In those days, protest seemed to most a right.
Everyone at the Anna protests felt safe.
It was the heart of a throbbing democracy, as it were.
In retrospect, one realises the democratic depth of the Manmohan Singh era.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/why-i-miss-dr-manmohan-singh/cid/1735642
In a democracy, the strength of the leadership is inversely proportional to the depth of liberty.
The first five years of Modi saw public protests die out as people mechanically went about their work and thought being democratic meant just casting their vote.
Late in 2019, the youths finally hit the streets again in protest against the #CAA & university fee hikes.
Young India again took the lead, as they had done during the Lokpal and Nirbhaya protests.
But this time the police had come alive.
Manmohan Singh had said in 2014 that history would be kind to him.
Perhaps he was right: his was the time when common people felt empowered.
In contrast, he seemed weak.
It was weakness that came from grace.
It was weakness that made the freedom of expression — subject to reasonable restrictions — stand tall.
When history is written to portray the times of empowered citizens as good times, it will see Manmohan Singh as an admirable public servant.
We miss you, Dr Singh.
You are part of a past we value.
Read this article and understand the difference between MMS era and Modi era
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/why-i-miss-dr-manmohan-singh/cid/1735642
James Wilson
tj