I wish to highlight the implications of a collective action that took place in Manipur very recently. Apunba Lup, an umbrella organisation of 23 civil society groups along with three major student bodies of the state have been protesting against the” fake encounter “ killings of 27 year old Chongkham Sanjit, a suspected ex-millitant, in broad daylight by police commandos in Imphal on the 23rd of July 2009. This resulted in an agitation by the groups demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister and DGP of the state police besides action against senior police officials. However the protest took a big turn when the joining of student bodies led to closure of schools, colleges and universities across the state resulting in the suspension of classes for over 4 months . While the collective action was for a justified reason, the impact that it had on the academic activities of the students cannot be undermined and it could well set a precedent for such indefinite closures of educational institutions in future as well. While there is a school of thought that believes that such an action taken is in the best interests of the society at large , as the protests is to ensure the safety of future generations... I would like to pose a question as to whether a collective action by the common people could also prove to be harmful to the very same people they represent??? How do you really view the gains and losses of the sacrifices being made???
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Collective Action in Manipur : A Paradoxical Implication??
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5 comments:
To begin with, the implication of community action to be a paradoxical approach... such that it defies intuition dos not go in great sync with the bigger picture.
The very obvious fact that you hath mentioned forth was the outcome of a mass scale movement that unfortunately had a negative impact on the students.
On one hand, if there was a widespread support of various student bodies whose actions for protest made it necessary for the government to reciprocate with such a ban is sort of self inflicted.
On the other hand, if the issue of national interest overrides everything, then there shouldn't be a fuss over a regrettable though dispensable loss of education.
I believe that the example you resort for your question does not do great justice to it. Nevertheless, even if we take into account an example of enough potency, I believe it would be highly ridiculous for us to believe that individual action or no action at all dominates over collective action and cooperative response from the community when human society is living proof of it.
When the all powerful state indulge in the killing of its own people by fake encounters then the relationship between state and people ceases to be normal.The recourse available to the people then is not necessarily peaceful politically correct agitation.Several organisations are demanding the repeal of repressive Armed Forces Special Powers Act.Irom Sharmila is on fast for last 10 years.If the larger sense of security and dignity of the people is under threat then temporary adverse effects of an agitation does not matter.
"Power has a rationality that rationality does not know, whereas rationality does not have a power that power does not know" (Flyvberg,1998:2)
Actions like these ,have a tendency of backfiring and playing into the hands of oppressing regime by giving them an excuse to come down even harder on the helpless.So anticipating the violence, (a la Jaliawala Bagh) leadership's role becomes very crucial(Like Gandhi's withdrawal of non co-operation after chauri chaura incident after all hell threatened to break loose). At the same time no resistance is devoid of sacrifices.Just that avoiding collateral damage is both parties' responsibility.
@ Ahmed
Then you are left with two options;either keep quiet or protest peacefully within the law for eternity.You are not supposed to use even Gandhian methods of protest like non-cooperation.And for that matter even during non cooperation movement a large numbers of students had themselves left the schools and colleges as a mark of protest.
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