Recent trend of protests

India has witnessed a recent trend of protest. The poets, poetess, novelist and other literary recipients of different accolades have started returning their awards as a mark of protest against the recent political hue and cry prevalent in the country, especially on Dadri beef lynching case. Undoubtedly the Dadri case was inhuman, derogatory and communal in nature. No real being can approve of the incident. With every dawn we hear a new name being added to the list of ‘awardees protesters’. Since the file of protester keeps on growing every day it’s unworthy to name any, lest, while naming, few apprehensively would be left. So I have dropped the idea of mentioning either their name or their work. Moreover all of them have contributed in their own way for social edification. From time to time they have painted the face of the society with their tools.

I am in no way against their protest, for they are the free citizens of a democratic nation and constitution has guaranteed them their rights of expression. My only serious concern is whether this step of their protest will anyhow bring social transformation which actually is their motive. Shouldn’t they use their mighty tool to protest or have they lost faith either on themselves or on their mighty and powerful pen. Perhaps they have forgotten the maxim “Pen is mightier than the sword”. Either this may be true or it can even be a new form of getting media attention. Nonetheless being in limelight is an emerging trend and people use whatsoever means to be in focus for a day or more.

I still have not understood how their way of protest aids them in fulfilling their wishes. The award was given by some government or some other organization for their genuine contribution. Now they are returning to some other government. I believe this is more of an insult to the organization which has awarded them at some point of time. Go and ask the Dadri beef lynching case victims, had such mark of protest benefitted them anyhow. This is just my personal feeling; their concern is genuine but not the method as they missed using something more powerful they had, the power of words, paper and pen.

In a global world with variant commune- info- techno- methods their strong literature would have played much convincing role than the present one. Everyone is not fortunate enough to have the power of expression but those who are gifted with such literary skills must use it indisputably at right time and proper place.

The present piece is not to hurt the sentiments of any but a personal feeling of the author itself.