Suddenly Realising That The Entire System Is Corrupt
Since the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old lady doctor in a seminar room at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, 2024, mass protests have been going on in different parts of the eastern Indian Province of West Bengal. According to political analysts, the August 9 incident triggered public anger with endemic corruption in the Provincial Government run by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress Party. Analysts believe that although the trigger was the rape-murder at the hospital, the protests seem to be venting of anger over rampant corruption, cut-money system and lawlessness in the Indian province. It seems that the incident has helped millions of Bengalis to wake up and to regain their confidence!
Protests are taking place, simultaneously, in various European cities on different issues, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine or the Israeli atrocities in Gaza and Beirut. A large number of people, holding festoons, staged protests against the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the heart of Cologne next to the railway station near the Church Square in 2023. However, the protesters did not shout slogans. Instead, they were performing with guitars in their hands. Although the issue was different, the act was quite similar to what Kolkata is experiencing now!
Whatever the political beliefs of the protesters, they do not act as representatives of any particular political outfit during protests. The question may arise: What does it matter to the Germans that Russia invaded the Ukraine or that Israel is killing innocent civilians in Gaza? In fact, larger humanitarian interests have become an important factor to the protesters. It is because of larger humanitarian interests; Germany has accommodated thousands of Ukrainian refugees. The German Government has also arranged an allowance of EUR 2,000-3,500 per month for each refugee family! The move has angered some German citizens, while the Ultra-Right parties are trying to make it a political issue for their electoral gains. However, the majority of the Germans have stood by the side of the Ukrainian refugees.
An Indian tourist recently met a young man in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava. The gentleman is a tourist guide whose job is to take visitors to important places and to inform them about the history of the Balkan city. He told the Indian tourist that he was aware of what was going on in Kolkata, stressing: “Your style of protest is quite similar to Europeans… through music or by organising silent processions.“
It may be noted that the Slovaks used to gather in the Town Square and to ring bells every day to signal their departure from Soviet rule in 1989. Today’s Slovak youths believe that bloodshed is not necessary to bring about (political) change! At the same time, the young guide told the Indian: “We cannot even think of the reasons for which the people of West Bengal are agitating! We have corruption here too, but important sectors, like food, education or health, are free of corruption.” Meanwhile, the youth of West Bengal have also learnt to stage protests without crossing the line of modesty and to keep eyes on the eyes of the ruler. Most importantly, it has provided confidence to various levels of the society.
Ahead of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, George Walker Bush (Jr), the then President of the US, felt that such a decision required intellectual support. Hence, he reportedly invited about 100 poets, authors and other intellectuals to a tea party at the White House. A poet, named Sam Hamill, was one of the invitees. He thought that it was necessary to turn the tea party into a protest meeting! He shared his thoughts with other invitees through e-mails and all the invitees decided to recite poems in order to oppose the US invasion of Iraq! As the US Intelligence Department came to know about these e-mails, the President cancelled the party. The invitees, too, quickly changed their decision and gathered in front of the White House on the scheduled date to recite their poems, triggering a massive movement, called Poets Against the War!
Once, Sam, the most outspoken anti-war poet-activist of the US, was asked whether the poets’ movement could have prevented the invasion of Iraq. He replied that it was not the job of poetry to stop the State from doing something. Instead, poetry or any form of art can create awareness and prompt the State to think twice before implementing any decision.
In West Bengal, people were accumulating anger and frustration after looking at all the activities of the ruler for the past 13 years. However, the rape and murder of a young lady doctor has set fire to the heap of despair and also helped the majority to rediscover their spine! With this, mass protests in West Bengal have joined the global protests against tyranny!
The development shows that the Language of Protest is the same across the globe, in spite of linguistic and cultural diversity.
Boundless Ocean of Politics on Facebook
Boundless Ocean of Politics on Twitter
Boundless Ocean of Politics on Linkedin
Contact: kousdas@gmail.com
ISMC
Boundless Ocean Of Politics 