As I write this blog, five students sit at the administrative block of JNU. These are the five students who have been branded ‘anti-national’ along with JNU student union president, Kanhaiya Kumar, who has been arrested on charges of sedition. Not too far away in AIIMS, tribal leader Soni Sori is receiving treatment for the vicious attack she suffered, for having aired her views on tribal rights. In yet another part of the city, activists protesting against her attack are being taken to the Parliament Street police station.
Image credits: Akhil Kumar
This is just another day in the life of the national capital. And this seems to be the new normal. What began with attacks on environmentalists, social activists and NGOs has moved on to encompass so many others. When governments seek to control the entire spectrum of human behaviour: from what you eat, to what you say, from what you read to which philosophical ideals you choose to embrace, we are hurtling towards the forceful creation of a monolithic society -- one that denies its citizens the very right to diversity. As the world’s largest democracy, we have to celebrate and uphold our diversity and right to differing, even dissenting opinions.
But let’s not forget to see the silver lining. The five students in JNU have plenty of company. They spent last night, discussing and singing soulful songs about building a better nation, now they are joined by several other students from the campus, and they have been joined in spirit, by students from other campuses too. Together they have vowed to fight against the injustices meted out to the downtrodden in the name of development. And make no mistake... they still have faith in the Constitution and the greatness of democracy and India. Their supporters outside the JNU campus are busy writing about the issue; uploading and sharing speeches of these students on social media.
“If we do not have the right to dissent in the university, then this institution is no less than a prison for us. We will continue to fight for free speech,” says Umar Khalid, one of the five students, who is a victim of false allegations.
On February 18, Mandi House trended on Twitter as a crowd of fifteen thousand (by conservative estimates) waded its way through the roads of Lutyens Delhi towards Jantar Mantar from Mandi House. I too was a part of the crowd that comprised scholars, artists, writers, farmers, labourers, social activists. Our backgrounds were diverse, yet in unison, we demanded justice. Justice for Kanhaiya Kumar, and for every individual whose patriotism was being questioned. Justice for the survival of democracy.
The arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of sedition has sparked a debate on the definition of nationalism on a global scale. Self-proclaimed patriots, who up till now were busy hurling abuse at dissenters on social media have taken to physically attacking people with a view that is different from theirs. Certain media channels too have left no stone unturned to start a media trial, with primetime anchors relying on doctored footage to raise questions on the patriotism of dissenters. Not to forget those lawyers who, of all people, decided to take the law into their own hands and dole out ‘punishment’ by thrashing people to deliver their brand of instant justice.
Since June 2014, the government has spent a majority of its time and resources redefining an ‘anti-national’. Being a part of Greenpeace India, I witnessed how the government orchestrated an attack against the organisation, flouting all norms of free speech and damaging the very fabric of democracy. The anti-national tag then engulfed other NGOs in its ambit and has now targeted JNU – a hub of spirited young minds, who have never been afraid to speak their minds. An institution, which has harboured dreamers and leaders, who aspire to build a better nation and uphold the values of democracy. Now they are merely reduced to prisoners of their dissent along with others, who have spoken up to save the democratic ideals, on which the nation has been built.
However, in these dark ages young India has found a new voice --a voice that important for the country to hear. And they are being heard -loud and clear. To end, I leave you with the anthem that is growing louder by the day.
Avinash Kumar is a communications officer at Greenpeace India