Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian 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.
Arvind Kejriwal was born in Hissar, Haryana in 1968, and graduated from IIT Kharagpur as a Mechanical engineer in 1989. His father was an engineer and he spent most of his childhood living in small northern Indian towns like Sonepat, Mathura and Hissar.
His Career
Arvind Kejriwal was always concerned about corruption and the passivity of the people. After quitting his job with the Tata Steel, he took time off to work with the Missionaries of Charity and the Ramakrishna Mission in eastern and northeastern India.
He joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), a part of the Indian Administrative Services in 1992. He was posted at the Income-tax Commissioner’s Office in Delhi as Joint Commissioner. Soon, he realized that much of the corruption prevalent in government is owing to lack of transparency in the bureaucratic procedures. Even while in his official position, he started crusading against the corrupt practices.Initially, Arvind was instrumental in bringing in a number of changes to increase transparency in the Income Tax office.
In January 2000, he took a 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’.
His Work for Right to Information
He along with Aruna Roy and others, campaigned for the Right to Information Act, 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 Right to Information Act (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. Through individual and community cases, Arvind has taken on many deeply entrenched public bureaucracies in India, including the Income Tax department, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Delhi Electricity Board, and others.
Role in Jan Lokpal Bill
As a member of India Against Corruption he 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, Hazare was arrested four hours before the planned indefinite hunger strike. 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 he was planning to begin his hunger strike.Arvind Kejriwal was also arrested along with other key members of the India Against Corruption movement.
Awards
2004: Ashoka Fellow, Civic Engagement.
2005: ‘Satyendra Dubey Memorial Award’, IIT Kanpur for his campaign for bringing transparency in Government.
2006: Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership.
2006: CNN-IBN, ‘Indian of the Year’ in Public Service
2009: Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Kharagpur for Emergent Leadership.
2010: Policy Change Agent of the Year, Economic Times Corporate Excellence Award along with Aruna Roy.
To know about all the great works done by Sri Anna Hazare, visit The Works and Achievements of Sri Anna Hazare
Like every citizen of India I m wid u ,but I am afraid that u might be caught by this govt as this govt is a master in defeating people just by words. when the whole country is hooting against d govt why r u doing that !when d whole country in saying India is Anna ,Anna is India then why do u say this and provoke media or political parties to speak against u
Sir, u r a true youth icon. I Salute u for the hardwork .We shall always support u……….
Sir, u r a youth icon but even more mine… u hv totally inspired  me as well as the whole country. u r backbone of this ANDOLAN. I, citizen this country(india), SALUTES u for ur great hardwork. and esteemed thanx from my bottom of my heart for encouraging the youth, me and whole country.
salute to SHREE SHREE ARVIND KEJRIWAL JI…
JAI HIND JAI BHARATÂ
Shri Arving Kejriwal has inspired me and I feel my self a proud Indian Bihari having such a briliant and truthful men in our country. I salute you sir.
Sir you are a very great person on india. i am proud of u. please always go ahed to ur work for us. we are always supporting to you.as well as ANNA also. thanks sir .wish u all the best.
Dear Arvind, You are really grate even obtaining such grate job you sacrifice the job and join the team of india against curruption. My self ramesh more residing in village kharadi just 100 km away from Ralegaon siddhi “BEST OF LUCK”
Sir, You are the true human being. alwys respect for you from bottom of heart. One day i wll meet you, Best part is your simplicity, presence of mind, alwys fresh, active , no double character, all my best wishes with You & Annajie & Best Regards
Sir, I have the honour to comment that i m proud of U . My country has patriot leader like u who is intelligent,alert,enlightened, full of humanity & devotion, loyal, patriot and brave personality like ‘Vivekananda’ to uncage humanitarian -forces by uncovering the democratic reality in INDIA . Your Team ANNA have ignited the real BHARAT which will burn the Corruption .I salute U sir. my whole family blessings are with U & your Team Anna .
sir , u r d real hero of modern india .i salute u
MR KEJRIWAL
WELL DONE I M ALWAYS WITH U
JAI HIND
SIR U ARE THE NATIONAL HERO IF AM NOT WRONG YOU ARE THE INCARNATION OF SUBASH CH. BOSH
Now it is a very sad situation for our country that we have not a single polititians whose attutude match with Arvind Ji.I & our family is always with you sir.A person who spent his life for nation & these corrupt polititians are just pulling back instead of support. I hope & also pray to god to give a prime minister like Arvind Ji who take strong decission (jan Lokpal) & give us a corrup free nation.
I SHALL BE THANKFUL IF YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME TO WHOM I HAVE TO CONTACT FOR SEEKING INFORMATION U/S 6(1) OF RTI ACT SINCE NOBODY LIKE CPIOs/ACPIOs/PIOs, APPELLATE AUTHORITIES AND CIC DIDN’T BOTHER TO MY REQUESTS/APPEALS
mai kya kahu kuch samaj me nahi aa raha hai ….u r realy very great….ur simplicity is mindblowing..i m always with u…..i also want to change my life…..i salute u
R/Sir I am huge fan of you i want to meet you please tell me how to meet you and where and when its my humble request
great work sir.
Respected sir, now i m optimistic that we people of INDIA, can change the whole system of curruption.Sir u hv changed the mindset of Indians..we people of INDIA,will always with U…THANX FOR UR INITIATIVE..
I most like you and with you.you are such a god. I want to meet you and talk to you.I belong to bihar.My state full support to team.
can you change corruption whole india.
These Ford foundation gainers want to use corrupt politicians mainly congress by black mailing for the benefit of America . Today AK said that people should not vote to corporates , this hypocrat takes money from corporates including Ford foundation which is front organization of CIA and wants people to not to vote to corporates. AK enough of fooling of Indian people……
Hon’ble Kejriwal,
I am putting up a personal problem in a very brief way. If possible, pl reply. I received an OUTDATED refund cheque from SBI, Mumbai, for AY 2010-11. I returned it to Mumbai; and informed the Assessing Officer about the same. I am not succeeding in getting the refund again. I shall appreciate if you could let me know the process I am expected to adopt.
With regards,
Sincerely
S B Kalidhar
(Retd Prof from HAU)
Dear Sir, i salute u for giving a new way and hope to the whole INDIA that things could change but it require the whole nation to think deeply into the matter.we all r with u and we are very fortunate that people like u r leading us.But we have a long way to go……….
SIR WE ALL ARE WITH YOU DONT AFRAID WITH YOUR ENEMY SIR BAHUT DUKH HOTA HAI JUB GHOTALE KE BARE ME SUNTA HU KOI TO HAI JO ISKE LIYE LAD RAHA HAI SIR YE SAWIDHAN ME HE BHUL HAI YE PURNA SWIDHAN CHNAGE KARO SIR EK CHOTI SI NOUKRI KE LIYE INTERVIEW CHARACTER CERTIFICATE, NO CRIMINAL BACKGROUND . PAR NETA LOGO KE LIYE KOI CHARACTER CERTIFICATE NAHI KOI INTERVIEW NAHI KOI QUALIFICATION. SIR JITNA RUPEES KA GHOTALA HOTA HAI UTNE RUPEES SARE TAX PAYBLE PERSON ME EQUALY DEVIDE KAR KE UTNI KI TAX ME REBATE HONI CHAHI YE.
GREAT WORK
lage raho…………………total nation behind you.
sir ,i salute you for your work. we are with you.but sir please be careful as we all know how useless and stupid sarkar we have unfortunately……
sir ji bahut dukh hota hei k india k judicialy m judge kase judges k help karte hei mere pass judiciall k kuch ase docment with proof hei.pls contect me iwant discuss with u.jai hind
hello sir.. apko koti koti namskar….
you are a national hero every indian whith u…..
Arvind kejriwal ji ..
mr.kejriwal u r doing your best .so,me and our rss party is with you .if you want any type of help w.r.t to me then i must help you
sir, you are real hero of India.
hello sir aap he ho asli hindustani
sir arar aap yeah sab nahie karoge to indai kabhi curroption free nahie hora THANK U SIR WE ALL RESPECT U
Dear Sir,
I have no such words to express my feeling for ur greatness but i only want to Salute you Sir as a real HERO of our INDIA.
Thanks & Regard-
AKASH RAJ KASHYAP
Gorakhpur,UP.