A picture is worth a thousand words, so said Napoleon Bonaparte. Incidentally, such a picture that evoked the deepest sympathy of every reader came out in a local daily-that of a man pleading with folded hands to a group of enraged volunteers blocking the roads protesting some cause or the other, with his motorcycle destroyed and dismantled by the group menacingly wielding logs and bricks. Of late, the disturbing frequency of resorting to bandhs and blockades to express dissatisfaction over the Government’s conduct of state affairs or to push for a demand has taken a more horrifying turn with even traditional and cultural dos as well as exigent circumstances getting the boot. While the various demands that are being made are, in most cases if not all, genuine and necessary, there is an emerging need to rethink the strategy and the means to achieve the demand or set of demands. It is perplexing to note that these JACs and Demand Committees have not been able to put enough pressure on the local representatives of the State Government with any amount of success to expedite their demands. In fact, we have yet to see the involvement of these local representatives in addressing such social issues. Getting back to the point, what is the point of propagating more violence and fomenting animosity? Should one life be put to jeopardy to demand for the preservation of another? Does it makes any sense to anyone when a person’s right to freedom is curtailed, often with violence and threat of physical injury, in the demand for justice against another’s? Are we acting responsibly when we refuse to accept or even hear out another desperate person’s circumstances for disregarding the public diktat? Are we supposed to put every single blame on the Government, even when the blame happens to be that of a family or marital dispute? And are we still so immature as to expect immediate justice without finding out the whole truth? The State still do have a court of law, however lethargic and tainted it may appear to be to a common man. We also do have a policing system duty bound and sworn to protect and serve the society, although the discharging of that sworn duty has become dubious in light of the increasing reports of various atrocities committed by members of the armed security forces, both of the state and the central. It is our legal right to seek remedial measures and even press for damages. The media is always open for anyone to air grievances or undue pressure amounting to abuse of power by any Government official. Corruption, inactivity and indifference are the biggest hurdles a common man is being made to face everyday. Yet we succumb to such pressures inspite of all the grumblings and cursings. A far more effective, albeit difficult option would be to report any and all such cases of intimidation, coercion or abuse without giving in. there are some matters the Government might try to conceal and mislead the people deliberately from. This calls for the removal of such power mongers at any cost, fair or foul. For most other circumstances, it would be a better option to resort to the established courts of law as well as the police for justice. The media is always ready and willing to report and publish any discrepancies and undue harassment by any official, armed or otherwise. We should take full advantage of the checks and counter-checks in place to achieve our demands, if genuine, without resorting to violent and destructive means.
