Babu - the face of Protest

This is Babu, an adivasi youth belonging to Paniya community near Gudalur. This photo was taken in a protest demonstration held in Gudalur town last month, against the demolision of two adivasi houses in a remote village by a private tea estate staff. (You can read more about it in our official newsletter here.) More than 800 people from different villages came to Gudalur, walked in a long procession, shouted slogans and sat on a demonstration outside the Government office for more than 2 hours and ensured that the issue was heard and made public.

Thanks to their fight for justice, the police have finally filed a case against the estate staff under the strong law 'SC / ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act'. Filing a case itself is considered a major victory - given the state of affairs in our country. In all probability, the police will not conduct the investigation properly and will let the culprits out. But, the point I was curious about is the case of people like Babu.

He is a wage labourer and works in the construction site near our office. His team was working in a feverish pace to complete things before monsoon. But, when the date for this public protest was decided, he announced that he "won't come for work tomorrow. Of course, we will be in the protest march". I was just thinking, "He will be losing a day's work and hence, more than Rs.150 by going there. Why does he do this?""This injustice has happened to one of our fellow adivasi famiy. The same thing can happen to our village also tomorrow and we will need the support of everyone. So, it is my duty to participate in the procession." Just because I asked this question to him the previous evening, he was "extra active" in the procession, I thought. Whether they win or not, people like Babu keep the spirit of justice in our world.

Last time, when did I feel an injustice has been meted out to me personally? And, when did I need the solidarity and support of everyone around? Or, when did I feel obliged to protest publicly some injustice done to someone? I have to search long and hard for an incident like that. Babu belongs to a community. I am a free-floater...