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Save Dissent NOW!

A patriot is one whose heart beats true to the country. While our archetypal vision of a patriot happens to be of pre-independence liberators and smartly dressed khaki suited army men, they happen to be a minority in the patriotic community. Howard Zinn, historian and playwright, once said: "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." His words imply the significance of dissent in any nation. Agreeably, dissent plays a remarkably fundamental role as the guiding star of a nation's democratic polity. 

 The real heroes of any nation's success lie shadowed and filmed over by overhanging politicians aiming to desist dissent amongst the voters. While we continually see incumbent governments whipping out advertisement campaigns and fiery speeches for patriotism and army service, almost rarely does any incumbent parliamentarian wish for active citizen participation. 

 Dissenters in India who reject the incredulous proposal of the Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019, have taken to the streets. As they sloganeered and rallied, the police were compelled into action by the government (doubtlessly). The next few steps the police took surged a nation-wide student-led movement from colleges across India. It was police brutality. 

 As video footage piled in on news channels, fear flooded the Indian populace. Fear shifted quickly to rage.  Images of police officers cornering protestors and caning them with stout bamboo lathis were disturbing and inciting. Peaceful marches instantly turned into chases unto death. Demonstrators at odds with the government were detained in quick succession for unknown causes. Many innocent civilians were caught in the crossfire. The events culminated with a dozen deaths of protestors and horrific injuries for civilians. 

 The government expects the Indian citizens to enjoy brotherly splits and communal discrimination. We are not a group of yesmen and assenters. We do not want the failure of democracy. The government must be shown the power of active citizenship. It is time to take to the streets and protest. If not for the CAA, for the innocent civilians killed for supporting democracy. No man's life should die in vain. There is a tinge of sadness with which the author drops the pen, hoping that fellow citizens and brothers will rise in support of each other.
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