RAHUL, WE WILL MISS YOU

Anita Karwal

On Monday, at 9.28 pm, when my cell phone rang, I instinctively knew it was Rahul calling. Ever since the election date had been declared, he kept in touch with me, not just to confirm news, but also to continuously assure me that “this too shall pass”. “Ma’am, you must remain cool in the face of adversity. That will not only get your work done faster, but keep your family happier too.” He loved telling me this. From today, I can keep on waiting a lifetime for the phone to ring and Rahul to call and it will never happen.

I was struck by Rahul’s dedication. It was so infectious. I had to take up the causes he espoused. Then he began spreading awareness about Right to Information Act (RTI) in the state. He became a scribe suddenly and one saw issue-based activism through well-researched articles. That is Rahul for you; rather that was Rahul for you. Rahul took up issues like school building safety, safety of transport for schoolchildren, helmets, vehicular pollution, city traffic and BRTS.

Rahul left this earth prematurely. His work remains unfinished. His affable manner and concern for societal and governance issues can never be forgotten. In a short span of just 36 years, he has positively impacted thousands of people. Rahul, this city will miss you but you will live on always in the hearts of every citizen who feels the air is getting cleaner every Diwali, or whose child’s life was saved because he heeded your warnings and withdrew him from that overcrowded van, or that poor family that got the benefits it was eligible for because you told them about RTI. Rest in peace, Rahul.

(The writer is the chief electoral officer, Gujarat)

Rahul Mangaonkar awakened citizens through his column ’Jaago Gujarat’, but on Tuesday morning he suddenly went into deep sleep. His death has left RTI users and promoters across the nation in shock. Rahul’s involvement with governance started long back when he was associated with Loksatta. He had also played a key role in creating a constructive environment for RTI and establishing effective co-ordination when he was associated with the RTI cell in Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA). Rahul played a key role in taking the RTI movement ahead in Gujarat. His death is a great loss to the RTI world. Farewell, fearless RTI crusader

-Arvind Kejriwal (Parivartan), Aruna Roy and Nikhil De (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan) & Bibhav Kumar (Kabir) with other RTI activists.

Since we have been propagating Right to Information, we enjoyed reading Rahul’s sharp articles on this right and on his ability to take on all, with out fear or favour. The world has truly lost a great journalist and I am sure, that The Times of India would have lost somebody very precious.

Publication: Times Of India Ahmedabad; Date: May 6, 2009; Section: Times City; Page: 2