“Banda gar! Banda gar!”
These chants by protestors — Hindu activists, political interest groups and locals — on the main streets between Gaushala and Chabahil leading to Pashupatinath Temple still echo in my head.
These chants were bellowed with full of conviction and belief that their cries for change will be heard.
And they have.
The latest update to the Pashupatinath Temple controversy has been the government’s decision to scrap the new appointment of new priests at the temple.
I understand that most of you will find protests on the streets all too familiar. But not for me.
This was my first time watching people, in the hundreds, gathered together and blocking traffic to make their message heard.
Coming from Singapore where protests are almost non-existent and how the government designates a place for public speaking, the series of events here was truly a riveting experience for me.
Instead of protesting, Singaporeans instead choose to make petitions and collect signatures to be sent to the relevant authorities to fight a certain cause. Quite different from the fire and vigour shown by the people of this land.
From what I have observed here, all the necessary ingredients for a protest include loudhailers, some placards, banners to show what you are standing up for and most importantly people – the more the merrier.
What would really take the cake is if you have prepared effigies to burn; they are really a visual spectacle and also help to keep you warm as temperatures plummet in the evening.
And you know a protest is taking place when you notice a disproportionately large number of carts offering street snacks and sweet oranges.
My colleague Kushal could see the glint in my eye the moment a large group of people would congregate and start yelling and chanting away.
Nevertheless, my job for the past few days was to take photographs and capture the essence of the protests and the people. What really captured my eye was how children as young as five also joined in the protests, holding up placards and cheering as though they really understood the magnitude of the situation.
In my last day of covering the protest, two young boys sandwiched in the crowd turned to look at me as I was busy snapping away. Amidst the shouting, they got ready to pose as I pointed the camera in their direction.
Part of me wondered if these boys knew what they were protesting about and what those words on the placard really meant. I remembered what a friend in Nepal told me how political groups feed on the oppression, hunger and disappointment in the people to channel their anger in these protests.
Looking at the boys, they looked gaunt, probably hungry, yet carefree enough to be part of this protest. I believe that these boys took part in the protest because it is one way that their voices are heard. It is one way their concerns would be looked into.
And probably, it is one way they can look forward to a better future.
(This article appeared in Republica January 2009.)