skip to content Premium Why protests so often turn to shame and sexual ridicule: From French Revolution to Jantar Mantar From the American, French and Russian revolutions to India’s freedom movement, protests across history have repeatedly drawn on inherited social ideas about gender and sexuality to communicate political outrage.
Ah, protests. The grand stage where the passionate meet the police, and everyone gets a free dose of drama. Recently, we witnessed a rather theatrical event at Jantar Mantar that could only be described as a ‘flop show’—at least according to BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra. He triumphantly declared it a victory of democracy over mobocracy, but let’s unpack this a bit, shall we?
So, picture this: hundreds of enthusiastic youths, fueled by the fiery passion of their convictions, gathered at Jantar Mantar. You can almost hear the rallying cries echoing through the air, right? Well, not quite. Instead of a vibrant display of democratic expression, we got a scene that looked more like a poorly attended concert where the headliner forgot to show up. The police, in their infinite wisdom, decided to detain several of the protesters and politicians, effectively putting a damper on what was supposed to be a spirited demonstration.
Now, let’s give credit where it’s due. The BJP was quick to seize the moment. Patra wasted no time in dubbing the event a ‘defeat of mobocracy.’ Because nothing says ‘we’re winning’ like a bunch of people getting rounded up by the cops, right? It’s like declaring victory in a game of hide and seek when you’re the only one hiding.
But let’s not be too harsh. Protests can be unpredictable. One minute, you’re gathering a crowd, and the next, you’re explaining to a police officer why you thought it was a good idea to wear matching protest t-shirts. Maybe the organizers underestimated the police presence or overestimated the number of people who would care enough to attend. We’ve all been there—planning a party and ending up with just a few friends who were probably only there for the snacks.
As for the political ramifications, it’s clear that the BJP is ready to capitalize on this incident. After all, what’s a little detainment among friends when you can spin it into a narrative about the triumph of order over chaos? It’s a classic move in the political playbook: when your opponents stumble, you strut. And boy, did they strut!
In the end, the Jantar Mantar protest serves as a reminder that while the spirit of democracy is alive and kicking, it occasionally trips over its own shoelaces. So, whether you’re a protester, a politician, or just an innocent bystander caught in the chaos, remember: sometimes, it’s less about the message and more about the spectacle. And in this case, the spectacle was a flop.
So, the next time you think about joining a protest, maybe bring a book or something. You never know when you might end up needing a good read while waiting for the police to let you go. After all, democracy can be a bit of a waiting game!
Inspired by: “CJP protest flop show; defeat of mobocracy: BJP” (r/News)