Silicon Valley unites against moral police
By Suneetha.B

‘Step Out, Stand Up, Stamp Out’ says the slogan, and this is Bangalore’s united protest against the moral policing by the self-proclaimed guardians of Indian culture.  Residents of India’s Silicon Valley, Bangalore, marched as one to protest attacks on women and our tolerant, secular culture. The  bashing of women in pubs sent shock waves in the Indian tech community.

The TV images of Ram Sena activists bashing pub goers in nearby city, Mangalore, had evoked  reactions of shock and disgust among the IT, BPO and KPO professionals of not just the said city but all over India and even abroad. Bangalore had had its share of anti-Valentine’s Day incidents even last year. So Rajeev Gowda, citizen of Bangalore, political and social activist and a Professor at IIM Bangalore took it on to organize a Gandhian way of protest to the attacks on citizens in the name of culture.

On 12th Feb 2009, at 1.30 pm, the streets of Bangalore saw Gandhian style human chain in peaceful protests against the moral policing by unknown persons across the state.

Earlier, the blog bengaluru-unites.blogspot.com had given this call to Bangalore to join hands to preserve one’s freedom. Don’t let anyone dictate what you should do, show that you care by participating in this peace protest, said the call.

And sure enough they did come out. And in thousands! And held hands in long chains in a most sober and dignified manner.

The updates on the Bengaluru Unites website say this unique program which took protests to the people had a stupendous response. Since this was apolitical, and held on a week-day, even the normally diffident citizens showed up with enthusiasm. It was a human chain and held during lunch time, and there was no holding up traffic or ugly slogans… some of them sang ‘hum honge kamyab’…quite symbolic!

The crowd was heterogeneous. There were plenty of students; all lined up next to their colleges and held hands in harmony. School students held hands with senior citizens. Some NGOS showed up with full enthusiasm and they were joined by dentists and doctors across the city. Many NGOs applauded and supported the cause, like Komu Sauharda Vedika and Samvada.  The surprise participants came from the   Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled at Jayanagar. The Srishti School of Design had a colourful protest on show and the journalism students of the city had a real ‘field day’ participating as well as reporting the event.

The Professor was of course supported by his contingent of future managers at the IIMB. The social networking sites gave a big boost to the event and ensured maximum publicity and participation to a very necessary expression of independence without hooliganism.

Techgoss spoke to Prof. Rajeev Gowda and here is an extract from the conversation.

TG(Techgoss): Why did you organize this event?
RG(Prof. Rajeev Gowda):  We have this huge class of Indians who have never expressed anything against the injustices occurring around them because of a fear factor. They have the protests in their minds but have a fear of standing up to the bullies. We have to start somewhere on showing that we do care and get used to the idea of not fear but that we don’t  have to live in fear.

TG: How did you design this event?
RG: The website hosting the call asked for volunteers and they poured in. There were just 5-10 amateurs and a number of independent volunteers who had the event on its feet in a week’s time. The way it was done has taken away all excuses for ordinary people NOT to protest against injustice around them. There were no demonstrations or disrupting work or family life or traffic. And it was not Valentine’s Day either. It was held during lunch hour on a working day in the vicinity of your place of activity. One Mr. Ranjan Kamath has done a write up on ‘Designing Protests for the Apathetic” after talking to me.

TG: Why not Valentine’s Day?
RG: It would cause other tangential discussions on culture.

TG: How did the media respond to the event?
RG: The media certainly hasn’t come all out but there are reports in the main stream media about the event. Several people have blogged about the incident. The social networking sites have supported whole heartedly by spreading the word.

TG: Were there any celebrities?
RG: There weren’t any I think, these were all primarily citizens in their own rights and worried about their freedom rather than the limelight it would bring. Perhaps celebrities would have brought in more media coverage.

TG: What about techies? Did the Silicon City respond well to the call?
RG: Actually there weren’t large turn-outs of techie crowds, but at some points of the Tech parks, there were 50-60 strong crowds of techies which itself is a good sign.

TG: Have you received any threats in connection with organizing this event?
RG: No, nothing at all.

TG: What is the sort of external support you received on the call?
RG: The blog records a number of comments from people outside India who had rallied to voice their concern and support although they are physically absent on the scene.

It is really heartening to note that there are people around still that can rally hitherto apathetic citizens around a wake up call…Bangalore has woken up to show that she “has had enough” and is someone listening?

Yes, someone obviously has been listening.

Today’s Hindu newspaper Bangalore edition reports that the organization which conducted the Mangalore pub bash-ups now say that they have “decided to spare Bangalore” from its anti-Valentine’s day plans.  One sure sign that the protest has been a sterling success.