PUBLIC PROTEST, A WASTE EFFORT

World have seen some good number of public protests in the recent past. After the killing of George Floyd hundreds of thousands of people from all 50 states of USA taken to the streets against police brutality and institutional racism in May 2020 was one of the biggest public protests in America in the recent history. In January 2017, about half a million people marched on Washington DC in support of women's rights, with more than 600 marches planned in the US and 81 other countries on the same day is seen as the largest single day protest. Over one million people, mostly students, seeking democratic reforms, had peacefully occupied the Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China in January 2010 were unexpectedly rolled over by tanks killing more than one lakh people was another significant protest in the recent times. Berlin Wall protest in 1989, Iraq war protest in 2008, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004 etc are the mass protests in recent times. However, Indian independence movement (1857-1947) must be the largest public protest in the world history.

During the post independence era we have seen countless number of purposeless protests in India. Till recently whenever petrol prices were hiked protests were followed all over the country. When the hike became quite frequent the number of of protests had come down considerably. And finally when the hike has become a daily affair, no protests at all. These protests were proved to be purposeless and no one cared for those and no follow up too.

Kerala is a state in India where public protest is a neverending affair. All 365 days one can find some protests anywhere in the state. In front of the Assembly Building in Thiruvananthapuram, one can find several groups doing protests for weeks and months continuously. In some cases they may not be able to recollect as to what purpose they are protesting. Of late public protest has become political protest. People are dragged to the streets by political parties for their political gains. Most of the participants, being innocents, take part in the civil disobedience and fall victims of the law and order machinary.

Every government irrespective of political affiliations should ensure that no shops, services and public and private transport are disturbed during any protests. The tourists who visit us should not face any problems whatsoever it may be because they are going to be the significant contributors for our economy. We should not turn them away under any circumstances.

KV George

kvgeorgein@gmail.com