The young have been restless these last days. Most successfully so was Master Aditya of the Thackeray family, all over the place proving his good values by demanding various bans.
The young have been restless these last days. Most successfully so was Master Aditya of the Thackeray family, all over the place proving his good values by demanding various bans. Politicians aren't supposed to be judged by what they stand for, but what they stand against. 
Otherwise they'd actually have to do something.Aditya Thackeray demanded that the university delete Rohinton Mistry's book Such A Long Journey from the syllabus because it criticised his grandfather Bal Thackeray. The VC fell over his feet to comply. No one asked them where they'd been for the last 20 years (a question they love to ask rape victims who complain 24 hours late) when the book had been in the syllabus. No one asked them -- which passages are bothering you precisely?
Oh, how I'd have loved to see their expressions then. I am pretty sure about as many had read this book as those who demanded a ban on The Satanic Verses. But such reasoning is clearly not needed. Firstly, that would mean the 'student activists' would have to read the book -- which is an unreasonable thing to expect of a student organisation. Not to mention dangerous, because what if reading became a habit and made them reflective or something?
Other than the principal of St. Xavier's College, no one said much because, as in the case of domestic violence, this is a family matter (sorry, Rohinton). We all know that Aditya is merely completing a rite of passage before becoming a made man, before being anointed at the Sena's Dussehra rally. And we know how to respect tradition and not meddle while a man goes around proving that he's the Biggest Boss of them all.
Less successful were another lot of young activists, the Meter Jammers. After garnering quite a following in their first round of boycotting autos and taxis, resulting in some lip-service from the government, the Meter Jammers found the transport situation at square one and a low voltage response to the second round.
As a beleaguered commuter myself, I've identified with the frustration that led to this movement. But I've found the method hard to sympathise with or admire. Without excusing rudeness among auto/cab drivers, there is something of middle class arrogance in the Meter Jam vibe -- a sense of "how dare they refuse us!" Meter Jamming seems to be more about showing "them" who's boss than actually solving the problem -- which feels more like aggression on a T-shirt than activism for change -- rather like the Yuva Sena's attitude.
Given the marketing and advertising background of the chief activists, I'd expected a cannier strategy. I get no sense of understanding from them of why Bombay's once excellent transportation system has turned so belligerent -- and consequently, no real solutions. Practically, there are more people than autos and Mumbai's public transport is cheaper than most cities in the world (try taking a cab in London) -- so boycotting does not seem to be an effective answer. Carpooling, more trains and buses -- cannot be seen as responses to auto-drivers. They can be a new culture of transport, positively worth advocating, for themselves, not against something.
But, unlike with Crown Prince Aditya, I see hope for Meter Jammers because at least the problem they've highlighted is a real one. Maybe this will be their rite of passage -- when the postures of politicians give way to the reflectiveness of politics, and the understanding, collaborations and hard work of activism leads to change. Because the job of the young is to be restless -- and then, to grow up.
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Paromita Vohra is an award-winning Mumbai-based filmmaker, writer and curator working with fiction and non-fiction. She runs Devi Pictures production company. Reach her at www.parodevi.com
Meter Jamming seems to be more about showing "them" who is boss than actually solving the problem -- which feels more like aggression on a T-shirt than activism for change -- rather like the Yuva Sena's attitude.
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