Speaking Up Is Part of Democracy

A democracy is a country where people have the right to disagree with the government. This right is not something people get only once every five years when they vote. Citizens should be able to question government decisions at any time.

But simply complaining at home doesn’t change anything. That’s why peaceful public protests are important. As long as they don’t hurt other people, protests help people make their voices heard. They are like a safety valve on a pressure cooker, letting out anger before it builds up and turns into violence. India’s Constitution protects this right through Article 19, which gives people freedom of speech and expression. Even so, police in many states have been trying more often to stop peaceful protests.

That is why recent comments by Bombay High Court judge Madhav Jamdar are important. He cancelled a police order that had punished a man simply for opposing a government decision. The judge said that disagreeing with the government is not a crime. He even asked an important question: if people are punished for protesting, are they being treated like they have no freedom?

India itself became an independent country because millions of people took part in peaceful protests against British rule. Unlike the United States, which won its freedom through a war, India’s freedom struggle was mainly non-violent. That is why peaceful protest should be respected in our country. If it is no longer respected, we should ask why. Are leaders still listening to the people who elected them? Are they being held responsible for their decisions? When governments do not stop the police from unfairly silencing protesters, it sends the message that such actions are acceptable.

India has a long tradition of peaceful protests, such as dharnas and morchas. Studies by Harvard professor Erica Chenoweth show that peaceful protests have been about twice as successful as violent ones. Her research also found that no peaceful protest supported by at least 3.5% of a country’s population has ever failed. This shows that peaceful protest is one of the smartest ways for people to bring about change. It is something every healthy democracy needs.

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