PROTEST

STRIKES ACQUIRED importance during the industrial revolution when mass labour became important in factories and mines. In most countries, they were quickly made illegal as factory owners had far more political power than workers. The strike tactic has a very long history. Towards the end of the 20th dynasty, under Pharaoh Ramses III in ancient Egypt in the 12th century BC, the workers of the royal necropolis organized the first known strike or workers' uprising in history. In the modern era, sailors in 1768, in support of demonstrations in London, "struck" or removed the top-gallant sails of merchant ships at port, thus crippling the ships.
If we look into the past, strikes have proved to be a powerful and effective weapon in political struggles too. Oppressive forces have been bundled in the past by virtue of strikes.
In the era of economic explosion; particularly in Asia, the customary methods of strike needs a total change. Though we have a long list of methods of strike, yet the globalization and economic interdependence has made it inevitable that we devise new methods of expressing resistance.
In the State of Jammu and Kashmir the biggest issue is the political paradox. Our identity as a Nation State is still a dream. We all are ready to sacrifice everything for this noble cause; but for a sustained and energized movement we need to keep our economy, if not booming, but at least in good health.
Our think tank has to meet the challenge of this repelling confluence of political aspiration and the economic health of our State. Strike has proved to be a strong weapon in the history. For political aspirations, we can use it. Hence the need of the hour is that we devise new methods of strikes which concord with the economic ends of our state too. Economy wise our society has four classes viz the top business class, the employed class, the middle Class of business men, and the daily waged class. The most affected class by a strike is the daily waged class fallowed by the middle class of business men. In this political struggle we have to should give due consideration to these classes of our society. Under these broad contours, we have to go for some innovations in the methods of strike:
Area Wise Strike: In this method of strike the activities in whole state will not be affected. Here an area is to be identified which will follow strike on a particular day. This will then be rotated to another area and so on. Such a strike can be stretched for many days.
Limited Period Strike: This type of strike will be limited to some hours. Such a strike can prove to be a far effective if followed in true sprit. During the hour of strike every activity is to be stopped.
Strike with relaxation: Here a strike will be observed from dawn to dusk with two hours of morning and evening relaxation.
Demonstrative Strike: Here normal work will continue but with a mark of protest vehicles will roll on roads with big black banners and flags, employees will attend to their work but in a black dress, student will wear a black uniform, every shop will keep black banners and flags on their establishments.
Attending office on national holidays: it is a Gandhian way of Non-Cooperation. As a mark of disobedience, employees in Government and semi government sector will attend their offices on National Holidays even if no work can be done.
Though these methods seem to be less effective, yet they can be tried for a sustained struggle. Further every method of strike will remain ineffective unless the Pro-freedom leadership remains active and in great sprit. On all events they have to be on streets. They have to organize protest rallies which should rebound from every corner of the state leadership.
Strikes have proved in the past to be the bacons of light for a prospective future, yet in the present scenario we can't ignore the importance of economic management at the gross root level. The wheel of life has to ride but the political aspirations ought not to die. In future let us manage our struggle in a pragmatic and holistic way.

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