What is a bandh?

Reknowned for spawning a culture of non-violence, India today has fostered an unhealthy relationship with bandhs. The concept of bandh, although similar to a silent protest is anything but. To protest is for a gathering of like-minded people express their view/ anger against a government or ruling authority. But, bandhs are enforced by powers that be and seldom give individuals any choice in the matter. To interpret a bandh as a direct expression of all those involved/ resident in a state is unjustified. There is not an element of discussion or debate of opinions in a bandh, and hence can't be democratic. To voice displeasure or disapproval, a black armband may have sufficed. Disruption of day-to-day activities could have been minimized and infact may have encouraged discussion of consequences of the issue being protested. This may have even been more informative than a state-organised public holiday spent typically in front of televisions and computers. In a globalized economy, as today's, a bandh is a throwback to the illogical days of displeasure before discussion and action before debate.