Revolutions have something magnetic about them. Despite the realisation that uprisings have more romance than reality, we still love them.
The heady flavour of revolution is in the air – youth everywhere just need a cause for which they can go berserk on their smart phones and get together for a mass demonstration. In modern times, impromptu rallies do not end within a day; they linger, get bigger, attract more people and turn into a social movement.
Old fashioned as the term may be, but this is the age of revolutions. Muskets, pistols and canons have been replaced by phones, SMS-texting and blogging. Much more fun that way, at least if people are not dying in high numbers as a result of violent battles with the authorities.
But the modern day revolution is by no means less powerful than the one that rocked France in 1789. People are galvanised, governments become shaky, law enforcers comprehend that force alone cannot sway assertive beliefs and, in the end, regimes give in or are toppled. Anyone would call these tangible results. Naturally, with so many youth driven movements across the world, the question arises whether we are seeing a resurgence of the revolutionary spirit? The answer is a resounding yes.
It is inherent in human nature to rebel and people have done so over the centuries. Come to think of it, the world polarising force of Communism rose from public discontent over the Russian Tsar’s rule and dismal run in the First World War resulting in famine, unemployment and finally revolution.
The reason for an uprising is simple – people become, or already are, dissatisfied. In today’s world, with economic upheavals directly affecting the job prospects of millions of young people, there is ample cause for anger.
Take Gezi Park or the Egyptian mass protests for example – in the former case the Turkish government’s plan to tear down a park for real estate development triggered protests initially to save a natural hub within Istanbul, but these were aided by the fodder of other concerns simmering underneath.
Right, some say, PM Recep Erdogan needs to be taught a lesson because he has become a regressive authoritarian of late, what with his government chastising public displays of affection. So, there isn’t usually only one cause but a set of issues that snowball.
And so to Egypt where revolution and uprising have been relentless in the past two years, with no respite seemingly in sight. One revolution brought down Mubarak and now Morsi is gone. Sadly, turmoil has not ended with the departure of Morsi because factional violence has taken over. The current position and prognosis, despite the presence of international media, is unfortunately opaque.
Whether all problems will be rectified once people’s demands are met is of course not the main concern here. History shows, life post revolution is often the worst of times, and a revolution can fail to rectify the major problems which sparked it in the first place.
To be very blunt – post revolutionary periods never yielded a sane period, only insane ones. Revolutions may be triggered by quixotic ideals, romance and fervour, but are followed inevitably by disillusion and confusion.
To go back to France once more – the Bastille was stormed, “evil” opulent classes were beheaded in the Revolution and people of all sections became citizens, but the dark period that followed saw widespread corruption and both tyranny and anarchy, resulting in multiplication of public misery. Revolutions are like sweet dreams – for a certain period they keep us engrossed, then, they give us a rude jolt, waking us up in a messy situation.
Would it have been better if there were no uprisings? It is rare to ask this question because people do not want to admit to being suddenly overtaken by blind, utopian emotion.
The most talked about uprising in the 20th century was the one in Cuba which coincided perfectly with a new wave of egalitarianism and rebellious philosophies sweeping across the globe. It also had photogenic protagonists – the fiery Che Guevara and the defiant Castro. Their rhetoric of equality converted or inspired millions! And a wave of revolting against state sponsored injustice became the norm - a worthy precursor to a period of calls for free love and freedom, or the swinging sixties in short.
Still today, people get misty-eyed when they think of that decade but in reality, has the world changed much? The revolutions of the 1960’s didn’t give us too many reforms, at least as far as global politics is concerned.
On the other hand, Obama would not have become president if the 1960’s didn’t happen as we got rid of a lot of the prejudices that divided society. At least that is what this writer likes to believe!
Whatever the case, the wind of Cuban revolution also hit us in the seventies when Bangladesh saw a large section of students in universities taking up a socialist battle, aimed at a just society. Once more, the movement lost steam, staunch revolutionaries became top corporate bosses, long-nights of heated arguments on equality over tea were supplanted by cigar sessions wetted by sips from premier single malt brands.
No, not trying to demonise anyone – Che adherents who kept the Dhaka University campus alive till the mid-nineties still love Cuba and her revolution – that’s why, they smoke the best Cuban cigar while Che’s face adorns their ostentatiously decorated sitting rooms. In time, these romantics will sit their children/grandchildren on their laps and tell of the charm of the proletariat fantasy.
Revolutions/uprisings are great but they seldom bring any tangible change. Sounds cynical? Well, human history is right there for you to see and assess. But the truth remains, revolutions will happen simply because after a certain time, people feel the need to stand against what they feel is not right.
In some cases, they do manage to bring about a few reforms, but in most, the aftermath is just another cauldron of confusion. No use feeling disheartened, look at it this way, uprisings give the world media a big news item – the unemployed young, something to do while piquing the Che Guevara spirit that rests deep in our hearts.
And it remains true that the man who shot Che in Bolivia only killed the man, not the revolutionary cause. So on that note, I light a Cigar, fill the snifter with some Cognac and let revolutions be the order of the day.