Cannon Fodder

Does the name Rajiv Goswami ring a bell? Probably not, specially if you're younger than 40 years. Son of a postal employee, the only brother among many sisters, he was a student leader at Delhi University. Back in 1990, he had suddenly become a household name. He became the face of the student's anti-Mandal commission movement against reservations proposed by the VP Singh government when he almost died in a self immolation bid. Some reports indicated that he never meant to go through with the immolation, the plan being for his companions to immediately douse the fire once it started. But in the mob frenzy his friends got separated and he ended up getting 80% burns. He became an instant hero, the face of the agitation while he fought for survival in Safdarjung Hospital. So much so that the busy AIIMS intersection was unofficially renamed to as Rajiv Chowk by the students.

And what was the ultimate outcome? The reservation policy was implemented nonetheless. Life for the rest of the country carried on as usual, leaving only the affected family devastated for life. Rajeev passed away in 2004 after 12 years of suffering. And he’s all but forgotten, while subsequent governments continue to look at ways to provide more and more reservations.

Today, once again a section of the youth is up in arms against the government. Their grievances are justified. The government’s failure to address succession of leaks of examination papers is appalling. While there has been symbolic action against a few officials, the government has been unable to instill confidence in the people at large and students in particular. In an intensely competitive environment the youth feels cheated and despondent when the examinations are gamed.

In a democracy, protesting to display anger and dissatisfaction is an inalienable right, and the students must exercise it. But in doing so, they need to be cognizant of the bigger picture. Such genuine protests invariably attract vested interests - professional activists and politicians with axes to grind. Politics is murky business, and there are always elements who try to channelise their anger and these protests to serve their own political purposes. Peaceful protests don't serve their purpose. What they need is violence that garners eyeballs, provokes outrage and further fuels the anger in a vicious cycle where the real issues get relegated to the background. And innocent students are convenient cannon fodder for this.

What happens when the dust settles? The government goes about it's business and the activists move on to the next cause. It's the cannon fodder and their families who are left to bear the burden of a few minutes of impulsive acts for the rest of their lives. So prudence lies in continuing to protest peacefully while ensuring you don't become that cannon fodder.

Remember Rajeev Goswami.