Jan 28: Day 1 of my fast, day 704 of our chain.

As I embark on my 19th fast since the start of our chain on Feb 25, 2020, I’ll take a moment to take a brief stock of what we have collectively achieved:

1. We have formed a community of 58 individual fasters.
2. We have kept our fasting protest going for over 700 days now, even though this is no easy or comfortable experience.
3. We have covered a number of issues – starting with the NE Delhi pogrom, and then extending to the migrant crisis, and the farmers’ protest, amid a daily commentary on issues that truly affect us which are being whitewashed by the Modi government.
4. We withstood personal tragedies and demoralization through the ups and downs of the Covid pandemic, but our chain continued to keep the voice of sanity and humanity alive against the constant bombardment of lies and propaganda that we were subjected to.
5. Most importantly, in an atmospheric of toxic hate, division, and violence, we are today a diverse family of different religious, caste, national, gender, occupational, and age backgrounds. Together, we create an equitable space of love, empathy and inclusion – the single best antidote to their attempts to divide us.

If you would like to join us in this effort to keep love, sanity and togetherness alive as we battle the destructive forces of hate, fanaticism and division, please do get in touch ❤️

ChainFastingForPeace

FastingAgainstFascism

FreeSanjivBhatt

ResignAmitShah

ResignModi

Jan 29: Day 2 of my fast, day 705 of our chain.

Fasting is a deeply personal experience. The way my day goes while fasting is so often a reflection of my state of mind. Today was a day that could have gone badly (dealing with people in difficult situations), but it went much better than I expected. I am so thankful that I’m not the nervous mess I feared I could be.

Sometimes it is so important NOT to want to win against another person, even when you have a full arsenal of perfect arguments. So often, our biggest barriers are not those caused by our apparent weaknesses, but by others’ fear of us using our perceived strengths to render them voiceless. That was my biggest lesson today, and I’m so thankful for it.

ChainFastingForPeace

FastingAgainstFascism

FreeSanjivBhatt

ResignAmitShah

ResignModi

Jan 30:

Day 3 of my fast, day 706 of our chain.

Today, I read a story about a boy in India who won an art competition. When his mother shared the news with a friend, the response was dry, reducing the recognition to its modest monetary value. The story highlighted the cult of “becoming a doctor or engineer” in India to have a even a modicum of respectability in Indian society, while devaluing everything else an individual may have to offer.

From what I see around me, this leads to parents in India measuring their children by their school grades at first, and then sickeningly, by their paychecks.

People measuring their own self-worth by the size of their home, their car, their bank balance.

And while they’re busy with that, they forget to answer their own children’s questions, take pleasure in their discoveries on the way to adulthood, see them blossom into the unique individuals they were always meant to be.

Heck, let alone others, no one appreciates themselves for their own unique interests, abilities and goals. Everyone just goes through life jostling for acceptance from others as if struggling for space on a jam-packed Mumbai local train.

Here’s hoping we can slow down, breathe deeply, and give ourselves a pat on the back for simply being our own unique self.

ChainFastingForPeace

FastingAgainstFascism

FreeSanjivBhatt

ResignAmitShah

ResignModi

Jan 26: Day 1 of my fast, day 702 of our chain.

Fire is such an integral part of who we are as human beings, and those who doused the flame at India Gate lost the plot somewhere.
However, the flame of hope still Abides With Me and us, even if that wonderful uplifting hymn, that we all loved, has also been eliminated.

ChainFastingForPeace

FastingAgainstFascism

FreeSanjivBhatt

ResignAmitShah

ResignModi

Jan 24: Day 1 of my fast, day 700 of our chain.

I’m fasting today for the well-being of journalism which is practically full time on ventilator which is very dangerous for our democracy and thus for our national well being 😥

ChainFastingForPeace

FastingAgainstFascism

FreeSanjivBhatt

ResignAmitShah

ResignModi

Jan 23: Day 1 of my fast, day 699 of our chain.

War is Peace
Slavery is Freedom
Ignorance is Strength
–G. Orwell 1984

What was it Orwell was warning us about with his words? All I know is we are watching it happen on Earth. Now.

Everywhere I look lately I see people saying “Journalism is dead.”

I live in the US so this “problem” is not India’s alone. It seems a world wide issue and India is being ignored in the major world news because of it. Reality is being ignored and a particular group of people benefit.

Modi’s recent blunder in speaking to the World Economic Forum and the way it was covered up just another example of the blind eye being given to Truth. Why not just be honest about it? I laugh at my mistakes.

There are some people who haven’t given up though. And the article Suniti posted shows this. It IS newsworthy that people are learning that “nothing matters.” For critical thinking and sharing our knowledge the only way Up and Out.

https://m.thewire.in/article/politics/the-hidden-curriculum-of-new-india

The Oppressors will not give up their position voluntarily. The only way I know is from under. Praxis. Grassroots sharing of knowledge. Getting to know our neighbors and organizing locally. Not violently.

I don’t have all the answers. None of us do. However not giving up more important than ever.

My questions today as I fast are:
How do I keep hope alive?
How do I encourage others to critically think without them immediately getting upset because my position seems so different than theirs?
What to say people who harbor hatred because of their fear and blame of a class, or race or Religion which is misguided scapegoating and the actual problem. In and of itself?
How to encourage real Love between humans on Earth?

Surely this chain fast, almost 2 years now, and what it has brought is a prime example….

❤

ChainFastingForPeace

FastingAgainstFascism

FreeSanjivBhatt

ResignAmitShah

ResignModi

Jan 22: TBA