creed and political lines came out on the streets to express their solidarity with the great Gandhian, the new messiah of hope for the nation.

But the one man who became the cynosure of attention in the valley for his resolve to fast and break it with Anna Hazare was a middle aged man Shankar Nath, a mason, of the non descript village of Muktacherra under Lala police station in the district of Hailakandi. From an obscure and unknown face in the milling crowd, he came to hog the limelight for his dogged determination to become a part of the movement for the greater good of society. Nothing could deter him. Neither his poverty nor the influence of the most powerful minister next door at Katlicherra, Gautom Roy, known for his bullying tactics. Shankar was offered a house under Indira Awas Yojana and other benefits by the minister’s emissary, a circle inspector of Hailakandi police station. He turned them down. Even his fast was mocked and the minister who did not hesitate to call Anna “that old man” in derision only to retract when he saw the avalanche of the mass uprising in support of the movement.

The scoffing and ridicule of the minister only fortified his will. He thought it wise to shift the scene of his fast from Lala to Narsingtola ground at Silchar. Every day, men, women and children, students and the youth in huge numbers flocked the Ramlila Ground of Barak Valley and wished him well. Patriotic songs and messages from the makeshift pandal with a raised platform on which lay fasting Shankar Nath kept the audience inspired to keep the flame of a movement, the second battle of independence from corruption, burning. Nobody could imagine that this ‘unknown and unheard of man’ would stir the hearts of people.

When Anna Hazare broke his fast, Shankar did so too. He never thought or dreamed that he would emerge as a man who inspired people to unite and fight against corruption. His ‘home-coming’ became yet another memorable event when thousands of men and women braving the scorching sun lined up on both sides of the road from Hailakandi to Lala, 20 kms in length, to welcome him at his thatched Muktacherra house. It was a tumultuous ovation all the way. Women blew conch shells to greet him. Standing with folded hands with his brother on an open jeep, Shankar expressed his gratitude for all the support, affection and well wishes extended to him. It was a moment of pride and glory for his widow mother Renu Bala Nath, wife Sonali Nath and two daughters Supriya and Sujata Nath who were simply overwhelmed with emotion causing them to shed tears of joy.