In today’s world it’s difficult to draw
inspiration from anyone...few years back passing away of an activist - K.Balagopal
caught my attention, his name was familiar to me for many years as a someone
who was mentioned along with hargopal, kannibhiran, varavara rao-the well known
naxalite sympathizers/architects (for a layman) and nothing beyond. Out of
curiosity I tried to dig a bit and started exploring the person- his work over
the years. Slowly but surely and deeply
it made me think on wider topics, his whole persona created goose pimples, made
me introspect, look around and think- we are miscategorized as a social being when
there is nothing in us that proves it, we live in a very self focused world that
gets smaller and smaller with time, far away from Balagopal’s world.
A Mathematical genius who could have moved abroad
to become a world class scientist/mathematician (what ever), would have made
fame, fortune and lived happily ever after, takes a U-turn to become a lawyer
and dedicates his life to fight for
civil rights of the oppressed in the most simple, effective and hands-on way.
Balagopal was a silent reformer, peace advocate,
an eternal optimist, humanitarian, perseverant fighter and one who really
understood the foundations, ingredients of a true democratic country- freedom
for all.
Reforming the feudal, primitive society not through
violence but through dialog, education, awakening, tremendous patience and not
through hollow ideals that look good in books. Despite the slow and painful
path to the changes, he never wilted but became stronger and stronger, on one
of the TV interviews he does mention “ police beat me and left me thinking I
was dead” the voice does not complain, it’s a serene voice that simplifies the
complexity, resonates hope and optimism. I have never heard such voice in adversity;
gargantuan human efforts like these are possible only by realized souls with
the probability of being seen once in a lifetime.
Its beyond my imagination to know that someone
can be so spiritually and philosophically rich to have ignored the
physical threats, tortures and still fight for decades (with minimal support
from the mainstream) and a single goal in mind- “equal rights for all”.
The irony was mainstream (media, intellectuals
etc) never valued the virtues of such a great movement for them he was a poorly
dressed writer in slippers with cheap banners supporting the naxalites (fact is
he never supported violence), even if someone did understand the movement,
covering news on civil liberties for some illiterate poor is a quantum waste of
time with no returns, for the rest he will remain an inspirational figure no
less than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With the right reception his efforts would
have been recognized internationally and might have rightly impacted the
oppressed.
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