Hum Janenge lost a dear friend and ardent Right To Information (RTI) activist, Rahul Mangaonkar, on May 5, 2009. Rahul took over as chief Moderator of HJ at a difficult juncture - after the sudden demise of its founder Prakash Kardaley, also known fondly as 'Masterji' by the group's moderators. Masterji and Rahul shared a close bond, and it is evident that their relationship played an instrumental role in grooming Rahul as one of the foremost RTI activists in the country over a very short period of time. Despite a busy professional schedule (he was a Principal Correspondent with the Times of India, Ahmedabad), Rahul dedicated time and effort to keep HJ afloat and provide guidance to its members. He was a mentor to many in their RTI struggles, particularly in Gujarat. He incorporated RTI issues into his journalistic writings, bringing the issue into the mainstream news in Gujarat, and dedicated his energies to his vision of empowering the common man and woman to exercise his or her right to information. He also kept the HJ family - scattered over several continents, and time and space - together, exhorting each of us to do our bit for the cause of RTI.

In the outpouring of grief on HJ, members expressed their resolve to carry on with his unfinished mission. Though full of grief, it is our combined responsibility to keep HJ flourishing and to continue with the mission that those before us dedicated themselves to. It is in this spirit that Rahul's wife, Twinkle, has joined HJ...we exhort others too to join and strengthen the HJ family that has been shaken his by untimely death.

In grief and solidarity with over 900 members, moderators: Sridhar Chakravarthy, Bangalore; Vishal Kudchadkar, Los Angeles; Anuradha Rao, Singapore.

Rahul Mangaonkar (in picture, right, next to Arvind Kejriwal): July 30 1972 - May 5, 2009