The Farce

Whether the anti reservation protests will be successful is an open question. But the protestors have surely found new ways and means of expressing their concern without doing anything drastic. Play safe seems to be the protestors’ mantra, at least in Mumbai.

We saw students from IIT Powai go on a chain hunger strike. Whoever heard of something like that?!! And these people call themselves protestors! We know you guys are smart but we’re not stupid. You might call it a chain hunger strike but in our language we call it an upwas i.e. a fast.

Then they organize a rally in Shivaji Park to protest against reservations. And no sloganeering against either Arjun Singh or the Mumbai lathi charge was allowed. Infact, one of the organizers sounded actually apologetic when he said ki galti hamari bhi thi....we shouldn’t have assembled in front off the governor’s..... Lighting candles makes for a pretty sight but hardly makes any difference in the larger scheme of things.

If we, the youth, are really concerned we should do something substantial, something concrete. We need publicity. We need media coverage. We need to prove our points. We can’t just sit back and enjoy the show because it’s our show, our issues, our future. It’s our nation that’s being partitioned. All over again.

When there were satyagrahas and non violent protests in the pre independence era to drive out the British, the people came out onto the streets and broke laws. And when the colonial rulers hit at them they did not hit back. That is a non violent protest: laws have to be broken and the repercussions have to be faced boldly but non violently. Sitting in Shivaji Park and following all the rules set down by the authorities is not a protest. It’s just an extended form of armchair protests and passivity.

Students all over the country are protesting with vigor and ferocity. Students are defying the law and doctors are putting their jobs on the line. Lets not make a mockery of their sincere efforts with our chalta hai attitude.

Come on people, enough of these half hearted, passive protests. Stand up and be counted.