The ability of people to create nuisance in our lives is possibly directly proportional to our ability to tolerate it. So it was good to read about a school and its students in Kolkatta, that stood up to be counted and went out on a day there was a  bandh :

While some declared a holiday, here’s a city school that pledged to work on Tuesday, giving a thumbs down to the bandh. Lakshmipat Singhania Academy held two special assembly sessions since Monday to talk to kids about the “bandh nuisance”.

On Monday, the assembly took longer than usual, with teachers explaining to students how the hartal concept started way back in 1905 and how it got diluted and politicised down the line with political parties using the bandh weapon to serve their own narrow intentions. “Tagore’s protest against Lord Curzon’s Partition of Bengal had people’s voluntary support. But today’s bandhs are just a show of muscle power, where people are forced to stay indoors fearing a backlash. Some people, of course, think this is just another holiday. But we need to break this cycle as it is affecting the state’s work culture,” Razdan added. Head boy Kushal Agarwal agreed. “Will the leaders please realise that it’s affecting the studies of children who will appear for their boards?” he asked. “No state witnesses so many bandhs a year. Even children are getting used to this. Thank god the school thought otherwise,” added the mother of a Class VI kid.

It is good to see that atleast in some schools, education goes beyond the textbook to instill values of citizenship in the young. Protest is a democratic right, so is the right not to protest. And if you are protesting and withhoding services for a day – one better know why you are protesting. My problem with bandhs is not that they happen, but that it is imposed on me. And I am glad that the teachers at the school looked at the issue holistically – and historically and allowed the children the chance to choose.