– By Mustafa Sarwar Faruqi
The government has accepted the quota system. So, what is the movement about now? For those wondering, let me explain as best as I understand.
By attempting to suppress this movement with disdain and force, the government has opened Pandora’s box, which has long held many unresolved questions. This generation has brought these questions to the forefront. Among them, a significant question is: what should the relationship between the citizen and the government be? Should it be that of master and slave, or servant and master? If so many slaves had been killed in one day, wouldn’t there have been a slave rebellion? In an independent country, public servants, who are appointed to ensure the safety of the citizens, have killed so many of our people. When will those involved in these murders, and those who ordered them, be punished? On one hand, there are discussions, and on the other, there are arrests and shootings – what kind of game is this? When will this end? Another question that has arisen is: Will those in government speak to the people with arrogance and pride, or with respect?
The public will mock the government, criticize it intensely, and scrutinize it harshly. Artists will create songs and films freely; they will not have to live within someone’s prescribed limits of freedom. All these are aspects of democracy. Whoever is in government must accept these with humility; this is the norm of a democratic society. Is the government mentally prepared to follow this norm? Or will the government continue to speak in the language of bullets, threats, and arrests?
Lastly, for those who still do not understand the character of this movement, look at who is participating. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, English medium students, Bengali medium students, Arabic division students – all are coming together in solidarity. Their demand is “justice and dignity”! They have not joined the movement based on anyone’s political beliefs. Therefore, you cannot divide them using the old binaries, nor can you fully understand them.
At this moment, I can say that this movement cannot be stopped with lullabies or dramas. This movement will end only with answers to these questions. If we return to the barracks without creating the foundation for a democratic society, we will have to sleep with yet another promise of a failed revolution. However, I believe this movement will show us the path to a free and democratic society. Why do I believe this? Because I have never seen such spontaneous emotion from people before.
Let me give an example. A student was brought to court after being detained. His mother ran behind and stood beside him, thumping his chest hard he said, “Don’t worry!”
This assurance will not admit defeat.
– From Facebook post
