DIGITAL INDIA DOWN THE DRAIN?

Couple of years ago, I had won a contest on Digital India & e-governance. I had written it with much enthusiasm and dedication; and, was really delighted when my post was chosen as one of the top winners. At that time I was unaware that it was a promotional campaign of the ruling party. I mean, yes, to some extent I was little aware as it was connected to the govt's latest scheme - namely 'digital india vision', however, I was little naive too. As I later found out, this govt has been more on publicity, campaignings, marketing etc, whereas, it can choose to do the exact opposite whenever it pleased - as all it's actions reflect that!

I remember, when the present party was in opposition, it protested whole heartedly against the Section 66A article of Information Technology Act, that was brought about by the previous regime and eventually had got it repealed by the SC. But soon after it came to power, we've seen many instances of how the govt goes against its critics ( quite like the ones it once opposed; perhaps, even more brutaly to quell dissent ), thereby, showing its sheer hypocrisy. Everyone is aware how much paid trolls this current govt has and how many the PM himself follows. Less said the better ~ how they have themselves misused internet - trolling ( branding opposing views as anti-nationals, urban-naxals, compulsive contrarians, tudke-tukde gang etc ), abusing ( one's entire khandaan ), intimidating ( even threatening rape/murder ), spreading fake news ~ they"ve done it all.

Anyhow, it doesn't remain at that, India has ironically, of late, become the world leader ~ of having the maximum number of internet shutdowns, highest number of which was in 2018 itself. So, one wonders whatever happened to the much hyped 'Digital India' when everytime this govt shuts down the net, whenever they wish, especially when fearing a backlash. They seem to have taken a cue from the Arab Springs uprisings that had happened initially via the internet, and then, spread. But, that was against an oppressive regime, whereas, ours is supposed to be a vibrant democracy. So, its quite uncanny when they cut the net everytime they take an uncomfortable decision, which they fear won't go down well with the masses. Last year, we saw how internet was snapped in Jammu and Kashmir after Article370 was removed. Till this date ( since Aug 5th ) the internet is shut in the valley. Later, we saw net being shut in Assam, parts of UP, Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and other states fearing the ongoing anti-NRC & anti-CAA protests. This has been going on and seems to be the govt's latest style of functioning. Snap the net!

Someone said sarcastically some time ago, why everyone was crying with net being shut down in JK. Its nothing really. Live with it. True, its no big deal to live without internet. Afterall, in the past we had lived through our entire lives without internet, didn't we? So did the past generations, and everything was just fine then too, right? So, I'm sure its manageable now as well. Why the hell ever not? Eh? However, I got the answer when the govt decided to cut internet in Assam after the CAA was passed, in order to stop the protests. But, funnily, they couldn't stop, though ~ the protests! People still came out on the streets in large numbers to protest. Even those keyboard warriors who otherwise would have been quite content fighting it out in the virtual world - they too had come out. So, what was the point really of snapping internet? It only inconvienced people greatly for other reasons entirely, totally unconnected to CAA! It instead snapped the very idea of, the dream of 'digital india'... promoted so heavily by none other than the PM himself!

Nowadays, internet is so much more than just social media, which this govt fears so much - the main reason for these shut-downs. The govt seems to be obssesed about twitter/facebook posts, duh! But, so many ( almost all ) vital services are done via net, that its impossible to exist a single day without it. With internet shutdowns services like Ola/Uber comes to a standstill, thereby losses of livelihood for the youngsters who drives these cabs. Same goes for a delivery boy of flipkart, amazon, swiggy, zomato etc other services. Though they are paid a basic salary, they also have daily delivery targets to complete each day based on which they get perks ( per delivery). As such, the no-net days are no-commission days for these people. Not to mention ~ essential stuff ordered online doesn't reach the customer on time. Banks, hospitals, companies, offices and other businesses etc too comes to a standstill. Many people work from home via internet these days, they all suffer. ATMs run dry and donot function in the absense of internet, not to mention flight, hotel, rail bookings, various bill payments, EMIs. Now, in past, when all these services weren't linked to internet, we'd still have figured a way out, but how to do so when each and every aspect of our lives have become so entwined with internet. Encouraged and coerced into by no less than the govt themselves. Remember demonetisation? People were pushed to 'cashless' economy en mass. And that cashless system i.e credit/debit cards, net-banking, E-wallets like Paytm, GooglePay or even govt's own Bhim UPI app requires internet. So, when govt shuts down internet whenever it chooses to, one does end up wondering....has 'digital india' gone down the drain?

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8ca29f1a-6e00-45ab-ad8f-ee6ff3ab6161
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/going-offline-frequent-mobile-and-internet-shutdowns-undermine-the-dream-of-digital-india/
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/bhima-koregaon-anniversary-internet-shutdown_in_5e0c811fe4b0b2520d1c34a0
https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/activists-rally-against-illegal-surveillance-of-caa-protests/articleshow/73039535.cms

ANTI #CAB #CAA PROTESTS IN GUWAHATI, ASSAM - A FIRST HAND EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE TURMOIL THAT WAS ASSAM!

Disclaimer : This post does not intend to incite or provoke anyone. It does support NON-VIOLENT protests against this law imposed unwantedly on the people of NE! This is also an account ( through my eyes ) of what unfolded in the last couple of days in Assam esp Guwahati, as regards to the ongoing anti- #CAB now anti- #CAA protests.
Please Note : The protests in the northeast and those in the rest of India has clear differences ( two totally contrasting issues to be specific ). While rest of India is protesting that a certain community has been excluded while granting citizenship to the religiously persecuted minority refugees from 3 of our immediate neighbouring ( islamic ) countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, thereby, making the Act unconstitutional; the protests in Assam and the North East however, is against the CAA completely, in its entirety - irrespective of any religion. The implementation of this act can threaten the very existence of the indigenous communities of the northeast, with Assam being at the highest risk, as it already has a huge number of illegal immigrants/bangladeshis due to its porous borders. So, let this distinction be clear. A plea really, for rest of India to understand.


Unbelievable scenes have been unfolding in Assam and rest of India last couple of days ever since the #CAB was passed in the Lok Sabha. At first, scenes of tyres being burnt in protests all around Guwahati and rest of Assam was being telecasted. These reports intensified on the day the bill was to be passed in the Rajya Sabha and became an Act; and then, all hell broke loose - after it was passed, the bill that is. I've been in Guwahati ( my native city ) and found myself in the middle of it all as these protests reached a crescendo point. I even had the unfortunate experience of witnessing as police fired indiscriminately and killed a couple of innocents. Here is a pictoral account of what I experienced over the last couple of days. Since internet was shut off from 11th Dec and reopened only today ( i.e 20th ), I could post them only belatedly. I saw unbelievable scenes as people came out to protest in their hordes even without internet. I was immediately reminded of protests during independence or even in the 80's, when lakhs of people used to participate without internet or television at their disposal. It was truly incredible which have shaken the govt too, I'm sure. Never had they expected, even in their wildest imaginations, the public to come out on the streets this way, in such humongous numbers.


Part 1
11th - 15th Dec

On 11th, when my mother hurried home after her evening walk saying that everything had shut down and crowds of people had gathered on the roads shouting slogans etc, I was alarmed. She said that someone on the road had told her certain news channels were not working, and there were also rumours of the govt cutting off internet. I had to see for myself, so, I dashed off to see what was happening. As I passed by the market, I saw everything was indeed shut and many people had gathered at various corners of the main road ~ shouting slogans, burning tyres etc. Anybody coming by car/bikes were stopped and sent back or told to go via the other alternate smaller lanes.


"Aahoi aa ulai ah, khedoi khed bidehi khed...
Jodi tumaluk hoi akhomiya, amar logot jug diya...
#Cab amak nalage, aami #cab namanu...
Ai jui jolise, jolise joliboi,
Axom aaji jagise, jagise jagiboi...
Sarbananda, himanta, modi shah, go back, go back...
hoshiyar hosiyar...etc etc"
these slogans thundered through the cold winter evening on the 11th of Dec...
As I was returning, some people advised me not to go towards a certain side as trouble had started. Certain miscreants were pelting stones and tearing up posters/hoardings in the main Ulubari chowk area. But since to go home, I had to pass by that area, I quickly started walking towards where trouble was brewing. Indeed, I saw many youths with sticks and stones in their hands. They were throwing stones and interestingly, its one corner where some police vans were parked too. I waited and watched from a distance as to what was going on, and then, after some time of these loud sloganeering and vandalism, a loud boom went off. Police had fired! Everyone started to run helter skelter and vanished within few seconds. Funnily, I found myself alone in the road. I had a leg injury ( from before ), so, I was slowly limping. But the bullet shot had scared me no end. First time in my life, I had heard a fire shot so close. However, at the time I had thought the police must have fired in the air to scare off the protesters. After I reached home, we kept hearing couple of gun shots. That evening the internet was indeed cut off. Our TV subscription too had expired on that day, fatefully.


the next day...

a bandh was declared on the 12th and everything was closed.
There were however protests organised in the Latashil grounds. Towards afternoon, a helicopter was hovering in the skies. We could not resubscribe the TV because there was no internet and it felt really weird to be completely cut off from rest of the world. News updates were given to us every few hours by my aunt(s). Thankfully, the phones were working, still. As the day passed, getting restless, I decided to go out to the roads to see what was happening for myself, as I was sure people were still protesting. By the time I reached the main road...I could see batches of protesters arriving from Latashil grounds in massive processions, and going towards Dispur Secretariat chanting 'chalo Dispur'. Most of the protesters were ordinary people ~ college students, office goers etc. Mostly in tradiional clothes with the 'gamosa' wrapped around their necks or head, they were raising those same slogans, that I had heard the previous evening. To be honest, seeing their enthusiasm I was tempted to join them too, but my leg would simply not allow. I had not yet fully recovered from my leg ordeal. So, I just walked towards the B.Barua college area and then to the Bora Service area and captured the visuals as I saw them. Its a 3-4 kms stretch in opposite directions.



visuals of protests...
By evening, even though the temperatures were dipping, the anger in the people were simmering. Again the roads were blocked. People gathered in middle of the road and burnt tyres/logs every few metres, the entire G.S.Road. It was the same case in other roads around the city as well. I saw three trucks of heavily armed CRPF going by. They i.e the armed personnels, were getting prepared too. A curfew was declared. But the public was in no mood to relent. The slogans echoed around everywhere. We don't want #CAA! We won't accept #CAA!




more visuals of the inferno...
After spending 2-3 hours observing the happenings, I decided to head back home. As I was coming towards Lachit nagar area ( that I had passed by earlier ), I saw several police jeeps suddenly arriving in a line, with their headlights glaring, sirens blaring. They stopped and started firing serveral gun shots. Horrified, I stopped in my tracks, because, it was all happening just couple of feet from where I was. Some people who were running, asked me to take cover somewhere immediately. But I was too intrigued, and just stood there in the pavement. I saw those police jeeps then drive past me and stop behind me again. I turned and they were chasing the protesters now, and firing again, non-stop. The sounds of those gun-shots are something I'll never forget in my life. They could've easily shot me too, because, they were just shooting randomly at anyone they could spot - specially, at those who had burnt those things in the road and had run. So, even an innocent passerby could also be hurt in the process. After firing several rounds, they drove on further. I hurried home. Later on, I found out that as many as 5-6 people had died that evening, and several were wounded because of those firing. Throughout the night, gun shots continued. It was truly a horrific night.

On 13th, my aunt called early morning to inform urgently that the curfew was lifted for few hours so both me and my mother made a mad rush to the market to get some groceries/veggies and stuff, not sure for how long the curfew would be enforced again. Taking advantage of the situation, prices of goods esp vegetables had sky-rocketted. By evening, I decided to head to the streets again - heart in my mouth literally, to take stock of the situation. First, I went towards Lachit Nagar/Bora Service area where there was heavy firing the previous evening. At a certain point I saw some youth gather in a circle. On the ground, that they circled, I saw blood stains, and they were requesting vehicles not to drive over that spot, that day. A boy ( dipanjal das ) had died due to bullet shot on that particular spot. I froze when I saw the blood. I can't describe how I felt that particular moment. I walked further on. No one was protesting, but, some youth hung around. Eerie silence all around. I think every one was shaken up by the brutality shown by the police forces the earlier day. Then, I went towards the Paltan Bazar area and saw a line of RAF, CRPF, Black-Cat commandos and Assam Police in the entire stretch from Apsara Cinema all the way to the Railway Station, lethal looking weapons in their hands. Opposite side, on the foot-path, the public too were standing, facing the armed forces. However, no one was protesting. Another youth was apparently shot at in that area, the other evening. The calm was an uneasy calm, the silence deafening. The road was almost black, due to all that burning the previous evening. While coming back, I walked behind that line of police. Since I walked alone, they let me be. But scared I was, lol. Who wouldn't be? With them flashing those guns! *gulps*

On 14th, I didn't venture out anywhere. Curfew was on from 4pm!

15th...

cultural protests at Chandmari grounds...
On 15th too I didn't go anywhere. Thankfully, we could recharge our TV subscription, and I was glued to it the whole day.




Part 2
16th - 20th Dec


It was announced by AASU that a 'gana satyagrah' would be held on 16th-18th at the Latashil grounds. The curfew time was relaxed till 6pm that day, so, I decided to cover at least one day of the protests ( my aching legs would allow me only that much ). I reached the venue by 12pm and the crowds were already getting ready to go up to the DC office and court arrest. This was an interesting and quite a unique way of protest.


lines of protests...from latashil to dc...
the main slogan this time - 'hoitu #CAA baatil korok, nohole amak arrest korok'...

courting arrests...

Since the protestors were asking either to remove #CAA or be arrested, the police obliged the latter. The protesters were taken in buses to a temporary jail set up in Dighali Pukhuri grounds. But, there were so many people who courted arrests, that the ground filled up and was running out of space in no time. In the end, the police had no option but to release them all within a couple of minutes.

the temporary jail...



the pictures speaks for themselves...


16th, 17th, 18th...a repeat cycle of courting arrests...
If the matter wasn't so serious, it'd have been actually funny - this whole exercise. Of gathering, protesting, taking out the processions, getting arrested and then released ~ in a loop.


keeping police super busy...





2nd cultural protests at the Chandmari grounds..
On 19th,I decided to cover the 2nd cultural protests. Seeing astounding success of the 1st protests, inspite of no internet, the govt by then had announced Rs.50k each for 2k artists and 55k govt jobs. These offerings were mocked on the stage as being too little too late, and a kind of bribe to stop the people from protesting. It was more like an insult actually. The people resolved to keep protesting till the Act was removed permanently, non-violently, while also doing their regular work. The cultural protest had all artists whipping up songs with lyrics of protests in them. The atmosphere created was that of patriotism devoted to Ai Axom ( motherland ), at its peak; with the sensation Zubeen Garg adding to the glitz.


Indeed, the protests are still going on, albeit, in a non-violent manner in all small villages, towns and cities of Assam, by various groups and organisations. Simultaneously, the fight is in the courts now as well. And like I mentioned, unlike rest of India, people of Assam and NE donot want the bill imposed upon them ~ in its entirety. They reject it completely. They have taken in many illegals and want '71 to be cut off date as per the Assam Accord. Modi and Shah are welcome to make all these illegal bangladeshis as citizens and take them to Gujarat, but, not in Assam! Not at any cost!
Joi Aai Axom!