The armchair revolution

Cell phones have opened up the world to rent-a-cause activism

The ruckus has died down. We are all elated that the Taj has 8216;done it8217; again 8212; the pearly, monumental tomb, made it to a trendy and wholly unofficial list of New Seven Wonders of the World. The word 8216;new8217; is significant 8212; it denotes a movement of sorts, an epilogue to armchair activism: millions of votes and millions of dreams were tied to those votes.

The campaign for the Taj 8212; like many other campaigns that stirred the youth last year 8212; ride on two phenomena: mob activity and a feeling of regionalism. Perhaps it all began with the maddening race on television for a person with a golden voice and the X factor. It saw scores of kids competing for their 15 seconds of fame. It also displayed an unabashed regionalism: it was Bengal8217;s voice competing against Assam8217;s voice, not one individual pitted against another.

My young friend who works in the advertising industry saw the New Seven Wonders campaign as too West-centric and was sure that not enough Indians knew about it, or would vote. He was wrong. India sent enough votes to ensure that the Taj made it to the list. The tag line for the Taj said: 8216;Vote for the Taj, and Vote for India8217;.

Clearly, no one had many ideas as to what to do for the Taj: this was about a new cultural power brought about by the sheer activity of casting a vote. The youth urged each other to petition for India8217;s most popular president, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam8217;s second term it secured 2,87,818 signatures. The boy who created the petition was compelling in his explanation, 8220;I am a young citizen of India, armed with technology, knowledge and love for my nation8230; A vision will ignite the billion souls. It has entered into me, that the ignited soul compared to any resource, is the most powerful resource on the earth8230;8221;

People were voting because this was the way to go: everyone was ignited and got voting. Voting became a surrogate for doing.

The young and old in Gujarat later joined hands to pray for Sunita Williams Suni for short coming home where was home? safely. She was called 8216;Gujju girl Sunita8217;. Speaking to Indians during a tele-conference, Suni later expressed her surprise at the reactions 8212; and affection 8212; she had evoked.

Let8217;s see where we are going. People are rallying for 8216;causes8217; like never before thanks to their beautiful cell phones and unlimited internet connections. That8217;s wonderful. But take a look at and a cue from the campaign for Haneef8217;s freedom down under: Aussies8217; conveying messages like, 8220;I gave out my phone, arrest me8221; are a shining example of activism gone global.

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Let8217;s all vote. But let8217;s not get righteous and believe that by voting we are really doing something substantial. Let8217;s rally, but let8217;s not get carried away by our regional identities and aspirations.

As for me, my cell phone has gone into overdrive.