Democracy and war.

Before I start, and I have said this many times before, and say it once more, I have no opinion whatsoever on the actual conflict, its origins, and who the perpetrators and who the victims are, because I lack data, and whatever data I have only shows that it is yet another European war between white folks masquerading as a World War.

What I do know, and am constantly surprised by is this: How are ordinary Russians, which includes common citizens, journalists, business people, traders, housewives, and students, all living in what is practically a dictatorship at worst, and an oligarchy at best, finding the courage to protest the war in such public displays? Are they not afraid of being branded anti-national, charged with sedition, jailed, persecuted, raided by government agencies, tarred & feathered by the media, and their (and their friends' and family's) lives made miserable and unlivable? Do they not know that no one cares for Freedom of Expression or of Conscience in a country run by an ex-KGB agent and his friends? HOW ARE THEY DOING THIS? And what gives them the confidence and the moral strength to protest not just against their government, but their country even. In. The. Middle. Of. A. War.

I am completely and totally perplexed at this suicidal behaviour while at the same time seeing the people of Russia, and indeed their culture, with new (more respectful) eyes. These people are truly made of steel.

I know what you are thinking. So am I. No, not what the matter with them is. That is immaterial to me as an Indian, though as a human, I am curious. What I want to know is this: What is wrong with us?

We live in a Republic ruled by the Constitution which we have given ourselves 72 years ago, we are a functional democracy with a long tradition of peaceful transitions of power, we are the world's first country to start with a universal franchise right at the beginning, the weakest person in the smallest village in the farthest corner of this country understands more politics than any Western nation's equivalent citizen, we have gone through hell and survived, we remain united despite attempts at breaking us by both internal and external forces, we have a thriving economy (forget the past 7 years, they are an aberration), we are well-respected by other countries for our principled stands and our history of being fair and loyal (as well as non-violent, unless attacked), we have had a vibrant and fiercely independent press since the past 100 years at the very least (never mind the current mess), we have had an administrative and diplomatic corps that would be the envy of any soceity, we are proud of the impartiality and the refusal to interfere in domestic matters of our armed forces, we are the country of Nehru and Gandhi, Patel and Abdullah, Ambedkar and Kamraj, all steeped in democarctic culture even while being vehemently independent and quite the towering leaders, we have had an entire history of civil disobedience and disagreement with stated government policy for at last the past 137 years, if not more, and almost every citizen living in India today is born in a free, democratic country, never having known slavery as an adult.

So, what has the last 7 years done to us? Why are we too scared, too weak, too anxious to protest? Can you imagine an Indian street filled to the brim with protestors protesting a war literally being fought simultaneously as they protest (and not have anchors shouting for their murders on tv and lawyers refusing to represent them because they are 'anti-nationals')? Can you imagine a sports star writing 'No war please' on a camera in an international arena (and being able to play for India after that)? Can you imagine an Indian billionaire saying they will liquidate their most public asset and let the enemy have the proceeds (and still remain in business)? Can you imagine even a single media network that will have en masse resignations on a live transmission because they disagree on a government policy, specifically a war?

Nor can I.

Maybe, you'll say, because our wars are always just. Our soldiers always fighting the good fight. We are always right. We have always fought to defend, never to occupy. Our nation or our army has never oppressed anyone. We have been on the right side of history every time and will continue to be in the future.

Really now?