n Arson and vandalism in the name of protest is just like burning down our own house to get rid of rats. This way we are just impoverishing ourselves and sabotaging our own future. The people who used to condemn Maoist’s destructive activities in utterly austere words, themselves have started getting involved in such activities. Educated masses are being made puppets of the so-called political leaders who are massively notorious for playing dirty games. People are becoming more and more frenzy and prejudiced day by day. The security personnel who are in eccentric condition as to giving security to the public from Maoist’s insurgency have found these rampant students as another pain in their neck. So, let’s not follow the crowd just getting carried away. It’s not right time to fight for our rights; it’s time to fight against those who are pretending to be

fighting for our rights. It’s easy to tear down both our home and homeland, but it’s difficult to manage even out tangled hair. The best way to show our dissent is to crash into the ground of mutual consent.

Nabin Rijal, Siphal, Kathmandu

n Hijacking public life is only one way to wash out the government. The dissidents don’t have any other option to force the government ponder over their issues. The government easily suppresses the non-violence strikes. The media do not highlight the non-violence strike nowadays as it does not affect public life directly. All around the world, non-violence strike is left out in the cold, just like Dalai Lama’s non-violence strike against Chinese mainland authorities. Some time ago the student roadblocks and violence thrashed the government authorities. So, the hijacking public life makes authorities bow toward dissidents.

Anjan Kumar Bhatta,

Tri Chandra Campus

n Organising strikes and bandhs has been a part of showing discontent these days. Be it students, political parties or business groups, all have adapted this method as one of the most effective tool to create pressure. Modern concept of state is largely based on constitution and emphasises on the right of every citizen, going against the norms of constitution is considered violation of the law of the country. Those involved in such violation would no doubt have to face protest. But bandh organisers should be equally aware that their activities have not disturbed the normal life of the public. At this moment, when leaders themselves have been expressing their commitment toward the present constitution and are vowing to bring the derailed constitution back to the track, there is a greater need of applying logical means and follow legal procedure than ever before.

Ambika Pandey, Chitwan

n Without dissent there is no revolution. But true sense of showing dissent is not destruction, bloodsheds and violence. We countrymen should cogitate that why are we doing strikes? What is the purpose of dissent on certain matter? Aren’t we doing these for the sake of betterment of whole community? Has revolutions been brought in the world by violence only? The change brought by violence never lasts for long. In the long run they will again raise their hood against us. So the best way is non-violence, hunger strikes without any side effects to the environment around. After these current happenings, have we thought for once that will we be able to restore this metropolitan city to its initial state?

Ujwal Maharjan, Bernhardt College

n As the government is becoming indifferent towards our problems, showing dissent is the only way left us. But the way it is going on is completely wrong. The violent activities like closing educational institutions, interrupting examinations, strikes, roadblocks, etc might seem fruitful for some time, but we have to pay a high cost for this in the future. The literacy rate of our country is too low and these activities are certainly not going to uplift it. The result will be same-poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. Moreover, showing disagreement by destructing infrastructures like bridges, towers etc. is never a good way. One can never dream developed society with these activities. It requires a lot of time and effort to construct and destruction requires no time. So, one’s power is never proved by these actions. Instead non-violent ways are far better. We can be the follower of Mahatma Gandhi for some time. But it is also not the final and stable solution. The best shall be the moment when leaders stop becoming selfish.

Rashmi Baral,

Dillibazar Kanya Multiple Campus

n We all know that, where there is truth, there will be god and power of truth. We don’t need any verification to justify the presence of truth. If a certain person or a group has different opinion or dissatisfaction, they can show their dissatisfaction by a protest in any democratic country. If there is a presence of truth in their opinion or say if they are not motivated by their internal desire or greed to acquire something untruthfully, then at that time even the peaceful protest will be sufficient, because when there will be presence of truth in their side; there will be no need of violent protest. We all knew about the protest led by the Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King in past. Those revolutions by Gandhi and Martin Luther King were peaceful, but they were able to achieve success because they had power of truth. It is clear that if we are certain that we are right, truth is with us, then at that time even the peaceful protest will be enough to make people understand the issue and to motivate them to work with us in order to fulfil our demands.

Neeraj Regmi, Chabhil, Kathmandu

n It is true that when people are not satisfied with the things what they

desire for, they show their dissent by hijacking public life or by keeping themselves hungry; just to drag the

attention of other or to make others believe that they are going through a grave injustice.

Strikes are never good for the society. It always brings destruction in the country though it provides relief to the limited number of people. Firstly personal dissent of an individual should be rejected, only the groups’ dissent should be accepted and highlighted so that they can bring some fruitful results. Then meeting or conference should be organised

Karishma Pradhan

n The best way of showing dissent is non-violence. Roadblocks, strikes and other destructive activities neither bring change nor solve the issues. Instead, they create more problems. We are fed up with such kinds of violence. We don’t want violence any more; we want peace, which can solve all sorts of problems. There are lots of ways like hunger strike, placard exhibition, rallies with peace, etc.

Manoj Thapa, Lalitpur, Lele

n For several years, it has been witnessed that almost all political parties have adapted the route of hijacking public life to show their dissent, although they condemned it when they are in power. And in our context, hijacking public life seems to have more effect than hunger strike. And it seems authorities too have established a habit of not listening to anyone unless and until such things happen. For instance, Maoist insurgency was paid little attention earlier and made very little effort to address it at the time of its beginning. Now, it looks like a very intricate problem and is far from the settlement. Considering all this, seething body prefer hijacking public life to nonviolent strike to draw the attention. Though no one can approve aggressive ways to show dissent because it causes suffering to those who are no way related. Yet, this is the only way to attract proper attention.

Kishor Bhattarai, Bharatpur, Chitwan

n Violence or war leads to destruction where as peace leads to construction. Violence is the sign of barbarism and it will never bring about peace without which we cannot develop our nation. So civilised people never prefer violence to reach the right destination. The educated people with their knowledge take the step of non-violence, hunger strike, etc, and try to approach their destination. Mahatma Gandhi was successful to bring about independence to India from the British government by following non-violence. Wise ones think that non-violence and hunger strike is the best way of dissent for complaining about any wrong step.

Mohan Narshingh Shrestha,

Kupondol, Jwagal

n Violence has never brought peace and prosperity. However, people are pursuing the path of violence to set forth their dissent. They are just bothering and searing the life of common people. Instead, they should have peace talk or have non-violence strike to get support at the time of strike support plays great role than ammunitions. In lieu of devastation and roaming in the fog of violence, they should threaten their opponent by taking appalling step, which does not interfere the life of common people. Eventually, the expected result can be obtained through non-violence.

Dilip Dachhepati,

Capital College,

Kathmandu

n It’s only because of some violent students several other students those who are innocent are also suffering. Not to forget the non-violent fight for freedom led by

Mahatma Gandhi, which brought revolution in India. So, instead of creating chaos destructing public properties, the best way

of showing dissent would be

non-violence.

Awadhesh Sah, Itahari-1

n Dissent is born due to misunderstandings. Showing dissent in the form of violence is the worst way. It leads to the destruction of the public as well

as the government property. The roadblocks and strikes hamper many

innocent people. Being the wisest creature we should not follow “Might is Right” motto.

I even don’t support non-violent

acts such as hunger strike, as it is self-punishing task. Nevertheless, it is

the better option than the violent moves. At least the neutral people will not be affected. All these acts are useless. It is only the loss of time. Talking about present situation, the students look good when carrying pens and books not stones and pebbles. If students and teachers prefer rallies, then what is the use of colleges?

We should try to resolve conflicts peacefully, conducting meetings as soon as possible before it could turn into unstoppable huge rage. The dissent should be shown in such a way that it must not affect anyone.

Leison Maharjan, Sanepa

n This is about one and half years that the political parties and the students have been taking part in the agitation (demonstration). During that period they have done almost all the possible peace agitation like hunger strike, peace rally and so on hoping for a good solution of problem.

But when they were badly cheated, they’ve started showing bad behaviour. From this event we can easily imagine that, the ear of everybody in Nepal is thick so they can’t hear or don’t response if one starts a peace agitation. People here would die with hunger strike but no one would lend ear. So even destructive agitation is bad, we are forced to accept and follow the same.

Somraj Shahi,

Asian college of Higher Studies

n It’s true that every person will not have the same opinion and so this doesn’t happen among the politicians too. For this reason showing dissent is normal in politics. Everyone should have right to put his or her own view. The different ideas make the working much better.

It is said that whoever shouts, his flour will also be sold but whoever doesn’t shout, his rice will also not

be sold. So it’s not bad to show dissent and put sound, but it’s bad to urge

unnecessarily.

If appreciated, non-violent acts are much better than the violent acts. The non-violent acts like that done by Mahatma Gandhi in India or the Martin Luther King in USA is appreciable than the violent acts like that of the Maoists or the government of Nepal.

Thus, it can be said that the best way of showing dissent is by having discussion, organising a meeting, conference, speech, etc, but the thinking of public welfare should never be neglected by anyone.

Roojesh