A "Can Do" response & the common man's perception

Thanks to all the hoopla caused by Medha Patkar over the last few days, it has been hard not to talk about this episode in social circles. Largely, the consensus at least here in Bangalore is that hunger strikes & quasi Gandhian drama will not get one anywhere. However, in response to my post on this topic, Surya talks about the Narmada Dam protests in a comment which I have inserted below:

"if it were not for Medha Patkar, am not even sure that the 400,000 adivasis whose entire lives face displacement would have had a glimmer of hope like they do now and certainly their cause would not have become one of the most important social issues in India today. As for more information about the issue, I find the website abounding in information, facts, news articles and more. I think a simple google search of Medha Patkar will give you all the information you need. Her efforts led to the world bank withdrawing their $450 million funding for a project, that like numerous others across the developing world, would affect the plight of the marginalized and impoverished communities that have taken the brunt of 60 years of dangerous and irresponsible lending.

I was fortunate to have heard her speak in person in Austin. Her motivation and dedication towards this cause is infectious. Her understanding of this issue, not just within the Narmada context, but within the global context is commendable. Medha Patkar represents the voice of the marginalized and helpless rural communities who suffer from the huge inequties that globalization has caused across the developing world. Here are two good articles, amongst others out there, to get anyone interested in this issue up to speed:

http://alternet.org/story/18497/
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2018/stories/20030912008212700.htm

I do agree that a hunger strike may not be the most sensible protest approach but really one should interpret this as a sign of utter urgency and the need for the Indian government to change their apathetic attitude. My thought is that she has tried every possible strategy in the textbook."

More such thought through responses is what is required to generate awareness & create an urge amongst the educated to support such causes. However, gimmicks such as hunger strikes only serve to dilute the case.

R.K Laxman has once again capitalised on a great topic for satire and this is the cartoon that has appeared in the Times of India today. That taciturn, cynical old man still does have a brilliant sense of humour. The cartoon really does reflect what the common man thinks of it all: