A few days back, there was already a “strike-light”. Today we have a fully-fledged “Bandgh”. This is Indian expression of the few taking hostage of the many in a general strike - for one day. In case the reasons are of interest, check out my blog entry a few days ago.
As for pre-emptive appeasement, the many stay at home, schools decide to shut down and the whole city is crippled and comes to a standstill. Then a usually chaotically overcrowed city like Bangalore looks like this:
or like that
As it seems to be an accepted means of expressing disagreement, all the shops have their shutters down, because the dynamically energized mob could rejoice in throwing a few handfull of stones into the glasses.
In case, your windows are too big to put the shutters down, you at least span a protective net in front.
As I have learnt in good discussion with bright people, of which there are still abundant here, the role of the local government is vital to the development. The government wants to receive as much backing in the Cauvery water case as possible when it goes to appeal:
1. Bandh is good. It exemplifies that the whole population of Bangalore is firmly behind the common cause.
2. Much violence is bad. It tarnishes the overall view of a friendly and peaceful people fighting for a just cause.
3. A little bit of violence is not that bad, through. Is serves the populistic politicians in producing a sigh of helplessness that the situation is about to slide out of control if the appeal would not alter the verdict.
Welcome to the other side of Bangalore that virtually nobody is aware of amidst the general awe of globalization.
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