The Jats have been showing their legendary mettle for fierce fighting and determined warriors. Their ignoring the Supreme Court and their movement receiving support of Chief Ministers, however, points to something far more important than the cause they are fighting for.
Whether the Jats deserve a quota or reservation is not the topic of this blog. So, if you’re looking for a view on the merits of that cause, you won’t find it here. For one thing I know next to nothing about the subject!
But the fact that we are – for the very first time since independence – witnessing a civil disobedience movement is of momentous importance. Whether the Jats win or not is also besides the focus of this blog. But the fact that:
- even the CM backs their cause inviting the wrath of the Supreme Court
- the Jats have chosen to ignore the Supreme Court’s “directives”
means that this can be classified as civil disobedience – a tool for change legitimised by Mahatma Gandhi to gain freedom.
In the land of Gandhi, post independence, civil disobedience will be cast as illegal by the establishment, including the Supreme Court. The Jats court jail like the Mahatma did. “Jail Bharo” will be the next logical step – that is, if the police can actually round them all up!
So what significance does it have for us?
- That the people concerned no longer accept the present establishment (rulers & rules) as representing their fundamental rights.
- That the GOI and it’s State dispensation no longer command their approval and short of aggressive violence, they will do what ever it takes peacefully to have it go.
That was the exact way an Indian would have described the British rulers & rules.
The momentous significance is that India is heading for another freedom struggle – this time from injustice and corruption at the hands of a select few Indians.
Given that we know civil disobedience has won in South Africa and India – both inspired by the Mahatma, it would be illogical to assume it will now fail. falter it might, but fail it won’t.
Unless the political class recognise this and remedy the situation with speed and thoroughness, we can thank the current rulers and rules for India’s second freedom movement.