It is hard to say when the change exactly began.

But somewhere between being mislabeled, denigrated and de-legitimized netizens of India have set a movement in motion. That is the act of calling out anti-national voices and pressurizing people in power to take action against them.

This is not small. And it is certainly making a difference.

This time the clash between the rising waves of social anger and brazen cynical mockery does not seem to subside into gentle, frothing waves of submission rushing to disappear into the sands of time.

This time all hopes do not seem entirely pinned on the government’s response to Pakistan. The attitude seems to be - let the government take care of Pakistan, we will take care of our own, home-grown anti-nationals.

And it seems to be working!

The Changes Brought by Everyday People

While the government revoked Pakistan’s Most Favored Nation status (https://bit.ly/2TN9aAC) and summoned Pakistan’s envoy to demand Islamabad’s action against Jaish-e-Mohammad (https://reut.rs/2Gspgwt) Gujjar Nagar in Jammu erupted in protests against the attack (https://bit.ly/2X9d2xN) and Jammu came under curfew (https://bit.ly/2DKrvrb).

Navjot Singh Sidhu said, “Nations cannot be held responsible for the dastardly acts of terrorists. The terrorists do not have seen, mazhab (sect and religion). There are good, the bad and the ugly. Every institution has them. Every nation has them. The ugly need to be punished. But individuals cannot be blamed for the dastardly act”. Twitter went ablaze with netizens calling for Sidhu’s expulsion from Kapil Sharma’s show. And he was sacked! (https://bit.ly/2Gtmgjs).

Times of India’s brazenly pro-Pakistan headline faced such backlash that its editor issued a (non) apology. Immediately after Twitterati responded with messages of cancelled subscriptions. Looks like the country is finally learning to hit where it hurts!

The Times of India Editor’s Response to the above Headline:

:

A professor of Icon Commerce College tweeted derogatory words about the Indian state and the Indian armed forces. The tweet was shared with the Assam Police who tweeted their thanks and the actions taken by them.

As India met with the envoys of 25 nations to begin efforts to isolate Pakistan (https://bit.ly/2SGgDFg) the Indian Tea Exporters’ Association announced its readiness to stop exporting tea to Pakistan (https://bit.ly/2S6RI8v).

The strength of the growing social media backlash was enough to scare the likes of Shabana Azmi (and Javed Akhtar) into canceling their participation in Kaifi Azmi’s birth centenary celebrations in Karachi (https://bit.ly/2BDyT7v). It is noteworthy that Kangana Ranaut cancelled her Manikarnika success celebrations as a gesture of respect for the slain jawans (https://bit.ly/2V7KjYL). The two have completely opposite political views.

Even the embarrassingly blabber-mouthed Rahul Gandhi managed a poignant statement of responsibility, “I will support the government and the jawans at this difficult time”, and “will not get into any other discussion for the next couple of days” (https://bit.ly/2TYmnXD).

Priyanka Vadra managed a safe statement “Ensure no repeat of Pulwama attack”, carefully masking her complete lack of experience holding a political office (https://bit.ly/2T1AQ7W) even as she was scrutinized as to whether she smiled inappropriately during her statements on Pulwama Attack (https://bit.ly/2tlF3oq).

The United States issued its statement supporting “India’s right to self-defense” (https://bit.ly/2GMS7v1) as Modi called for an “all-party” meeting to discuss the security situation where the otherwise adversarial Congress party, presumably mindful of social media comments, offered its “full support” (https://bit.ly/2S79yIr).

The usually tone-deaf NDTV gave into social media pressure and suspended its Deputy News Editor Nidhi Sethi over offensive remarks about the security forces. Unknown everyday people like Riyaz Ahmad Wani were issued Show Cause Notices asking them to explain their offensive statements against India and its Armed Forces (https://bit.ly/2GKqv9H), all thanks to the pressure extended by netizens.

No leader wanted to be outdone, including the cantankerous Mamata Banerjee, who screeched her outrage at the Indian Intelligence Agencies (https://bit.ly/2BAed0c) for their perceived failure to stop the attack.

Each voice, irrespective of the ideology it was dipped in, felt the pressure to show respect at this difficult time.

This respect for the nation, for the idea of India, this time has evolved out of the attitude of the citizens themselves, particularly netizens.

The Need for a Change in Everyday Economics

As people are discovering for themselves that they can effect a change it is important to understand that this is only the beginning.

More needs to be done.

Economic sanctions are for countries engaged in diplomatic wars. Business patronage is for individuals promoting a cause.

Just as how Nike was forced to change its business practices following the backlash against its sweatshops, it is possible to create a very effective change by choosing who you buy and sell from.

It is tempting to buy where it is least expensive. But the money you save may be that which slowly eats your freedom, your ideals and values. Choose carefully the products you buy and the places you buy them at.

Remember what we did as a culture during the Swadeshi movement? Our freedom fighting generation gathered all British goods, particularly cloth, and threw them in publicly organized bon fires. In modern terms that is called refusing business; and it is now time to do some of it.

Isolation should not be just for Pakistan, but extended to all anti-national individuals and forces that use citizens’ money to betray them. Do what you can to isolate them economically.

Take this opportunity to stop your subscriptions to media outlets you find to be most anti-national. This is a way to contribute to the security of the country. Several have done so already.

Do not watch the shows of TV personalities known for their vitriol toward the country. They are using your time, i.e., taking up your life to rob your culture and values. Do not fill your head with their garbage.

It takes an act of true strength to stop watching movies of your favorite actors after you discover their political leanings. But if you find them destroying this country see to it that you don’t support their movies. They get their monetary strength from YOU.

Your business and consumer decisions against anti-national forces is an effective way to show civilian support and respect for our jawans.

Safeguarding our hard-won freedom is not a pipe dream.

We live at a time when we, thankfully, don’t have to give up our jobs to join a social movement to do it. But do it, we must. For every generation MUST fight for its own freedom.

Jai Hind!