Not many know Khaled Saeed. Even fewer will know Mohammed Bouazizi.
For those who don't know-these two men are the reason why the middle eastern dictatorships and kingdoms are falling like nine pins. The revolution in Tunisia began when Bouazizi immolated himself due to institutional atrocities. The fire that claimed his life went on to consume the dictator Ben Ali too. Similarly, Khaled Saeed's death(murder by the Egyptian Police actually) instigated the downfall of Housni Mubarak.
These two lives contributed to the beginning of the "Jasmine revolution". The deaths united the millions who were tormented by the state machinery in the countries where monarchy and dictatorship have always been the flavour of the season. All of a sudden, every kingdom or quasi-kingdom faced protests on an unprecedented scale. The shouts for freedon grew louder and louder. The message was clear-"We have had enough". The tyrants went running for shelter.
The power of the people went back into the hands of the people. A dawn of democracy is being seen at the horizon. The middle eastern kingdoms still under the tight leash of autocrats may not remained untouched by the cries for independence for long. Those who have always used power to crush the aspirations of the burgeosie have had fear struck into their hearts. We will continue to see charge and resistance for assuming and maintaining control for some time.
But what was critical to the initiation of the revolution, particularly in Egypt, was a facebook page--"We all are Khaled Saeed". The war against tyranny actually began from the virtual world and ended in the real one. People joined forces online. SMS and internet were used as channels of propogation by the revolutionaries. If the STATE had bullets, the people had BYTES. And their 'byte' really was fatal for the uncrowned king.
The success of the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and Egypt has triggered hope amongst the people of all countries that it is possible to overthrow regimes without bloodshed, without killing, without bombs and guns. The whole revolution was free of massacres or deaths except when the state machinery tried to push the peaceful people on the back foot. But unlike the past, this time, there was no going back. The resolve was palapable with more hands joining the chain everyday.
But the success also suggests the power that can be wielded by a common man through cyberworld. Information, communication and other jargons are now out of boardroom discussions and can be seen in action, where they are actually transforming the world. For long we had been told that the internet and the information deluge that it will bring will empower people to do wonders. And finally, it has happened.
The name of a mild flower perfectly suits the spirit of the revolution. It was a peaceful revolution fuelled by the spirit of the common man to gain his freedom, to get his life back, to create a new future. And the surprise was the swiftness with which all this happened.
30 years of tyranny could not stand 30 days of revolution!
The implication of this mass uprising will have an impact on the future of the world. Democracy will be strengthened world wide. We already have seen Chinese government's promptness in blocking SMS and any information related to Egypt and Tunisia(and Jasmine too). Other countries with unelected governments are facing severe agitations. Mass media is the leveller now.
The Jasmine Revolution has reinstated faith amongst those who had become despondent seeing force overpowering freedom all around them. Kudos to the people who did it. Salute to their srength,courage and determination. Those who have lived this phase will be remembered for they contributed to not just a nation but to humanity.
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