KalingaTimes : Citizen column

KalingaTimes Citizens' Column

Hunger strike: the fast(er) solution?

Ishita Russell
Gone are the days when the nation arose to a fast called by Gandhi. The attempts to replicate the past glory of a hunger strike seem to be going in vain. An easy method of blackmailing the government, this tool is being effectively and frequently being used by politicians, social workers and for any and every cause, irrespective of its relevance.

Medha Patkar, the face of the 'hunger strike society' has brought this method of protest into the limelight. Mamta Banerjee, attempting to veil the Bengal Assembly chaos, has announced a fast on behalf of the farmers. Irom Sharmila, though less hyped, is a prominent figure in this arena, with her hunger strike, against the AFSPT act, lasting for years. The examples of such displays of protests are many. The media is also highly responsible for highlighting such stories.

With visuals of forceful feeding and tubes running through the nose of the protestor flashing on television screen and covering front pages of newspapers.

The question however arises whether such strikes hold as much importance in todays day and age. There are many determinants to answer this question. The rise in the frequency of such 'sacrifices of food', have led to a decline in the attention span of the audiences or the readers. The attitude of "its just another hunger strike" has crept into the minds of the people. However, the blame is not of the common man, loaded with such stories, Jantar Mantar is now more famous for being a protesting ground rather than an ancient sun dial. The government has also reached a level of immunity towardssuch protests.

Despite the criticisms provided, this ancient method of persuasion still holds its place in the hall of fame of the means of protests. The government is still forced to lend a keen ear to the protestors. From the Narmada Bachao Andolan activists led by Medha Patkar, to the medical students protesting against reservation, the hunger strikes did manage to grab eye balls. However, care has to be taken to utilize this power judiciously, as frequent resort to extreme means may render it ineffective.

Love it or loathe it, this historic form of protest is here to stay. From Gandhi to Mamta Banerjee, the voice of the stomach will reach ears, though the volume level might be different

Balancing the scales of justice

Ishita Russell
A filmstar, a cricketer and a politician the thread that ties the three together is the recent judgments by the Indian courts. Sanjay Dutt, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Shibu Soren were all deservedly convicted and sentenced for their crimes. These judgments have faded away the belief that celebrities are super humans and had reiterated that they are human beings after all. The myth that celebrities can get away with anything, even murder, is negated.

High profile criminal cases are major attractions in newpapers and newschannels. The human nature to find pleasure in another's misery is highlighted in such cases. A minute by minute analysis was done when Rahul Mahajan was wheeled into Apollo Hospital, or when Sanjay Dutt's eyes welled up after the judgment, or when Salman Khan was sent to jail. But who exactly is responsible such a hype? The celebrities, the common man, or the media?

The public is quick in passing the responsibility to the media and the celebrities. However, if we ponder on this point, then the realization will kick in that it is the viewer himself that makes the celebrities and it is the viewer who the media caters to. Though, the highlighting of these cases has brought about a rise in the level of awareness and has empowered the citizen to exercise their fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression, article 19(1) A.

The Jessica Lal and Priyadarshini Mattoo cases are prime examples of the power of public opinion. The retrials in these cases and conviction in the latter have helped in restoring the dying faith in the Indian Judicial system. It reassures the public of a fair and unbiased though in all the cases cited, the judgments were given almost a decade later. However, it has also proved that justice delayed is not always justice denied.

Celebrities are people for we love to hate. Thus, till the time the celebrities keep faltering, the TRP ratings of the news channels and readership of newpapers will keep soaring. It is interesting to see that, it takes murders by celebrities to enlighten the public about Indian law, and to rekindle their faith in the Indian judicial system.

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