Bandh- Novel ways to protest:

Now that the pros and cons of observing/ enforcing a bandh have been debated upon and having arrived at a unanimous decision (almost!!!) that it is a necessary evil, here are some ways to make it interesting and entertaining. But of course, the form of protest would depend on what you are protesting against:

a). Protesting against increase in fuel prices: Instead of sitting at home and making it easier for the government that subjected you to this hike, why not walk to work??? I am talking especially in Mumbai’s context, where people from far flung suburbs like badlapur, Kalyan, Virar or Panvel who have their own bhajan mandlis in the local trains. They can take to the roads , sing in their loudest volume with their dol and other accompaniments. The rest of us can join in.. The suburban train service of Mumbai transports 48 lakhs passengers daily. Imagine what a great time we can all have, if we all take to the roads. It would be almost like 26th July 2005, but without knee deep water or even better, Mumbai’s own Kumbh Mela . To make things merrier, we can hire the biggest band playing popular hits of bollywood.
b) Protest against rise in veggie prices: Vegetable prices have gone through the roof with the humble sooran selling at Rs.120/= per kilo. The same sooran that we used to take out from under the soil in our native place and cut and gave it who ever would care to have it! For once, we can switch to the healthy option by munching on leaves. If all of us carried a bunch of leaves in our hands and munched it while walking on our way to office, wouldn’t be a green Mumbai,(atleast to watch!) Oh, the TV news people will have a field day “Breaking News”.

c)Auto and cabbie strike: Here again , you have two options, you can book those bullock carts available in villages of Kasara, Igatpuri or some such villages or hire the prettiest victorias that you get to see in Marine drive. Those having bigger pets can walk them too. Needless to say, Mumbaikars will breathe easy that day!!!

So ways are many, one only has to use one’s imagination to make it interesting, but never, never sit at home on a bandh day. Anyway, by 6 pm things would be normal, and you can always come back comfortably. And whether the Government takes note of it or not, Gandhiji and his greatest fan Munnabhai will surely appreciate it??!!


Sujatha Natraj