Postscript

Party Pooper

Aasha Mehreen Amin

A private school recently gave the day off to its students because they had allotted a few 'hartal-make up days' in the schedule formed in the old days of frequent hartals. Now that (touch wood) we have been freed of this menace, the kids could enjoy a free day away from clammy classrooms and irritable teachers bogged down by the enervating weather. Speaking of which, the heat is really taking out the steam from everyone, including opposition political activists whose bread and butter includes a good, feisty march protesting the government's failure in everything.

Last Monday, opposition party BNP's march, demanding the resignation of the entire Election Commission for not being able to hold a free and fair election, solutions to the ongoing power, gas and water crisis etc, lost its zing because it was just too darn hot.

Another reason the party turned out to be a bit of a flop is because the police, in a show of uncharacteristic enlightenment, decided or was instructed to decide, that it would not use its old habit of bludgeoning opposition activists with batons and blinding them with teargas. Instead, they decided to act cool, for the first time. They just didn't do anything. In fact when the sweaty protesters came near the police cordons, the nonchalant law enforcers just moved away giving them space to go forward. Such genteel behaviour was unexpected and a little disappointing to the activists who had so banked on a good scuffle to make headlines next day.

It had started with a bang. Thousands of activists had begun the noble journey from Muktangan at around 4pm. They wofficerman even raised an arm to stop them. After trudging along a few kilometres, the leaders decided enough was enough and abandoned the procession on motor bikes, presumably to go back to their air-conditioned homes in their air-conditioned cars, perhaps even sneak in a few ice lollies on the way.

The remaining minions and newspersons were puzzled by the fizzling out of what could have been a sizzling event. Maybe it would have been if at least it had been drizzling.

Members of the opposition gave a volley of excuses to journalists for this strange abandonment. The police had obstructed them (how, pray tell, with their smouldering looks?) and so they ended peacefully to avoid confrontation. The route was too long, they should have started closer to the EC, there were women after all among the protestors and how could the delicate creatures hack the heat and long trek?

Apparently the protestors had been putting their faith on some police resistance, even a bit of brutality as tradition goes, so that they could have an excuse to stop this ridiculous walkathon and have a nice little sit-in. Instead, these uncooperative police decided to let them walk endlessly until their knees were buckling over with exhaustion and dehydration. Cruelty, thy name is Police.

The law enforcers' clever strategy certainly deserves a round of applause. If only they had been so wise a few years ago.

The moral of the story here is: Always surprise your opponents. When they want you to show your fists at them show them your saintly smile and move aside. And if you are on the activists' side ready for a long protest march in the melting heat, do a few stretches before the walk, wear a cap or take an umbrella and some oral saline. Try to get the ice cream man to come along.

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