Something Non-violent...

Pic Source: Merinews.com

I did not know much about the happenings in FTII. I wasn’t actually interested in it but today after a conversation on the topic, I Googled everything about it and it feels like Why?! Just Why?.

But that’s not all about it. It’s not just a mere clash of policies or ideologies. This 70 day protest, which began with the wrongful appointment of Mr. Gajendra Chauhan as FTII President, hints at something far more repugnant and repressive to come.

As I see it, this is a failure of the non-violent methods of protests propounded by the father of our nation and this might just be the beginning for the end of days for non-violence. The basic idea of non-violence, as everybody knows according to the definitions is to ‘affect the opponents’ heart’ and making a desirable change without opting for arms. But that’s just the superficial part of it. In reality, it was the popularity of a protest that led to its victory. No peaceful protest could’ve been successful without  effective use of media to pressurise those in power.

In any case, to feel the building pressure, a person must have some sense of moral or ethical consciousness, But today, in case of our right wing organisations, whose stake in Governmental decisions is substantial, you cannot expect any such thing as ethical consciousness. Moreover, these people have mastered the art of manipulating media. In short, the two basic things required for a successful non-violent protest is already in their favour.

For example, in the FTII issue, why would they let the protests continue without any kind of reaction unless they want the TRPs to go down on the topic and let media and people forget about it. If not anything else, the success of the Modi Government is that they are almost in complete control of media in the country which was not the case with UPA. In fact, UPA’s downfall started from the extensive media campaign of Anna Hazare.

Information Technology, with the abundance of information, has made the importance of any news slight and restricted to a very short timeframe. If any action, at all, has to be taken, its relevance too is constricted to that timeframe. So, not giving attention to an even and letting it pass is the best way to counter any non-violence protest. And this is precisely what is happening in FTII. This is not going to be the first time that such a protest would get ignored and let banished into oblivion.

I couldn’t help but think – what other options do we have other than nonviolence? Though I hope that we won’t have to choose those options, I believe we will one day be forced to. Obviously it would lead to further turmoil and so on and on. The only doubt I have is what Orwell once put into words – 

‘Is it possible that human beings can continue with this lunacy very much longer? You know the answer, of course.’

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Rethinking Independence!

Free from the bombardment of patriotic songs at railway stations, patriotic movies on TV and patriotic speeches on roadsides, on this 'Independent' evening, I took a stroll through the neighbourhood. Ans as I walked, I realised that the development and progress of the nation, as judged from my surroundings, is commendable.

Pic Credits: Wikipedia.

From the days I used to walk on these streets with a flag in my hand and pride in my heart to this day when I doubt the abstractions of nation and any kind of affinity towards it,these familiar streets have changed. The then old and small buildings are now humongous towers. Instead of a Maruti here or there, Hyundais and Skodas are parked everywhere. People are now using bigger phones, children are talking about Candy Crush and such. But, apart from all these, from the insides, have these people really changed?

To me, it seems, we are stuck. Change in any form, except for material, is absolutely lacking in the current order of things. Of course, there has been periodic changes or rather wavering in the political affiliations of different populace but in the true sense, it was never a progressive change. The ideological and intellectual development seems to be stunted as we are learning, preaching and practicing much about the same things in perhaps slightly different manners. An individual was afraid and is still afraid of an individual from another community. The threat of communal civil wars still looms above us.

I don't know if there can be any solution to this. And I don't expect much of spearheading efforts in that direction from our already directionless political leaders. I don't even know if the answer is political or something else altogether. Perhaps arts or philosophy or science might bring about a change but I don't think religion should play a role anymore. But these are all secondary, as a democracy, of which in the current state I am not a fan of, the change should begin from the people. And by definition, the people, the common man is not supposed to even think about all these things!

So, I think its time we redefine everything. Let's begin with redefining Independence itself. Why should it be treated only as Independence from foreign rulers? Perhaps it should be treated as something more. In pure Indian terms it could mean 'moksha' or 'nirvana' or liberation from our previous self. Why are we so obsessed with constancy in ideas when everything else around us is changing so rapidly? Why can't we think and practice newer ideas?  And by newer ideas, I don't mean Westernisation. I don't mind being Indianised or Westernised. All I crave now is change- a change from the inside.

So, I wish, all of you a belated Independence Day, but let the morrow that rises be independent of the day that set and let new seeds of change be sown and let not the fear of the unexpected stop us from marching. Let's just unstuck ourselves!