, my life will indeed prove to be useful.”

Anna Hazare also inspired students that certain types of impediments try to clutch progressing steps but one should continue proceeding ahead keeping aim in mind. He shared his several imprisonments as medals to him by providing more energy to continue service to the nation with more vigour and vitality.

On this occasion students also paid tributes to Father of the Nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Ji, one of the most legendary freedom fighters, and former Prime Minister of India Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri on their common birth anniversary./ (Oct 2, 2020)