The 'H' Word

There used to be a time when this word made me glee, but now the same word makes me cringe - 'Hartal'.

I think this is the right time to post about this activity which is quite a 'phenomenon' these days. Two hartals in 3 days in my city doesnt make things easier at all. The funnier thing is that, it has now become anyone's guess that a hartal is around the corner once the prices go up - People can plan their holidays accordingly. There are even people who pray for hartals to fall on either a friday or a monday (like I used to do during my school-days).

The parent of this 'spectacle' must definitely be the Non Co-operation movement practised by our beloved Bapu and followers prior to 1947. His aim was to win over the opposition with tolerance and at the same time giving them a polite snub. First, it was practised as a 'Bandh', which was later banned by the High Court of Kerala,. As a result our Political Wizards gave birth to Bandh Version 2.0 - named 'Hartal'. What is in a name? But when legal intrepretations are involved, the name does matter. The court banned 'Bandh' and not 'Hartal', though it is the same 'Bandh' which got baptized as 'Hartal' - Old Wine In A New Bottle..!!!!

The Non Co-operation movement was seen as a means to protest peacefully against the Government's autocratic policies. But what has Hartal produced till now. What is it's major achievement? From when did burning public property and attacking commoners who use their private vehicles become the main agenda of such a protest?

Hartals have become a field-day for taxi/auto drivers. You can see convoys accompanying the company conveyance used by employees from the private sector. People struggle to reach offices, hospitals, airports, railway stations and functions. One can see people pursuing their endless wait at the bus stands. Non availability of basic neccessities and medicines have made life all the more troublesome for jan does like you and me. Have the people who 'proclaim' these Hartals ever been victims of these hardships?

There is no meaning in banning the 'Bandh'/'Hartal'. Unless the legislation specifies the permissible activities that can be undertaken in such a protest, and defines the punishment for breaches, newer versions will take birth.