Yesterday’s conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for Rape, unleashed violence in Panchkula. At last count 30 people are dead, 250 injured, and crores of rupees of property has been damaged. The repercussions on administration and law enforcement, will be felt for some time to come. It will also take some time for people’s sense of trust in security and safety to return.

On my Twitter Timeline, the information has been relentless. And depressing. When you follow over a 1000 people with diverse beliefs that is but natural. By and large, there was horrified shock at the violence, and the inability of the state government to  curtail it. There was some whatabouttery, but not much. But, what there were were these very snide remarks about incredible India, where people riot for a convicted rapist.

If the last week has taught me anything about incredible India, it is this – ordinary people believe in India and it’s promise far more than the elite. They believe in the promise of justice, equality, and liberty, and what i am going to celebrate (quietly) is that. The courage of ordinary people, with only a book (the Constitution) as support, who took on incredibly powerful entities and won.

Women, oppressed by Muslim patriarchy went all the way to the Supreme Court and won on the triple talaq . 

Ordinary people took on the mighty Government on privacy, and not just won a land mark decision that declared Privacy to be a fundamental right, guaranteed by the Constitution. This verdict is going to be so important, not just now, but in years to come

And, yesterday Women raped by a ‘baba’, with crores of supporters, held ground, gave evidence and won. This is despite the rapist having extremely powerful allies across the political spectrum.

We are incredible, because from the deepest reserves comes courage, to take on the system.
That courage has been seen on display, through out history. The power of one.
India is incredible, because this week, ordinary people have shown us, sooner or later, satyameva jayate. We need to make it sooner.

Let not ineptitude of administrations, or the blind faith of cults make us doubt India. She is eternal, and she is incredible.  And, she will prevail.

(sunrise on the Ganga – the hope of a better tomorrow)