Civil Disobedience in Indian Tradition, with Some Early Nineteenth Century Documents c5.s3.32

c5.s3.32

This principle of infallibility of state structure (and consequently of other units of power and authority) established by the British continues to survive in India even after the elimination of British power. It is true that finding itself very vulnerable, the state structure occasionally condescends to consider the complaints of the protesting after they agree to suspend or abandon their protests. Thus, while the reality of the principle of infallibility has been more or less abandoned, the rules, the codes and the laws which enshrine it, stay. And it is these latter that appear to provide the state system its real legitimacy and sanctity. Such a state of affairs has led to a most dangerous situation. It not only keeps intact the distrustful, hostile and alien stances of the state system *vis-a-vis* the people, but also makes the latter feel that it is violence alone which enables them to be heard. The happenings of the past several years—crammed with riots, protests, assassinations, police firings—in no way belie such a feeling.