Facebook and other social networks are, these days, abuzz with posts from activists and supporters of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that over 7 lakh people in Delhi have signed the declaration form of non-payment of electricity bills. Making a safe assumption that all of them are above 18 years of age, hence already a voter or a potential voter, that amounts to around 7% of total voter population (going by the data of 1.07 crore eligible voters in 2008 assembly elections) which, by no means, is an insignificant amount.
Although you might and, most likely, will argue about the rise of Arvind Kejriwal as a popular public figure, the issues which he raises and his methods of protest. This article does not try to argue with you on that issue as the author himself is not a firm supporter nor a passive viewer although he does identify and gets inspired by the level of idealistic zeal and passion which Kejriwal reflects. But the author senses a striking similarity between, what he calls a "Kejriwal-Tide" (calling it a movement seems too optimistic) and the Indian National Movement (INM). The article tries to illustrate this remarkable similarity in the rest of the sections.
War of position
One of the most remarkably written books on modern Indian history, "India's Struggle for Independence" by Bipan Chandra et al., strongly asserts that INM was a "war of position" (the Gramscian thought of building hegemony over civil society through social institutions as opposed to war of maneuver where direct force is used). Although it seems impossible to imagine establishing counter-hegemony through war of maneuver in these democratic times where the state already enjoys a high level of legitimacy of all kinds, the examples of such methods are not difficult to notice, the naxal movements being the most prominent example.
Kejriwal's efforts in RTI and Lokpal issue utilize the war of position strategy where he tries to establish social and legal institutions which propagate and institutionalize the ideology he adheres to. His early days in Parivartan and RTI enforcement were spent mainly in mobilizing public opinion (especially in Delhi) which forms the basic strategic essence of war of position.
Co-opting the governing space
The national movement, primarily led by Congress, was not in complete isolation of what British Govt. offered in terms of governing space. Congress and other parties contested elections during 1937 after Government of India Act, 1935 was implemented. On similar lines, what Kejwriwal-Tide has adapted itself to is co-opting the democratic space offered by the constitution and hoping to drive the systemic changes from within the system. AAP has become the consequential agent through which he hopes to acquire that governing space.
Sinusoidal struggle phases
INM did not achieve its objectives in a particularly short period of time as the opposite has happened in French and Russian revolutions. It would also be totally wrong to assume that these momentary overthrows of status quo don't happen anymore. Arab Spring and its sister movements in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen and Syria, whether successful or unsuccessful, have shown that to be possible in very recent history. But, INM was remarkable in the aspect that it was leavened with passive phases in between its active upsurges.
The Kejriwal-Tide has justified its literal meaning by flowing and ebbing in a similar fashion till now. The Lokpal and the current Delhi electricity bill issue have attracted the maximum participation apparently while mobilizing smaller albeit significant public support during Vadra, Gadkari and Ambani corruption exposures.
Civil disobedience
The recent "tactic" of Kejriwal to mobilize people to not pay the allegedly inflated public utility bills in Delhi might seem to many as attention grabbing and even illegal & seditious, but it certainly seems inspired from Gandhian method of civil disobedience to so much extent that it, even, is centered on breaking "tax laws" as was Dandi March on salt tax law. Whether this is just coincidence or Kejriwal has been deliberate his attempt, only time will tell.
On the hindsight, there were some signs which showed this trend such as using the term "satyagraha" for the protests and donning the Gandhi caps as protest symbols. Also, the support base for AAP and Kejriwal has been completely secular, broad-based and has relied on their normal strengths and weaknesses. Notwithstanding the disregard by people as well as veteran politicians, the Kejriwal-Tide has enabled people to participate from their homes and offices which, actually, is a very significant achievement, especially in the light of ephemeral participation which other issues get on social networks. As Gandhiji said, a leadership should not put undue strain on the energy of its support base and that is what this tide has been doing.
One of the most remarkably written books on modern Indian history, "India's Struggle for Independence" by Bipan Chandra et al., strongly asserts that INM was a "war of position" (the Gramscian thought of building hegemony over civil society through social institutions as opposed to war of maneuver where direct force is used). Although it seems impossible to imagine establishing counter-hegemony through war of maneuver in these democratic times where the state already enjoys a high level of legitimacy of all kinds, the examples of such methods are not difficult to notice, the naxal movements being the most prominent example.
Kejriwal's efforts in RTI and Lokpal issue utilize the war of position strategy where he tries to establish social and legal institutions which propagate and institutionalize the ideology he adheres to. His early days in Parivartan and RTI enforcement were spent mainly in mobilizing public opinion (especially in Delhi) which forms the basic strategic essence of war of position.
Co-opting the governing space
The national movement, primarily led by Congress, was not in complete isolation of what British Govt. offered in terms of governing space. Congress and other parties contested elections during 1937 after Government of India Act, 1935 was implemented. On similar lines, what Kejwriwal-Tide has adapted itself to is co-opting the democratic space offered by the constitution and hoping to drive the systemic changes from within the system. AAP has become the consequential agent through which he hopes to acquire that governing space.
Sinusoidal struggle phases
INM did not achieve its objectives in a particularly short period of time as the opposite has happened in French and Russian revolutions. It would also be totally wrong to assume that these momentary overthrows of status quo don't happen anymore. Arab Spring and its sister movements in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen and Syria, whether successful or unsuccessful, have shown that to be possible in very recent history. But, INM was remarkable in the aspect that it was leavened with passive phases in between its active upsurges.
The Kejriwal-Tide has justified its literal meaning by flowing and ebbing in a similar fashion till now. The Lokpal and the current Delhi electricity bill issue have attracted the maximum participation apparently while mobilizing smaller albeit significant public support during Vadra, Gadkari and Ambani corruption exposures.
Civil disobedience
The recent "tactic" of Kejriwal to mobilize people to not pay the allegedly inflated public utility bills in Delhi might seem to many as attention grabbing and even illegal & seditious, but it certainly seems inspired from Gandhian method of civil disobedience to so much extent that it, even, is centered on breaking "tax laws" as was Dandi March on salt tax law. Whether this is just coincidence or Kejriwal has been deliberate his attempt, only time will tell.
On the hindsight, there were some signs which showed this trend such as using the term "satyagraha" for the protests and donning the Gandhi caps as protest symbols. Also, the support base for AAP and Kejriwal has been completely secular, broad-based and has relied on their normal strengths and weaknesses. Notwithstanding the disregard by people as well as veteran politicians, the Kejriwal-Tide has enabled people to participate from their homes and offices which, actually, is a very significant achievement, especially in the light of ephemeral participation which other issues get on social networks. As Gandhiji said, a leadership should not put undue strain on the energy of its support base and that is what this tide has been doing.
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