24 - Latest Comments in Civil Obedience

Re: Civil Obedience

RahulJauhari — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:20:00 -0000

thanks anon

Re: Civil Obedience

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:00:00 -0000

The process of change is slow, takes a lot of perseverance and courage. Do not expect change overnight and say it has not come, we are over 50 years late to the change game. So, what starts today will be enjoyed our grandchildren.

Re: Civil Obedience

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:54:00 -0000

walk the talk. Then we see results. recognize and follow one's moral compass not the expediency of the moment. Then we see change.

Re: Civil Obedience

anisha sarin — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:24:00 -0000

i'm so glad someone's trying to make sense of this no vote, no tax business and by the way how many of us actually vote?

Re: Civil Obedience

RahulJauhari — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:03:00 -0000

Thanks for the comments shruti

Re: Civil Obedience

Shruti — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:28:00 -0000

Rahul, great way to bring about changes. The problem with us, is we think oh its me alone, what can one person do, or how can my being honest, and paying my taxes, not bribing, standing in a queue,not using my contacts to get a job done help, everyone has to do it, and in this way no one does it...so the system goes on...its like mere akele ke light bandh karne se energy kaise bachegi? but if each one thinks, so what if I am alone, let me do my bit, there will be many together in the end...and the change will be visible..
All the best

Shruti

Re: Civil Obedience

RahulJauhari — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:33:00 -0000

Thanks vinay, you need a gmail/google id to leave your name with the comment :-)

Re: Civil Obedience

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:28:00 -0000

Hmm interesting take

The activist within you is emerging, we perhaps need that to happen to a lot more people

I liked the coinage of 'civil disobedience' a wonderful idea which lurked in the past, and might still show us the way today...

Re: Civil Obedience

devesh tiwari — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:03:00 -0000

Gandhigiri!!! But will that solve the problem? If a person is ready to die then no force legal or otherwise can stop him. What can help in the long run is understanding the reason why is he willing to die? Till then we can reduce corruption,demand explanations , draw conclusions but today it's india tomorrow it will be Indian Embassy somewhere else. The problem is Religion.All the religions.

Re: Civil Obedience

RahulJauhari — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:33:00 -0000

Thanks Devina, I know it sounds idealistic, but you have to start somewhere :-)

Re: Civil Obedience

RahulJauhari — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:32:00 -0000

Thanks Nandini :-)

Re: Civil Obedience

Devina — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:33:00 -0000

gud one Rahul...but in a country SO unbelievably tainted with corruption, I don't know if such an idealistic solution will work. There goes the cynicism that you lambasted in your post!!! :)

Re: Civil Obedience

Munna on the run — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:49:00 -0000

makes a lot of sense brother.

Re: Civil Obedience

Nandini — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:04:00 -0000

Well thought out! Civil Obedience is the only long term solution there is. If the system has to be cleaned to make a difference it has to start with us not reaching for our wallets everytime a cop flags us down for running a signal!

Re: Civil Obedience

RahulJauhari — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:31:00 -0000

You are welcome assorted cookies :-)

Re: Civil Obedience

assorted cookies — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:23:00 -0000

nice post, and I'm happy I chanced upon it. Have included a link on my page if you dont mind.

Re: Civil Obedience

assorted cookies — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:21:00 -0000

really nice post, and am glad I chanced upon it. Have included a link on my page of u dont mind!

Re: Civil Obedience

Adu — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:06:00 -0000

very interesting Rahul, this is a very practical solution. I don't know if you already did, but if not you should publish this post in a place where more people will read it. I liked your writing style and clarity of thought and expression!!!

Re: Civil Obedience

RahulJauhari — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0000

Thank you aditi :-)

Re: Civil Obedience

RahulJauhari — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:19:00 -0000

Thanks for your views kedar :-)

Re: Civil Obedience

Kedar Champhekar — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:29:00 -0000

I am posting a link to your blog on mine Rahul.

Re: Civil Obedience

Kedar Champhekar — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:28:00 -0000

I agree with Rahul. What we should start is a civil obedience movement. But getting sensitized towards laws as basic as traffic rules (not just enforcing them but making citizens understand the reson behind those laws, so they will follow them willingly) the 'I don't care about anyone else' attitude will slowly wear out. Today no one even stops for an old woman crossing the road, people just honk at her indicating, "get out of my way as i want to go first, i don't care even if you die trying to cross the road". And this apathy, lack of consideration for others has led to the citizens of india not realize the importance of making the government function properly, because "as long as i can get my work done by whatever means, i don't care". Aren't the citizens as inefficient as the government?

Angry protests and disobedience will never lead to a solutions, just as an argument between two people leads to no solution when the arguers are angry.

And change takes time, the solution rahul proposes will not bring change overnight. Societies have to evolve, and evolution takes time, BUT it's time we make the mutation which will trigger the evolution.

A simple example is a voluntary movement in Pune called 'Save Pune Traffic Movement'. The movement gets together people who love to obey traffic rules and display a sticker saying 'i am proud to obey traffic rules'on their vehicles. They ask people to obey rules but not shout or fight with those who don't, just silently inspire them to do so. The voluteers get together on holidays and stand at signals asking people to stop behind the 'Stop' lines. Many people obey when told, so it shows people need to be told, need to be sensitized. The volunteers also call up the regional traffic offices and pester them politely for weeks, to get zebra crossings painted at signals. They also have a set of traffic rules on their websites for people who are not aware of all the rules. Why not join such a movement? Even if you don't follow rules but have realised that you should this is an easy start!!

And if more such movements begin, about different issues, wouldn't we be undergoing a silent, but radical revolution?

December 6, 2008 11:23 AM

Re: Civil Obedience

pavita — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:56:00 -0000

I agree with the basic principle of what's been suggested. Ignoring or revolting shall yield no results. Infact it is our increasing apathy that has allowed the situation to deteriorate to such an extent. I think that it is time we, as individuals and as citizens, started questioning the inadequacy of basic security parameters that we seem to blithely accept.The sleeping chowkidaars at our gates. The rampant corruption of our constables on account of poor pay packages. The sheer unfitness of the pot bellied forces. The patent impatience at being frisked. We need to realise that accountability starts with each one us individually. We need to demand better security; but even more importantly we need to accept and indeed welcome the fact that this may entail some 'inconvenience' to self. It may mean being asked to turn up 4 hours early for a concert to collect tickets; or check in 3 hours early for a flight; of being frisked 5 times at the theatre.
Instead of settling down into that comfortable numbness as the dust settles, we should demand to be inconvenienced.

We may not be able to prevent a Mumbai attack - nothing other than better national intelligence could have prevented those. But surely everyday security deserves better attention. From each one of us.

Re: Civil Obedience

Sanjeev — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:35:00 -0000

I thought about what Rahul says and realise that by civil disobedience we in a way are taking the short cut. Very similar to what our politicians do. This whole tragedy in Mumbai has made me far more sensitive to issues than ever before. I have started to think what are we doing about:
1. About those begging on the road. Will our government/ bureaucrats never do anything for them?

2. Instead of making 15 bungalows for ministers, why can't we re-habitate a hundred homeless/ slum dwellers?

3. When will media be a common man's weapon? Not for a scary guy coming on TV screen and scaring you by telling the "Breaking News" on crime but talking about initiatives taken by common man to uplift the moral

4. When will we not only think about the top cops who died but also about the constables and junior cops who laid their life for our safety?

5. Why is there no fund (similar to Tsunami relief) to help those who suffered?

Obedience will help. We will have to keep asking ourselves...."WHAT ARE WE LEAVING FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN?"

i AM ASHAMED THAT IT TOOK 200 ODD PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE I STARTED THINKING. HOPE THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH MANY.

Re: Civil Obedience

Sheena — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:51:00 -0000

I agree with the larger point you are making. What you propose is not necessarily a solution, but a big step in the right direction. The fundamental issue is that of empowerment. You have limited or no control over another, but you can change yourself. We tend to be rather passive and fatalistic as a nation. Revolutions begin in small ways and you can be the one that makes a difference. However, I do disagree with your definition of civil disobedience. Civil disobedience does not mean to be passive or negative. It is simply a way of refusing to become a victim by opposing injustice. Refusing to pay taxes and vote are NOT civil disobedience, these are immature acts of defiance that are merely sound and thunder and target the innocent, leaving the real offenders unscathed.