A harassed person dumped three sacks full of snakes in an office that had been scene of his continued victimization - I read this news first from international sources – the Associated Press, BCC, the Guardian, to name some. And it made a good national news item on the daily planning agenda. Refreshing stuff – recent revival of Gandhian ways to protest in this country has gained seekers – the victimized lot that we the common Indians – and surprised and observing lot of the global audience.
So it pulled the international airwaves to a village - and villagers enjoyed it when the ‘Time’ team arrived for Anna Hazare’s photo-shoot. News doing the round is Anna will adore the ‘Time’ cover. ‘Foreign Policy’ named him among 100 thinkers of 2011. Indeed a good exposure even if we consider the recent controversies associated with Team Anna. Put aside the recent controversies and we can safely say he has shown the vitality of Gandhigiri and viability of protesting for Just demands.
And this incident that came to light today says how desperate to react the harassed-frustrated lot has become. In this incident, a person Hakkul, who captures and conserves snakes, was at the receiving end. He had written to the President of India for land allotment to carry on his conservation work. The state government acted on it and directed the local administration of the district Basti to allot him land. But like Delhi , this district Basti, too, falls in India
Can you correlate with Hakkul?
Sure, most of us have faced such incidents in our lives. Whether we end up paying the so-called ‘convenience fee’ or take a protest route is what we need to ponder on at this hour when we, as the collective force of the common man, are at the cross roads.
It is irrelevant whether Hakkul had nothing to pay the bribe or he took a moral stand. What matters is he protested. Okay some might say it could have been dangerous as some snakes were poisonous. Let’s not get into that debate here. Let’s give Hakkul benefit of doubt (he might have chosen harmless snakes). No one was injured or bitten so words can go like 'his act was harmless and his experiment with Gandhigiri was genuine' - also no case has been registered against him and the Sub-divisional Magistrate of the district has assured on camera that his land would be allotted soon. (Though the Associated Press report says it was by two farmers and the police is on the lookout for them.) The write-up here quotes a mainstream Indian source so we can go with that.
He might not be aware of the Gandhian methods or principles. It might have been an act of frustration done in impulse; it might have been inspired by the movie ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ or many anti-corruption advertisements that followed the suit, but for the moment it seems to work.
Great na. J (Though dumping snakes in a public place cannot be accepted.)
Would it generate more such innovative ways to protest in the Gandhian style?
We should have no problems if it becomes shoe-gate of 2008 when George Bush was attacked setting a trend or should we have?
Should we or would we be worried of this setting a trend (assume harassed dairy owners let loose their herd of cows in the premises of the bribe seeking officials!)?
What do you say on this Gandhigiri with a difference? J
Another impulsive experiment to find solution to his problem by a frustrated, harassed common man, an Indian, who has now this to say - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
