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Thoughts on Jail Bharo

Posted on : December 23, 2011 By
India Politics Society 

Jail Bharo or fill the jails is an interesting concept. Paralyse the administration, paralyse the police till your objective is met.
There are many ways of getting to jail. The most simple way is to break the law. Preferably commit a crime.

The single biggest problem with Jail Bharo is that the jails are already well over capacity. The Asian Age says:

Indian jails suffer from 29.2 per cent overcrowding with the total prison population at a staggering 3,84,753 which is 0.034 per cent of the total population of the country. The home ministry last week reviewed the conditions of prisons and noted that most states have not been able to reduce
the number of undertrial prisoners who are constituting 67 per cent of the total prison population.

You can find more prison stats here.

One appreciates Team Anna’s marketing prowess in revoking the slogan “Jail Bharo” – but one also marvels at their lack of knowledge of either contemporary Indian Histroy – freedom struggle, and of current Laws. People got arrested for asking for independence or participating in the freedom struggle in the pre 1947 era. Today, the right to protest peacefully is enshrined in the Constitution. So to get to jail, you have to do something more – break the law. So is Jail Bharo a call to riot ? a call to vandalise? a call to do what?. The system can’t simply deprive people of their freedom if they haven’t done something wrong.so what wrong are you compelling your supporters to do ?

For all the youngsters, who in your idealism want to break the law and get to prison, a small reminder. IF you go to jail, you will may have  end up with a criminal record. That record stays for ever and ever and ever. It will come into play when you apply for a job, your passport, want to go abroad to study or work. I am not sure if it will impact a bank loan – but i am not sure that the banks will give a loan to someone who had a record … not ordinary people with a record, in any case. No one will tell you this, because it suits them not to. For those proposing jail bharo – you are a head count. for the media, you are drama. If the government tells you not to- they will be a bully. So everyone will keep quiet. While Jail Bharo sounds great – it will not make an iota of difference to anyone but you. A better way to curb corruption is to promise never to pay a bribe. never to break the law. Never to tolerate it in your family and neighbourhood. Enough of you do this, corruption will reduce.

For all those grown up who know the risks – hats off. I don’t agree with the IAC and civil society. But, i possilby agree with you and admire your courage of conviction. (no pun intended). Only one request to you – don’t get used by these political animals. they are not in it for the country, they are in it for themselves. you are but tools.

Addendum

This post has spawned both positive & irate responses. For the positive one’s thank you. 

Forthe irate responses both on twitter and on this blog from those who are Team Anna fans, you would think that i asked people not to take part in the Jail Bharo scheme … no. Simply said be aware of the consequences. Figure if IAC has lawyers on site to take care of issues.else contact a friendly lawyer. After understanding all the consequences, you still want to do this – great… but don’t go in blind. 

88 thoughts on “Thoughts on Jail Bharo”

  1. I am *INDEED* happy to have a jail record for the sake of Lokpal. I’m flying down to India especially to be part of this (currently staying in UK for past 2 years for my business) 🙂

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  2. I guess just like the AP Govt lifted of all cases and removed records of those arrested in Telangana agitation, Govt can also do in this case at a later stage when both Anna and Govt arrive at a truce !

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  6. Did u write or seriously or u just wanted to have a bit of fun:).I have participated in strikes before and what will happen is police will round up all of us,and usually take to a nearby ground.At times cases will be registered.Mostly we leave by evening so that we can regroup the next day.Unless things turn violent,or there are specific instructions to crack up(unlikely in 24×7 media),it is a problem.Regarding criminal charges and all that bluff,consult a good lawyer before giving free opinion.If one arrest ruins ur life and you wont get a passport,no politician in india would have flown…

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  15. Calamur,

    Thanks for being humble and thinking so much for us. However, even Laloo Prasad Yadav has been to jail and is in parliament. There is Kanimozhi who got bail, A Raja, Suresh Kalmadi are still there!

    It does not affect them either! How can it affect us?

    You’re spreading rumors! It does not make a difference. This is my world.

    Ronak.

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  21. Some Points :
    — — –Today, the right to protest peacefully is enshrined in the Constitution. So to get to jail, you have to do something more – break the law.
    —>>> Did anna hazare break any law when he was arrested on 16th August?

    — — — The system can’t simply deprive people of their freedom if they haven’t done something wrong.so what wrong are you compelling your supporters to do ?
    —>>> Police can put you behind bars without any notice. After that either they have to take you to a court in next 24 hours aor release you before 24 hours.
    — — –better way to curb corruption is to promise never to pay a bribe. never to break the law. Never to tolerate it in your family and neighbourhood. Enough of you do this, corruption will reduce.
    —>>> Suppose you wanna go USA for study and your passport is not ready. Officers are demanding some money to release your passport. You have left no stone unturned to get your passport but all in vain. You have to get passport in next 7 days else you will have to wait for 12 months to apply again. Now what will yo do?

    TO say dun bribe is very easy, even I have said it many times, but please check whether is it feasible being a common man?

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  26. @ Indian:
    Nah. I disagree on that. She isn’t getting paid for these. Her intentions are noble. However, she exaggerated the things in comparison to the situation right now. Its time to act. For her, her own safety is more important. For the people who still want to go to jail after reading this article, Anti Corruption movement is the priority. Thank you Gargi for this article, efforts appreciated. However, just keep in mind that when these kinda articles come via RTs by people like @gsurya and @joydas, the noble intentions hidden behind it are severely tarnished. Keep posting.

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  35. very well written. thank you. There are better ways to get the attention of govt rather than filling up already filled jails…

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  36. dear harini,
    the next time you post something get full information about the subject u r gonna write. regarding this article u should know how protests are done in india , how they planned things in the past ,the plans of iac which is spearheading this movement and about all the cases which were filed against people who participated in protests before.it appears from your article that you are so scared of getting arrested .merely getting arrested in this protest doesn’t spoil ur life ..know the facts properly..u r not going to do any criminal activity or terrorist activity or anti national movement it is jus utilizing our right to protest..having a computer with an internet connection doesnt mean u can write anything..for what u write shows your level of knowledge and thinking..so my sincere request is the next time u write a post know all the facts and write ..

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  41. Because of foolish mindset of guys like you fearing the youngsters, The politicians and the indian law takes advantage and fear people. These days youths are like bold and courageous. Those who want to enjoy luxury and selfish dogs will fear and do not support.

    Also, If Gandhiji was afraid of british and live like these, you would be doing what British wanted to

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  43. ohh come on!! my uncle was in JPs movement and he is a govt lawyer now… i also participated in last jail bharo andolan, nothing happened to me or my career, even ACP himself said jail bharo cannot affect us or our future at all. its not going into our crime record.
    hello mam u need a lawyer and a history teacher as well… go get some classes stop misleading people…

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  46. the writer is either Dumb or has no idea of legal position in cases of protests, i have been to such strikes during collage time and even in last Anna andolan, no case is being registered, no prosecution , no criminal record, protesters are not recognized as criminal record, so no Job problem, no problem for passport at all,

    @author
    go and consult a Good lawyer and if possible a good psychiatrist

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  51. i understand what you are saying. We have freedom now and so going to jail you need to break the law. On the face of it your logic makes sense. Taking a vow not to take or give a bribe is what naive idealism which you accuse the young people to have.

    Take my own case. i haven’t given any bribe in the last one year to anyone. The last I had to give bribe was to RTO 4 years ago. I’m not in a position to accept bribes. So to someone like me, your advice makes no sense. Can you urge the RTO guys not to take bribe or harass? Do you think those guys hang out on such sites as yours?

    The problem is not the petty RTO or govt low tier bribes. Its about things such as 2G which platitudes such as yours won’t solve. Its like saying ‘lets take vow not to kill anyone’ so no need for a law or deterrent against murder? its a good thought and a resolution but not very practical.

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    1. the big ticket guys like 2G or CWG or mining or arms deals – no questions asked. try and convict them.
      the small ticket guys, two types –
      one is middle class that doesn’t mind paying black money to builders, doesn’t mind paying the RTO a bribe – that can be stopped at the supply side.
      and the second is exploitation – don’t pay won’t get service. no ration card, no health service etal. those guys, put in prison.

      this whole movement has deliberately mixed up the three. the solutions are different. You and i can stop the supply side.
      use the power of the law on the big ticket corruption and the exploitation. the exploitation can come to an end with some sort of targeted delivery of welfare. the big ticket guys can stop with stronger laws, more transparency and higher conviction rates.

      but, there is also onus on the giver of the bribe ..
      on the bribe giving – once 5 years ago …and i knew about it after the event. my driver bribed a cop because the PUC was not done. i threw a fit. but, the damage was done. i don’t pay bribes. is my life more difficult – yes. but, atleast i don’t end up feeling dirty…

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  59. Well written article 😀 and some idiots here mentioning about politicians who have gone to jail but flying to other countrys, became ministers etc etc my foot LOL, they have money so they fly or do anything but what for the normal people 😀 just think befor commenting idiots, LOL everyone is idiot 😀

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  60. Most of the top politicians while protesting have gone to jail so here’s your chance of becoming a top cabinet minister.

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  61. I don’t trust anyone. Not the corrupt ruling class, so called ‘modern freedom fighters’, law enforcement or anyone else. It isuch safer that way.

    Everyone has their own hidden agendas. It is alwaya the anonymous foot soldier who gets it. the commanders are always safe.

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  66. So u said people (in today’s India) can go to jail only if they break the law. Can u just tell me one simple thing. Why was Anna Hazare jailed on 16th August from his home. What crime did he commit. And neither was he attempting to commit any vandalism rather than peaceful agitation. So he can’t be under preventive custody. Anna has said to protest in front of MP’s house(not vandalism). If the MP’s decide to get them arrested then get arrested peacefully. There wont be any kind of blot on your profile becoz there wont be any case for an FIR.
    So just becoz god has given u a mind to think like an intellectual dont mislead the lesser mortals

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  74. Harini,

    Rest assured being arrested as part of the jail bharo agitation will not hamper anyone’s prospects. I am out on bail in an attempt to murder charge filed by a builder with whom we have a property dispute. I did not spend even a night in jail.

    The case will come up for hearing in August 2013 more than two years after the incident. Now we are in the process of reaching a settlement in the matter and all cases stand to be withdrawn. So no worries of being convicted.

    Jail bharo for unlawful assembly would result in a fine to be levied by the inspector at the local police station and that is that.

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  77. @lachin_musings in Twitter is my pseudonym , my name is Lakshmi NArasimhan, I was Previously working in a Software Firm, Presently associated with lot of farmer issues and Sustainable Agri, I got arrested during August , I am going to get arrested now, The tone of the blog is extremely cynical, I am from a Right wing family and i hear the same tone here, i have left leanings and i like Gandhi, see this is the complex diversity India has in store, i am a spiritual seeker too, i am 27 years of age if you consider me young :-), i am courting arrest with no emotion , with perfect logic and psychological preparedness both consciously and unconsciously(if at all you could understand those terms with respect to their meaning), also your blogs speaks as if only the working office goers behind this movement, lots of farmers,daily laborers involved,This arrest is historic come and court arrest, because my father’s generation missed and sat on the independence of my grand father’s generation to give this generation full of holes and dirt. Although i love my father i have to say the fact as fact, this is participatory democracy, not based on party lines whose era is over, support based only on issue. The content of the blog is very ordinary. A citizen can defend himself without a lawyer do you know that ?, i would go and enlighten every protester on this. I am going with extreme awareness, awareness to say no to the defeatist mood , awareness of observation of the psyche of the entire spectrum of the people in our society including myself. thats it wish you court arrest to show discontent, discontent is growth, not jaundiced eyes. bye take care NOM .

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    1. good. didn’t tell people not to participate. said, participate after knowing and being aware of what can go wrong. and, when i say youngsters, i mean the 18-21 year olds. still in college. angry as hell and venting

      as i said, in the post, people who are more mature who are going in knowing the risks on the basis of their ideals – respect 😀

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  81. @ gargi
    Honestly…you have done a good job in terms of attracting attention…but there are so many flaws in your info…i don’t think you should call yourself a blogger,reason being the utmost priority of a blogger is to check the information provided is correct or not…in your case..it’s rubbish…neglecting facts…sad but true…wonder if you teach as well…god bless those students

    :

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  82. Sorry to put it so crudely, but this post is just nonsense. Now before you dismiss me (or the zillion other Indians — 80%+ by several estimates such as the “neutral” Nielsen surveys — supporting this movement) as an irate, ignorant, middle-class, Team Anna fan, let me tell you that is not the case. Just like I am only calling you misinformed (and not a Congress stooge trying to scare away the zillions supporting Anna), you should also consider me to be just a friendly well-wisher who wants to clear your misconceptions and seemingly genuine doubts. (1) The prisons being near-to-full capacity is always precisely the point of any jail bharo agitation. The whole damn idea is to inconvenience the government through civil disobedience, right? (2) The bit about one forcibly having or absolutely needing to “break some law” to make it to jail is … shockingly ignorant, to say the least. What law had Anna Hazare broken on 16th August when he was arrested and taken to Tihar Jail? (3) What matters and leaves a permanent criminal record is, thankfully, not an arrest (I cannot even imagine how or why someone would think so), but something called a “conviction”, that can only happen in certain places called “courts” in this country (India not being China or Iran). My own father was arrested when he was a student during the Naxalbari agitations in West Bengal. What does he do now? Yes, a government job.

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