Is there an overdose of Gandhigiri??

Lage raho Munnabhai re-introduced the concept of peaceful protests to today's generation. The methodology was aptly termed as "Gandhigiri", completely opposite of dadagiri. This terminology has attracted the youth of the country and there were reports of people using Gandhigiri to solve problems that seemed impossible using the conventional methods.

Well then, is there an overdose of Gandhigiri? No, I would like a lot more people to adopt Gandhigiri and succeed in their missions, but let's stop and think what Gandhigiri is actually all about?

Gandhiji's methodology was innovative. Although its basis was ahimsa or non-violence, the implementation of every movement was very innovative. The Non-co-operation movement, Civil disobedience movement, the Dandi salt satyagrah all were treuly unique. Each method was in itself challenging the British, but they never knew a priori how Gandhiji would protest. That is the whole essence of Gandhigiri. Innovative, non-violent protests.

Cut to 2006, post Lage raho... We see Gandhigiri clubs mushrooming all over the country. But most of them have taken to the protest methodologies depicted in the movie. While Lage raho... writers must have spent a lot of time and energy in coming up with innovative ways of Gandhigiri the public is just immitating those methods. Until now, only two innovative methods have been witnessed. One in Pune, where the traffic rule violators were greeted with flowers or garlands by smiling Gandhigiri activists and presented a card stating that the person was felicitated for breaking traffic rules and henceworh vowes not to break those. This was an innovative way to make errants realise their crime.

Another incident in Pune, where the activists of a local political party protested against pathetic condition of a particular road in Pune. The craters on this Road, ironically near Gandhi-bhavan were filled with water and mosquitoes were breeding in that water. Despite protests and delegations, when the PMC did not get its act together, the party activists protested by releasing a particular species of fish that breeds on mosquito larvae, thus preventing further growth of mosquitoes. This is what I would call as innovative protest.

So, moral of the story is, Gandhigiri practitioners, get your act together, do not imitate Lage raho...do not imitate Gandhi, but be innovative in the ways you protest. Although, the basis of all such protests is non-violence.

Bolo Gandhigiri zindabad!!!

Khushwant Singh on the youth of India

Picked up from Hindustan Times dated 7th October 2006. Kudos to Khushwant Singh !!

Original article can be view here

Requiem to Sabharwal

Full of brilliance, culture and
foresight,
Our youth being brave and full of fight
The future of India is really bright.
Only occasionally, they murder their teacher
Normally, they only break furniture
They hold up traffic, fold up classes
They would like to be political leaders, corporate bosses
They must have money and fun
So, what if they have to use the gun
For, the election to the Union must be won.
They are inventive, enterprising and bright
Instant stardom is their right,
So well behaved they are, such pictures of courtesy
Because our society
Teaches them mercy, manners and morality,
They’re so peace-loving, patriotic, free from guile
Because we set such brilliant examples all the while,
So, we should be proud of what we have done
Because they are our, our very own children.