Finding new methods of non-violent protest?

Free Thinker *

ILP : School Students and women folks protest at Tidim Road, Keishampat on 30 May 2016 6 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

Today, as a protest, the students of Tamphasana Girls Higher Secondary school and Johnstone Higher Secondary School together (to be more participative) may clean the areas in and around the Raj Bhavan (with permission). Take my word the police will not touch any of the students.

Rather they will provide security and water to them and also monitor the traffic. The Municipality people will provide the hardware for cleaning. The best part of such a protest will be that the Governor himself will take cognizance and report the matter to the authority concerned, saying that some boys and girls (students) made my Raj Bhavan area spick-and-span while putting across their demand.

Believe me, it will be a national news if not international, as the protest is unusual. We can expect stunning impact.

Hunger strikes, bandhs, general strikes, public-curfews, blockades, pen-down strikes, rallies, boycotts, etc. are old methods of protest (for demand). These modes of protest are centuries old. In this 21st century we need to evolve novel ideas of protests (of course nonviolent) which are more constructive, more productive, more effective and easier to follow.

I read somewhere that in a shoe factory of Japan the workers were on strike for pay revision. Their protest started making only the left foot shoes. They did not stop working. Till an agreement was found between them and the management they kept producing left foot shoes. When the matter was settled the workers started producing right foot shoes. Such innovative and non-destructive protests should open our minds.

Instead of blocking the roads we may clean the roads in demand of arresting the culprits of heinous crimes etc. Instead of Bazar bandh, in protest of the new traffic rules, Bazar may remain open till late in the evening. It may sound crazy but please have a second thought.

Peruvians protested (in Lima) against State corruption by washing their country’s flag. The flag scrubbing protest went on for months. International attention was drawn to such kind of innovative protest. Their President was forced to flee Peru. In Brussels farmers angered by collapsing milk prices demonstrated in front of European Union Headquarter by spraying milk directly from cow’s udder and also making a ‘milk-lake’.

Finally the EU had to take up some measures in their favor. Again, in Pamplona (Spain) dozens of young women (animal lovers) lay down on the streets topless, to protest against bull fights. They had successfully drawn the international attention and also made a very strong point vis-à-vis their cause.

While putting pressure on the State government to enforce certain things, all the local clubs may come together and clean Nambul River. This cleaning work may go on till their demands are made. All the participants must come with necessary tools like spade. Just imagine the attention it can draw and also the support & sympathy it can garner.

By working an extra hour daily our Doctors in the state may start their agitation demanding an announcement from the CM that their retirement age be increased to 65. Modiji has already made the announcement for the central government Doctors that they are going to be superannuated at the age of 65.

The Contractors/Thikadars may protest for not clearing their pending bills by the lifting the filth lying between Lamphel and Langol. They may use their trucks, tractors, Cranes, bull- dozers, etc. People may become sympathetic to their cause. When there is public pressure politicians are compelled to oblige.

Nonviolent protests are slow to achieve goals but in the long run they are more effective and enchanting. Unlike violent movements nonviolent struggles can move on for weeks or months or years together. Ultimately the mass opinion and world opinion come in favor of the nonviolent protesters.

The Authority or the Power or the Government has no option but to negotiate with the protesters. They can’t resort to violence because the protesters are nonviolent. The protesters have no animosity and anger against anyone but they are fighting for a cause.

Nonviolent struggles make the society stronger and make people’s determination and will-power more crystalized. We had experienced Gandhiji’s movements, Mandela’s struggle and now we have seen before our own eyes the success story of Aung San Su kyi. Success achieved by nonviolence means is much sweeter than success achieved through violence.

In recent times we have lost many lives in the hills as well as in the valley of the state as we have become restless, impatient and violent. Whatever may be the ‘cause’ let us always try to sort out things without violence. And let us innovate new methods and constructive modes of protests and struggle.

No need to fire guns to make the deaf ears hear; instead draw the attention of the ‘power that be’ through the media worldwide so that your grievances are highlighted, heard and harmonized (responded). The nude protest in front of Kangla had shaken the conscience of humanity. But that was an extreme form of nonviolent protest.