Anna Hazare's fast friends

The fight against corruption led by Anna Hazare has attracted a menagerie of characters who liven up Ramlila Maidan.

THE AAM AADMI: Bringing the whole village, and their collection of hookas, many farmers from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh show up at Ramlila Maidan to join the Anna brigade. An occasional chance to shout 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' usually falls flat on the largely urban middle-class crowd with a completely different objective in mind. But they continue to hope that Anna Hazare's next battle will be for farmers.

PINT-SIZE PATRIOTS: The chance to see the freedom struggle reenacted attracts a lot of school kids. They might even get a chance to say "Hi" to mom on national TV.

THE 'LOVE PALS': Forget the movies, leave those malls alone, the coolest new hangout for couples is Ramlila Maidan. With live performances by Bollywood actors, stand-up comics, and singers, there is no excuse for city couples with spare time and some patriotism to miss this extravaganza. Given a chance to get clicked with their favourite stars.

IN SEARCH OF DEVOTEES: Wandering through the crowd, passing sagacious wisdom, babas are a key feature of Anna's army. Spend enough time with any one and you're likely to notice the latest smartphone.

PAINT-JOB NATIONALISM: It has been a fantastic year for painters. First the World Cup and now the Anna boom, there were never so many tricoloured faces around.

THE FANCY DRESS PARTY: Apart from the diehard crusaders against corruption, there are many at the Maidan who appear to have been left behind after a Ramlila performance. The protestors dressed up as Hindu gods and godesses appear to have descended from the heavens to bless the crowd and punish corrupt politicans and babus.

LUMPEN'S DAY OUT: With the tricolor as their licence and the Anna cap as their helmet, revelers of the festivities at Ramlila Maidan are having the time of their lives. The policemen, too scared to act against these young 'Annas', are left with no choice but to watch silently. A group of such unbridled young patriots beat two constables outside Ramlila Maidan on Thursday. With such maverick protestors on the prowl, the cops will soon have to wear helmets for protection!