The world is evolving at an exponential speed. Everyday arises with a new ray of opportunity with modern advancements. The activists are also that one ray with which they are expected to light up the world. An activist is someone who makes people think and act for the betterment of society.
Activists in the real sense is a person who sees an unjustified or wrongdoing and can correct it for the welfare of the people. They are not restricted to any political forum or agenda but can be for the climatic reason, molestation of women, acceptance of transgender people in society and more.
Role of an Activist
The role of an activist is very pivotal in shaping the thoughts of society and taking action or raising the voice from the ground level. They ensure the establishment of the rights of the underprivileged or oppressed parties either through demonstrations, silent protests, rallies or hunger strike.
The activists don’t search for a perfect medium, but their ideas and demands are made perfect beforehand only. The word “true heroes” become synonymous with them, and there are many examples to prove that.
Kailash Satyarthi is one of them. He is a children’s rights activist who works on the liberation of children from child labour, slavery and human trafficking. He has been very successful over the years in saving the children from the exploitation.
Kallen Pokkudan, also known as Kandal Pokkudan, was an Indian environmental activist and writer from Kerala. He was known for his works for the protection and proliferation of the mangrove forests in the state of Kerala since 1989. He started on a mission to plant mangroves across the coastal waters of Kerala. He is recorded to have planted over one lakh mangrove plants in the state. He founded the ‘Mangrove School‘ and conducted over 500 classes in several parts of the state in an attempt to educate the people about the ecological significance of mangroves.
Saalumarada Thimmakka, also known as Aalada Marada Timakka, is an Indian environmental activist from the state of Karnataka. She has planted and tended to 385 banyan trees along a four-kilometre stretch of highway between Hulikal and Kudur. She has also planted almost 8000 other trees.
These are just a few who are known and unknown for the work they do for the world. There are many such unknown figures, who silently do their work not for media coverage, but for the welfare of the society.
However, every coin has two sides. The greedy role of activists has also being witnessed nowadays where their motive has become self-centred and aspires for power and position.
Modern-Day ‘ACTIVIST’
The era is changing; now, the activists are directly paid for their same work. They are now puppet in the hands of politicians, or they have their own agendas. The very spirit of activism and the good of the society is being shattered today. The ordinary people are also blinded by the fake rage and the voices of these pretentious people who are serving the purpose of the powerful ones but losing their very own identity.
It has been said that “An activist can’t become a politician.” It is because his existence is very far from the nature of the rulers. Moreover, his own foundation stands on the pillars of differentiating between right and wrong without any biases. However, the statement can be seen proving itself illogical nowadays.
A few years back, Anna Hazare, an activist started an indefinite hunger strike on Jantar Mantar for the passing of Lokpal Bill to establish transparency and reducing corruption. He was successful in arousing public interest and forcing the government to take action.
Although his team also proposed to form a political party and asked the people to suggestions a “name” for the party. It could have been a significant and prosperous step up towards society’s welfare, but at last, was thought as an intelligent political move by the people.
Nowadays, activism has become a medium for publicity. People in the name of activism do a show-off performance just to get the attention of people and to get noticed by media. We can’t just blame these people alone, as media too has a significant role, they run behind these people for TR. In this process, both press and such so-called activist deviate/forget from the primary purpose.
Many examples can be seen in our surroundings where activists seem to be fulfilling their purpose and self-interest in the name of so-called ACTIVISM.
