Indian Hunger Striker Eats

A victory for India's anti-corruption movement as the government caved to the faster's demands.

Anna Hazare, dubbed the “people’s champion” of India, has ended his hunger strike after nearly two weeks. The 74-year-old anti-corruption activist announced he would end his fast after the government agreed to create an independent “lokpal” (ombudsperson) to weed out high-level corruption and write a citizen’s charter to help eradicate bureaucratic bribery. Hazare, who saw huge public support for his fight, vowed to continue to push for electoral reform, better education, and improved conditions for workers. In one of the decade’s top Kodak moments, he ended his fast on national television with coconut water given to him by Muslim and dalit (“untouchable”) children. It remains to be seen how effective the government-created anti-government corruption commission will be.