Pratim Ranjan Bose
After many years I took part in a RALLY – michhil, as we say in Bengali. No, I don’t need any favour from
the government. I have a job. I want to make the most of a liberal economic regime,
make money and take good care of my family. And, I hate disruptions in civic
life.
Yet, I took part in a rally. It brought
traffic in Kolkata to a standstill. Many may have been inconvenienced. But, I am not
repenting my decision. On the other hand, I am happy. I think, I was expected
to do this much – walking a few paces with tens of thousands of university
kids.
They were demanding justice against brutal police action on students of India ’s
prestigious Jadavpur
University
The students were irate at the insensitive
handling of the issue by the university authorities. They may not have been all
correct in their approach. But, the demand was valid. And, on that fateful evening of August 16, many
of them gathered outside the vice-chancellor’s (VC) office - armed with guitars,
violins and tremendous enthusiasm – in the hope of a firm assurance.
The response came by batons and
blows. Some young boys and girls - mostly in their early years of graduation
studies - who had more of brain than muscle, were beaten like criminals,
dragged into police van and put behind the bars.
The next morning the minister,
police chief and the professor – all held by a common string – stopped just
short of describing those kids as deadly terrorists. And, that too in complete disregard
to video footage trending on social networking sites showing an one-sided
brutality.
Today, on this rainy Saturday,
the students of many institutions across Kolkata hit the streets, in tens of
thousands, demanding justice from the Governor of Weest Bengal, the constitutional head of the
provincial government.
But I, one among the many who
joined the students, wanted more. We wanted freedom from the brand of politics that
had been ruining my valley for the last four decades.
I was sure that these kids were
beaten and abused. Because they don’t bother to toe the line drawn by the
ruling party - which holds siege at academic institutions at the drop of a hat;
beat teachers; engage in corruption in recruiting teachers; divide the entire
society, every community in ‘us’ and ‘them’.
To them election is a tool to
divide the society, more often at the compromise of all democratic values; and establish
complete control over every asset that the society created. Every university,
every college, school, office and even that innocent Bus-Stand bear testimony
of their aspirations to establish a political hegemony.
What they did at JU on September
17, is little different to what had been done by the previous rulers. Yes
rulers. Once the came to power they assumed the role of our masters, in no
different terms than a feudal lord, spending more time in bending the rules in
their favour.
In this mockery of a democracy, those
who speak to their mind are labelled as “opposition” or “divisive forces” or
even a “terrorist” –a Maobadi. And, the opposition deserves to be silenced
or eliminated.
I, and we, am sick of it. I need
freedom.
I need a police force that does
not act like a private army. I don’t want some third rate film stars to come
and sit in high offices, because they will fetch more votes.
I don’t want our schools, colleges,
hospitals to be centre stage of political theatre. I don’t care for religion.
I care only for merit and equal opportunity.
I don’t want my son or daughter
to live at their mercy. I want the State to ensure their independence of mind. No
one should have the right to dictate their future. They should be their own
masters.
It is my country, my school, my
college, my trees – not theirs. I take pride in my institution. They violate
its prestige. They endanger my future.
Enough is enough.
I am ready to walk many more miles. Let them walk the talk, now.
