The virtues of new found citizen activism

In many earlier posts, i have mentioned this new movement in the educated citizenry across the country, which i choose to call Citizen Activism. It is not a new phenomenon and has been around for a while. Hindi movies have churned scores and hundreds of movies based on citizen activism essentailly, the efforts of one man/group of people to awaken a nation. The movie that immediately comes to my mind is Rang De Basanti. Not that Media and new reporters and columnists have never been a part of "awakening". In their distinct capacities all these agents of change have justified their role in a citizen awakening. It could be against injustice, corruption, reservations, red tapism, Goonda-ism, economic in-equality, so on and so forth... individuals in their might and right have taken a stand at times for the greater good of their communities, their futures, their families, states or the nation as a whole.


However the trauma post 26/11 served as a tipping out for a country neglected, a country besieged, as people publicly started lashing out at establishments and influential leaders in the country for having under delivered on all counts. 26/11 massified the movement. It wasn't as if one had not seen public outrages before, but the audience was limited and the action was specific to an institution/individual.

1. It started with the anti Mandal commission protests in 1990s, where students challenged the ministry and V P Singh led coalition on the execution of the reservation of seats for SC/STs and OBCs in professional courses. There after the AIIMS -
2. Jessica Lal's murder was the first instance of public outrage and media pressure leading to high court ruling out the judgement of a lower court.(acquiting the murderer, Manu Sharma, the son of a wealthy and influential politician). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Lal

The candle marches and other peaceful protests established this movement towards a more awakened and educated India. The tone was sorrowful and yet definitive. Just how many terrorist strikes were needed and how many innocent killed before the government and the bureaucracy would wake up to fulfill their duty of protecting the nations and citizens. The movement cost the Maharashtra CM and Home Ministers their seats. It was the first time, Citizen activism and media were getting their act together and the partnership effected the rise of this new phenomenon Citizen Activism.

Even as India goes to vote this time around, the activist media is proving its worth by educating the citizens about their voting rights and priviledges and the political drama unfolding and the criminal antecedents of a lot of the Lok Sabha candidates fielded by popular political parties.

1.I appreciate the attempts made by TATA TEA JAAGO RE campaigns in national media. http://www.jaagore.com/
2.Times of India's "No Criminals" LEAD INDIA' 09 campaign also focusses on much of the same message. http://www.lead.timesofindia.com/. Every other publication house is stoking the nationalist ideals within the citizens in its own way.
3.There are forums like National election Watch, a google based group that is actively disseminating information regarding criminals who are in the fray of seats for this years Lok Sabha elections. http://groups.google.com/group/national-election-watch?hl=en.
4.An Ahmedabad based NGO, http://www.adrindia.org/home/index.asp is actively educating the citizenry on elections, manifestos, candidates and criminals in politics.

5.On the humorous and sarcastic bit , there is this campaign from Radio Mirchi, called Bleed India, which is a satiric take on the virtues(or bane) of not voting!

But that is not just it, in terms of Citizen activism. Sample These:
1. Aamir Khan is actively advertising for Switch off, a volutary movement of switching of all electrical appliances for an hour on a given day, 28th March, 2009. http://www.earthhour.in/
2. Sachin Tendulkar dedicated his test century at Hamilton against new Zealand to tiger preservation.
3. Perizaad Zorabian, is a part of "Save the Glaciers" group educating people about Global warming and the likes.
4. Preity Zinta, adopted 34 orphans on her birthday.

The good thing about any person (forget Aamir, Sachin or Preity's status) voluntaring for a cause is that he raises interest and awakening in the vicinity around him. As is said, a single candle cannot light up the whole room, but does it own little bit in fighting darkness. Citizen Activism is passing that light, that beacon of hope and awareness from one person to another and presisting till the stated goals are achieved.