I walked in a silent protest rally against terrorism today. Started from Bhavans, because most walkers were students/ex-students of that institution. We walked to City Centre. We were all in black, walking in a three-line procession, with placards and a single candle at the head. At the CC Kund, we lit candles in the little tent-like enclosure, and observed a minute's silence. The LCD screen was used to flash the message prepared by the current prefects, who were doing all the work and coordinating the whole thing. Quite a few people lit candles with us. After a bit, we started walking towards Karunamoyee with our candles and placards, but for some reason, ended the walk at the Central Park.
Strange are the ways of the media. They recorded every minute of the first leg of the walk, ending at the Kund candle-lighting. They walked in front of us (backwards). They walked amidst us (backwards). They walked behind us. They shot our legs. They shot our feet. They shot our faces. They shot our hands holding candles. They perched on the railings surrounding the islands each time we approached one. They stood up on rickshaws driving in front of us. I believe they would have climbed the trees with their cameras, if they could.
There will be another, larger, youth rally soon. This will cover most of Kolkata. People from all colleges and universities in the city will be asked to participate. The date has not been decided upon, I believe.
10 comments:
congratulations.
like you said in a previous blog post of yours, yes, terrorism does seem more personal than ever before.
none of them deserved to die.
None of them deserved to die, indeed. I don't support terrorism either, but I wonder if the same candle-lit procession will come out when someone dies of hunger... someone dies without medical attention... someone dies because the state feels it's necessary...
Did they deserve to die? Blowing up people can't be supported at any cost, but can keeping someone hungry and slowly pushing them to death be?
I agree.
Firstly, public action takes place when an issue gains prominence - mostly via the media - which is not a good thing, but that, unfortunately, is the way things work, and it's obvious why. There are so very many instances of this sort happening around us. Is it really possible to convey so much information to such a vast number of people? Naturally, prominent causes - whatever their means of gaining prominence - foster more public support and action. This is unfortunate, and I don't know how this can be countered.
No one, or at least I, am not denying the case of the people who are - or so they think - compelled to resort to terrorism. There is immense state oppression. There is violence against minorities. There are unfair policies which work against them. There is unemployment among the youth of certain disputed areas. There is usurpation of land in certain parts of the world. There is violation of basic human rights. But surely you don't think that walking in rallies against terrorist acts implies denial and/or opposition of their cause(s)? Because there ARE people fighting for them, too, you know.
Also, I guess another reason for more people reacting to terrorist acts which take place in cities/towns is because they're closer to them - geographically, socially, as well as in terms of targeted community. I guess it's a matter of identification with the victims, as one of us/them - whatever the case may be.
But like I said, there are people fighting for the rights and causes of the oppressed communities, though admittedly not as many as those who fight for others.
we had a silent march from park circus to southern avenue. it was yesterday. almost 1000 people came.
i know.
you should have come if you wanted to get your views across.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=313794382026&ref=mf
well, seeing that i'd already attended a peace walk before this, and had blogged about it publicly, i do believe i've put my views across sufficiently well.
yes. just on your blog.
yes, which reaches a large number of people. also, i don't need your advice.
wasn't even giving any.
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