- Arvind Kejriwal
-
Arvind Kejriwal
Arvind KejriwalBorn 16 June 1968
Hissar, HaryanaEducation B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering Alma mater IIT Kharagpur Organization Parivartan (परिवर्तन)
Public Cause Research Foundation
India Against CorruptionPolitical movement 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement
Right to Information
Jan Lokpal BillReligion Hinduism Children 2 Website http://www.pcrf.in/ Arvind Kumar Kejriwal (Hindi: अरविंद केजरीवाल) (born 16 June 1968) is an Indian social activist fighting for greater transparency in Government.[1] He was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership in 2006, for activating India's Right to Information movement at grassroots and social activities to empower the poorest citizens to fight corruption by holding the government answerable to the people.[2][3] . [2] [2] Kejriwal is also a Saathi (fellow) of the Association for India's Development[4], a Global Impact award winning NGO[5].
Contents
Early life
Arvind Kejriwal was born in Hissar, Haryana in 1968.[1] His father was an engineer and he spent most of his childhood living in small northern Indian towns like Sonepat, Mathura and Hissar. Kejriwal graduated from IIT Kharagpur as a Mechanical engineer in 1989.[6][7]
Career
Kejriwal joined Tata Steel right after his graduation from IIT Kharagpur. Kejriwal quit his job with Tata Steel in 1992[citation needed] and spent some time working with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, the Ramakrishna Mission in the North-East India and Nehru Yuva Kendra.[8][9]
Kejriwal joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995 and worked as an Additional Commissioner of Income Tax in Delhi.[9] In January 2000, he took a study leave (not sabbatical) from work and founded Parivartan, a Delhi based citizens’ movement which works on ensuring a just, transparent and accountable governance. Thereafter, in February 2006, he resigned from the job, to work full-time at Parivartan. In December 2006, Kejriwal along with Manish Sisodia and Abhinandan Sekhri started Public Cause Research Foundation, which works for promoting better local self governance and RTI related campaigns [10]
Right to Information
He along with Aruna Roy and others, campaigned for the Right to Information Act (RTI), which soon became a silent social movement, Delhi Right to Information Act was passed in 2001[6] and eventually at national level Indian Parliament passed the RTI in 2005. Thereafter, in July 2006, he spearheaded an awareness campaign for RTI across India.[11] To motivate others Arvind has now instituted an RTI Award through his organisation.[12] Kejriwal has been using RTI in corruption cases in many government departments including the Income Tax department, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Delhi Electricity Board and others.[8] [13]
Jan Lokpal Bill
As a member of India Against Corruption (IAC) Kejriwal is an active participant in the movement for the enactment of Jan Lokpal Bill. He is considered a key figure along with social activist Anna Hazare.[14] On August 16 2011, Key members of the India Against Corruption including Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, and Manish Sisodia were arrested four hours before the planned indefinite hunger strike by Hazare.[15] Rajan Bhagat, spokesman for Delhi Police, said police arrested Hazare under a legal provision that bans public gatherings and protests at the park in Delhi where Hazare was planning to begin his hunger strike. Activists were later released same day although they spent two more days in the Tihar jail negotiating conditions put on protest.[16] Kejriwal left the jail on August 18 and the protests started the following day from Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.[17] After twelve days of protests and many discussions between the government and the activists, Parliament passed a resolution to consider three points in drafting of Lokpal bill.[18]
Personal Life
Kejriwal is married to Sunita, who is an IRS officer and his batchmate from National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie.[7] They live just outside Delhi with their two children.[9]
Awards
- 2004: Ashoka Fellow, Civic Engagement.[8]
- 2005: 'Satyendra Dubey Memorial Award', IIT Kanpur for his campaign for bringing transparency in Government.[6]
- 2006: Ramon Magsaysay Award for Eminent Leadership.[2][3]
- 2006: CNN-IBN, 'Indian of the Year' in Public Service [19]
- 2009: Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Kharagpur for Eminent Leadership.[1]
- 2010: Policy Change Agent of the Year, The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence along with Aruna Roy.[20]
- 2011: NDTV Indian of the Year along with Anna Hazare[21]
Books
The Right to Information : Vyawharik Margdarshika - Co-Author - Vishnu Rajgadia, Published by Rajkamal Prakashan, New Delhi. in the year 2008.[citation needed]
Criticism
Kejriwal has been criticized by some for being inflexible in the negotiations with government over Lokpal bill.[22]But there are no clear indications.
Breaking bond with employer and then repaying dues [13]
Slipper Attack on Kejriwal
Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal was attacked by a youth with a slipper during attending a program in Jhulelal Park Lucknow, India under India Against Corruption (IAC) anti-graft campaign.[23]
After the incident, the accused was caught by the IAC volunteers and handed over to the police. Later, Mr. Kejriwal asked that the accused be released and did not file any FIR against him.[24]
The accused was identified as Jitendra Pathak of Uttar Pradesh’s Jalaun district, who worked for the Indian National Congress from 2006-2009 and is a former member of Congress Sewa Dal.[25] He was not a mere party worker but was responsible for key areas in Jhansi. As per the accused acceptance, he considers Rahul Gandhi as his role model.[26][27]
Kejriwal's attacker Jitendra Pathak has been sacked from his job. He is working in a private construction company Ansh Project Service, Lucknow.[28] On the other hand, Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to the chairman of the company to take back their decision and to retain the accused. As per Kejriwal's ideology, violence can be stopped by non-violence only and taking Jitendra's job is violence against the accused and his family.[29]
In a Sting operation done by NDTV in Lucknow, the slipper attacker told that he is planning to attack by bomb during Anna Hazare coming IAC anti-graft campaign in Uttar Pradesh. In sting operation he says that "If Anna will come here during coming election, he will be killed and we can easily produce bomb." He told that he has prepared and trained a team of 500 people for this.[30]
See also
- Right to Information Act
- Jan Lokpal Bill
- India Against Corruption
- 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement
References
- ^ a b c "Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur". http://www.iitkgp.ac.in/top-awardees/daa1.php?Sl=61. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d Citation The 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership-CITATION.
- ^ a b "Magsaysay to Kejriwal". The Hindu. 01 August 2006. http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/01/stories/2006080109870101.htm. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "Association for India's Development". http://www.aidprojects.org/projects-view-1.asp?login=guest&id=944. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ "For this NGO, all roads lead to India". Times of India. September 20 2011. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-20/india/30179711_1_aid-binayak-sen-funds. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ a b c Profile IIT Kanpur Alumni Association. Satyendra K. Dubey Memorial Award citation.
- ^ a b Hauzel, Hoihnu (Saturday, September 30, 2006). "Fighting the odds". The Telegraph. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060930/asp/weekend/story_6784531.asp. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ a b c "Arvind Kejriwal". http://www.ashoka.org/fellow/2529.
- ^ a b c Sivanand, Mohan. "Arvind Kejriwal’s Quest for Change". Rreaders Digest. http://www.readersdigest.co.in/Arvind-Kejriwal-Quest-for-Change. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ "Public Cause Research Foundation | About". http://www.pcrf.in/aboutus.html. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Don’t throttle RTI Arvind Kejriwal, livemint, Jul 6 2007.
- ^ "RTI Awards 2010 | About RTI". http://www.rtiawards.org/aboutrti.html. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Team Anna member Kejriwal decides to pay dues". Deccan Chronicle. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/team-anna-member-kejriwal-decides-pay-dues-623. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- ^ "What is the Jan Lokpal Bill, why it's important". NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/what-is-the-jan-lokpal-bill-why-its-important-96600&cp. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "Anna Hazare IS the movement". Rediff. http://www.rediff.com/news/report/anna-hazare-is-the-movement/20110823.htm. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "Anna Hazare refuses to leave Tihar Jail, says allow fast at JP Park". NDTV. August 17, 2011. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-hazare-to-be-released-from-tihar-jail-tonight-say-sources-126962. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ "Anna to stay in Tihar till venue is ready". Times of India. 18 Aug 2011. http://www.timesnow.tv/Kejriwal-leaves-Tihar-jail-Anna-next/articleshow/4381598.cms. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ "Agreed! says Parliament to Anna; fast ends at 10 am". NDTV. August 28, 2011. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/absolutely-says-parliament-to-anna-no-vote-required-fast-ends-at-10-am-129474. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ "CNN IBN - INDIAN OF THE YEAR". http://www.indianoftheyear.com/2007/winner_2006.html. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ^ "ET Awards: The top 10 of 2010". The Economic Times. 7 Oct, 2010. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/et-awards-the-top-10-of-2010/articleshow/6703195.cms?curpg=2. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "NDTV Indian of the Year 2011". ndtv.com. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ndtv-indian-of-the-year-2011-142183. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "The negotiators, their role". Indian Express. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-negotiators-their-role/838153/2. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Kejriwal Attacked with Slipper". 18 October 2011. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/198891/kejriwal-attacked-slipper.html. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "Team Anna condemns attack on Kejriwal". Economic Times. 18 October 2011. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/team-anna-condemns-attack-on-kejriwal-demands-independent-probe/articleshow/10405900.cms. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "Arvind Kejriwal attacked with Slipper by a Congress Seva Dal Member". 19 October 2011. http://www.youngkingdom.com/2011/10/arvind-kejriwal-attacked-with-slipper-by-jitendra-pathak-a-congress-sewa-dal-member/. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "Kejriwal attacker was in Congress". 19 October 2011. http://news.oneindia.in/2011/10/19/arvind-kejriwal-shoe-attacker-rahul-gandhi-fan.html. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "Kejriwal attacker is a Rahul Gandhi fan". 19 October 2011. http://www.firstpost.com/politics/kejriwal-attacker-says-he-was-in-congress-seva-dal-says-no-way-111200.html. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "Kejriwal attacker sacked job". 20 October 2011. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/199282/kejriwal-attacker-sacked-job.html. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
- ^ "Kejriwal letter to chairman". 20 October 2011. http://www.scribd.com/doc/69597151/Arvind-Kejriwal-s-letter-regarding-Jitendra-Pathak-s-dismissal. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
- ^ "Planning to attack on Anna & Medha Patkar". 12 November 2011. http://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/10695464.cms. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
External links
- 'Parivartan' Official website
- 'Arvind Kejriwal' website
- 'Public Cause Research Foundation' Official website
- 'The Insurgent' by MEHBOOB JEELANI, The Caravan
- Arvind Kejriwal Interview BBC Hindi
- Arvind Kejriwal Interview BBC Hindi - Audio
- Jaago Re! "Usse kuchh farak padega kya?": Arvind Kejriwal on fighting corruption in India
- An Interview with Arvind Kejriwal
- 'Lokraj Andolan'
- 'India Against Corruption'
- 'Valmik Thapar Interviews Arvind Kejriwal'
- Follow Jan Lokpal Bill Movement
Categories:- 1968 births
- Living people
- Indian activists
- Indian civil servants
- People from Haryana
- Indian Hindus
- Freedom of information activists
- Ramon Magsaysay Award winners
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur alumni
- Indian revolutionaries
- Indian civil rights activists
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