The street was long, unwinding, pitch dark, blinding its way ahead. But in unison they were seen marching their way forward, as if light within was too illuminating to demand electricity from the perennially power starved Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) Limited.
No, they did not stumble upon potholes, spotted everywhere in Bangalore. No, breaking of bones by police baton was also reported. It was a free flow of human chain. One after another-- men, women, and children--followed each other, to a greater glory. To everyone’s surprise, that day the SUVs and BMWs patiently waited for the never ending caravan to proceed ahead of them.
Ubiquitous pedestrians took the form of a collective giant. The Frankenstein crowd surged every nook and cranny of the city. It was looking monstrous, but, the monster did not whip fear factor, rather provoked unexplainable sensuality, asking everyone to take part in the feast of human bravery and dignity, when oppression became unbearable.
That day, all hell broke loose for arm chair intellectuals and analysts. They failed to comprehend the sudden adrenalin rush amongst the otherwise calm citizens of Bangalore. Even at ground zero, observers were astonished and amazed by turn of event.
The reporter from the local Kannada news channel could not believe her eyes. At 12am in the midnight, the human chain, spread almost across Bangalore, matching each other's footsteps in a choreographed fashion. Few were found holding each other hands, others too ecstatic to bother for any human touch. Some hummed in incoherent tunes, clapping their hands against all forces, chanting a new anthem. The protest anthem was two liners “free 99% from clutches of 1%; free the humanity from all practiced oppressions…”
When repeated again and again, it formed a song. The freedom song, Bangalore was unconsciously waiting for long. This is how the protest movement in Bangalore started.
Like all other protest/rebel/reclaiming…movement springing from Arab to America, Bangalore also found its road to freedom.
Again nobody knew who and how it was started. Many tried their guessing prowess to come to a logical conclusion. In India’s tech hub the movement germinated from a social networking site? But, no concrete evidence certified the movement to any individual, or group. As if all wanted it to happen, they all wanted to scream out aloud, for suffering heaped on them since ages.
The high decibel protest chord, created cracks in the walls of Vidhana Soudha. The legislators were found running hither and thither, nearing to comical conclusion, when many accidentally tripped on their own lungis/dhotis, leaving themselves naked in the process.
In search of safety havens, the much protected VVIPs ended up in cells. Gowdas, and Yeddyurappas were seen locking themselves up in jails meant for hardcore criminals in their hurried bid to save themselves from public wrath. Who knows, the angry mob might had indulged in orgy of violence, turning the roads blood red?
The glassy corporate towers too succumbed to the pressure, it quickly fell into crumbles. The rebels walked over the high secured zones of power, once denied to commoners. All of a sudden powerful were stripped off their power. Defying prescribed norms, without the robe of power covering them, they too looked akin like malnourished children dying everyday in far off corners of Karnataka. After all, donning shinny polyester tuxedos does not make anyone immortal. Death will come to all of us one day. Be a king or pauper, as mound of earth bury the body within, insects crawl over pounds of flesh to bite off the vanity, life looks in a listless motion. It mocks at us, mocks the false pride with which one group inflict tyranny on another. Calling of life takes a simpler note, come join me, death is life ahead.
The protesters on Bangalore roads were said to have conquered the fear of death. Thus they had all left their homes and families which took them ages to nurture. But, when death evokes no fear, god too has to come out of the temples to join genuine demands.
That night god of protest smiled on Bangalore too. Long live the movement!
(Disclaimer: This is how I would like to see Bangalore protest taking off. Don’t worry my dear brothers and sisters! The entire episode is just a figment of imagination. You all are safe in your cocoon to continue with your daily lives. But, you never know, someone somewhere in your own city might be planning for the coup, and maybe, you too will decide to break all rules guarding your ordered life, to be part of the protest.)
