Is fasting a must to change the system?

Research Foundation for Governance in India (RFGI) organised a public debate on Is fasting necessary to change the system in India? on Friday at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA). Founder of RFGI, Kanan Dhru said, "In recent times, fasting is becoming a popular way to get government attention. Some people think it's extortion. Some think it's the only way left that can change the system. First, Anna Hazare and now Baba Ramdev have garnered a lot of media and public attention through these means.

Some people argue that choosing to fast even when there are democratic ways to do the same thing is unethical. The debate arises when a certain section of the society thinks that all is lost and that only a fast will get their voice to the government.”

Individuals from different walks of life including industry, politics, social service, law, housewives, teachers as well as students debated these questions.

Dhru continued, “Fasting has paralysed the government and democracy. It is not the intellectual way to do things. It is another form of blackmailing. The people who are involved do not understand the technicalities. Although the majority is in support of those who fast, does not always imply that they are right.”Law student, Apoorv Shah, opined, “There was a proposal that Ramdev Baba should contest for elections as a non-corrupt part of the system,”; while activist, Rahul Mehta who also doubted the issues raised by Ramdev Baba, said, “Fasting is not a magic key to change any thing. There has to be a practical solution to the problems raised.”

Other proposals mentioned during the debate were that of Right to Recall- cancelling the legality of fasting and the need for maintaining a high moral and ethically strong socio-economic society class.