Yesterday Paul Beckett, the South Asia bureau chief of the Wall St Journal snarkily wondered if hunger strikes work in a piece titled ‘Another Hunger Strike? Yawn’

Social activist Anna Hazare is reportedly starting such a fast this morning to push civil society’s involvement in the formation of the anti-corruption ombudsman bill in Parliament. I have no reason not to take Mr. Hazare at his word. He has won the Padma Shri award, one of India’s highest civilian awards. But do you think he is really going to go through with this even if the government ignores his demands?

Mr. Beckett has his answer. Anna Hazare has in fact gone through with it. Thousands of Indians are rallying in support of Hazare. Not just on the streets of Delhi, but around the country and around the world. Thousands of young Indians have listened to Hazare’s call on Facebook and Twitter.

Yes Mr. Beckett hunger strikes do work. With perfect timing, a cause that has enraged millions of Indians, a supportive media, and led by a man whose courage and integrity are a beacon in the cesspool of corrupt politicians, hunger strikes work.

As of this morning Union Minister Sharad Pawar has quit the GoM (group of ministers) tackling a solution to corruption. Parasitic politicians are even losing the battle of hogging some Hazare’s spotlight.