Arvind Kejriwal
Encyclopedia
Arvind Kumar Kejriwal (born 16 June 1968) is an India
n social activist fighting for greater transparency in Government. 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. . Kejriwal is also a Saathi (fellow) of the Association for India's Development
, a Global Impact award winning NGO.
, Haryana
in 1968. 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.
right after his graduation from IIT Kharagpur. Kejriwal quit his job with Tata Steel in 1992 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.
Kejriwal joined the Indian Revenue Service
(IRS) in 1995 and worked as an Additional Commissioner of Income Tax
in Delhi
. 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
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 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. To motivate others Arvind has now instituted an RTI Award through his organisation. 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.
(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
. 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. 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. Kejriwal left the jail on August 18 and the protests started the following day from Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. 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.
in Mussoorie
. They live just outside Delhi with their two children.
Breaking bond with employer and then repaying dues
, India
under India Against Corruption
(IAC) anti-graft campaign.
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.
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. 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.
Kejriwal's attacker Jitendra Pathak has been sacked from his job. He is working in a private construction company Ansh Project Service, Lucknow
. 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.
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.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n social activist fighting for greater transparency in Government. He was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel...
for Emergent Leadership in 2006, for activating India's Right to Information
Right to Information Act
The Right to Information Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of India "to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens." The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has its own act...
movement at grassroots and social activities to empower the poorest citizens to fight corruption by holding the government answerable to the people. . Kejriwal is also a Saathi (fellow) of the Association for India's Development
Association for India's Development
The Association for India's Development, Inc. is a secular charity organization based in the United States which promotes "sustainable, equitable and just development"...
, a Global Impact award winning NGO.
Early life
Arvind Kejriwal was born in HissarHisar, India
Hisar city, previously spelled Hissar, is the administrative headquarters of Hisar district, in the state of Haryana, in northwestern India. Hisar was founded in 1354 CE, as Hissar-e-Firoza by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who reigned over the Sultanate of Delhi from 1351 to 1388. on the demolished ruins...
, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
in 1968. 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.
Career
Kejriwal joined Tata SteelTata Steel
Tata Steel is a multinational steel company headquartered in Jamshedpur, India and part of Tata Group. It is the world's seventh-largest steel company, with an annual crude steel capacity of 31 million tonnes, and the largest private-sector steel company in India measured by domestic production...
right after his graduation from IIT Kharagpur. Kejriwal quit his job with Tata Steel in 1992 and spent some time working with Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
's Missionaries of Charity
Missionaries of Charity
Missionaries of Charity is a Roman Catholic religious congregation established in 1950 by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, which consists of over 4,500 sisters and is active in 133 countries...
in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, the Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
in the North-East India
North-East India
Northeast India refers to the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States, Sikkim, and parts of North Bengal...
and Nehru Yuva Kendra.
Kejriwal joined the Indian Revenue Service
Indian Revenue Service
The Indian Revenue Service , abbreviated as IRS, is the revenue service of the Government of India. It is a Central Civil Service...
(IRS) in 1995 and worked as an Additional Commissioner of Income Tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. 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
Manish Sisodia
Manish Sisodia is an Indian social activist, recognized for being a key member in the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement and Team Anna. Formerly a news producer at Zee News, Manish is an active RTI activist...
and Abhinandan Sekhri started Public Cause Research Foundation, which works for promoting better local self governance and RTI related campaigns
Right to Information
He along with Aruna RoyAruna Roy
Aruna Roy is an Indian political and social activist who founded and heads the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathana . She is best known as a prominent leader of the Right to Information movement, which led to the enactment of the Right to Information Act in 2005...
and others, campaigned for the Right to Information Act
Right to Information Act
The Right to Information Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of India "to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens." The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has its own act...
(RTI), which soon became a silent social movement, Delhi Right to Information Act was passed in 2001 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. To motivate others Arvind has now instituted an RTI Award through his organisation. Kejriwal has been using RTI in corruption cases in many government departments including the Income Tax department, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
Municipal Corporation of Delhi
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is a municipal corporation, an autonomous body that governs 9 Districts of Delhi, in the state of Delhi, India. It is one of three municipal corporations in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the others being New Delhi Municipal Council, and Delhi...
, the Public Distribution System
Public Distribution System
Public Distribution System is an Indian food security system. Established by the Government of India under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution and managed jointly with state governments in India, it distributes subsidised food and non-food items to India's poor...
(PDS), the Delhi Electricity Board and others.
Jan Lokpal Bill
As a member of India Against CorruptionIndia Against Corruption
India Against Corruption is a people's movement to demand comprehensive reforms of anti-corruption systems in India. Several eminent citizens have come together to force the Government of India to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill .- Strategy :...
(IAC) Kejriwal is an active participant in the movement for the enactment of Jan Lokpal Bill
Jan Lokpal Bill
The Jan Lokpal Bill, also referred to as the citizens' ombudsman bill, is a proposed independent anti-corruption law in India. Anti-corruption social activists proposed it as a more effective improvement to the original Lokpal bill, which is currently being proposed by the Government of India.The...
. He is considered a key figure along with social activist Anna Hazare
Anna Hazare
Kisan Baburao Hazare , popularly known as Anna Hazare is an Indian social activist and a prominent leader in the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi...
. On August 16 2011, Key members of the India Against Corruption including Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi
Kiran Bedi
Kiran Bedi is an Indian social activist and a retired Indian Police Service officer. Bedi joined the police service in 1972 and became the first woman officer in the IPS. Bedi held the post of Director General at the Bureau of Police Research and Development before she voluntarily retired from...
, and Manish Sisodia were arrested four hours before the planned indefinite hunger strike by Hazare. 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
Tihar Jail
Tihar Prisons , also called Tihar Jail and Tihar Ashram , is the largest complex of prisons in South Asia. It is located at Tihar village, approximately 7 km from Chanakya Puri, to the west of New Delhi, India. The surrounding area is called Hari Nagar.The prison is maintained as a...
negotiating conditions put on protest. Kejriwal left the jail on August 18 and the protests started the following day from Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. 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.
Personal Life
Kejriwal is married to Sunita, who is an IRS officer and his batchmate from National Academy of AdministrationLal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration
The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration is a research and training institute on public policy and public administration in India...
in Mussoorie
Mussoorie
Mussoorie is a city and a municipal board in the Dehradun District of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is located about 35 km from the state capital of Dehradun and 290 km north from the national capital of New Delhi...
. They live just outside Delhi with their two children.
Awards
- 2004: Ashoka FellowAshoka: Innovators for the PublicAshoka: Innovators for the Public is a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, VA, supporting the field of social entrepreneurship. Ashoka was founded by Bill Drayton in 1981 to identify and support leading social entrepreneurs through a Social Venture Capital approach with the goal of...
, Civic Engagement. - 2005: 'Satyendra DubeySatyendra DubeySatyendra Kumar Dubey was a project director at the National Highways Authority of India . He was murdered in Gaya, Bihar after fighting corruption in the Golden Quadrilateral highway construction project.-Early life:...
Memorial Award', IIT Kanpur for his campaign for bringing transparency in Government. - 2006: Ramon Magsaysay AwardRamon Magsaysay AwardThe Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel...
for Eminent Leadership. - 2006: CNN-IBN, 'Indian of the Year' in Public Service
- 2009: Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Kharagpur for Eminent Leadership.
- 2010: Policy Change Agent of the Year, The Economic Times Awards for Corporate ExcellenceEconomic Times AwardsThe Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence are the awards conferred by The Economic Times in the field of business, corporate and government policies, economies in India...
along with Aruna RoyAruna RoyAruna Roy is an Indian political and social activist who founded and heads the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathana . She is best known as a prominent leader of the Right to Information movement, which led to the enactment of the Right to Information Act in 2005...
. - 2011: NDTV Indian of the YearNDTV Indian of the Year-Winners:-7th NDTV Indian of the Year:The 7th NDTV Indian of the Year was held at the Taj Palace Hotel on October 18, 2011. The winners were:* Indian of the Year – Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal* India's Heroes – India national cricket team...
along with Anna HazareAnna HazareKisan Baburao Hazare , popularly known as Anna Hazare is an Indian social activist and a prominent leader in the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi...
Books
The Right to Information : Vyawharik Margdarshika - Co-Author - Vishnu Rajgadia, Published by Rajkamal Prakashan, New Delhi. in the year 2008.Criticism
Kejriwal has been criticized by some for being inflexible in the negotiations with government over Lokpal bill.But there are no clear indications.Breaking bond with employer and then repaying dues
Slipper Attack on Kejriwal
Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal was attacked by a youth with a slipper during attending a program in Jhulelal Park LucknowLucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
under India Against Corruption
India Against Corruption
India Against Corruption is a people's movement to demand comprehensive reforms of anti-corruption systems in India. Several eminent citizens have come together to force the Government of India to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill .- Strategy :...
(IAC) anti-graft campaign.
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.
The accused was identified as Jitendra Pathak of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
’s Jalaun district
Jalaun District
Jalaun District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India.The district is named after town of Jalaun, which was the former headquarters of a Maratha governor, but the administrative headquarters of the district is at Orai. Other large towns in the district are Kalpi, Konch, and...
, who worked for the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
from 2006-2009 and is a former member of Congress Sewa Dal. He was not a mere party worker but was responsible for key areas in Jhansi
Jhansi
Jhansi Hindi:झाँसी, , Marathi: झाशी, is a historical city of India. Jhansi is the administrative headquarters of Jhansi District and Jhansi Division. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which crowns a neighboring rock. This district is on the bank of river Betwa.The National...
. As per the accused acceptance, he considers Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi is an Indian politician and member of the parliament of India, representing the Amethi constituency. His political party is the Indian National Congress.-Early life and career:...
as his role model.
Kejriwal's attacker Jitendra Pathak has been sacked from his job. He is working in a private construction company Ansh Project Service, Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
. 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.
In a Sting operation
Sting operation
In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have a law-enforcement officer or cooperative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather...
done by NDTV
NDTV
NDTV is an Indian commercial broadcasting television network founded in 1988. It was founded by Prannoy Roy, an eminent journalist and current chairman and director of NDTV Group. NDTV currently has more than 1,000 employees producing news from over twenty locations in India...
in Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, the slipper attacker told that he is planning to attack by bomb during Anna Hazare
Anna Hazare
Kisan Baburao Hazare , popularly known as Anna Hazare is an Indian social activist and a prominent leader in the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi...
coming IAC anti-graft campaign in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. 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.
See also
- Right to Information ActRight to Information ActThe Right to Information Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of India "to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens." The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has its own act...
- Jan Lokpal BillJan Lokpal BillThe Jan Lokpal Bill, also referred to as the citizens' ombudsman bill, is a proposed independent anti-corruption law in India. Anti-corruption social activists proposed it as a more effective improvement to the original Lokpal bill, which is currently being proposed by the Government of India.The...
- India Against CorruptionIndia Against CorruptionIndia Against Corruption is a people's movement to demand comprehensive reforms of anti-corruption systems in India. Several eminent citizens have come together to force the Government of India to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill .- Strategy :...
- 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement2011 Indian anti-corruption movementThe 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement is a series of ongoing demonstrations and protests across India intended to establish strong legislation and enforcement against endemic political corruption...
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