Patna

The national character of the local protest: The Anti-CAA Movement in Patna

While anti-CAA protests are studied as an urban phenomenon, many anti-CAA protests were also organised in Patna, the capital of the state of Bihar.  An important nodal point of the protests in Patna was a minority-dominated area known as Subzibaagh. This minority-dominated area is close to universities, markets and libraries of the city. This location made it possible for people to join the movement from all walks of life. Some organizers mentioned that the movement was made possible by human and food resources provided not only by the locals of the site but also by other people who willingly contributed to the protest. Various known faces of civil society also paid a visit to Subzibaagh to express their support for the movement. Thus, the local element of the protest was only strengthened by the national character of the movement. The cosmopolitan character of the protest site also made it difficult to tie the issue and site to a specific community. This is one of the main reasons why even years after the protest, some voices are trying hard to label some minority-dominated protest sites as ‘dangerous’ areas by playing on the prejudice against religious enclaves. However, the protests in these sites end by defying such ideas by showing how inclusive and lively these places are, especially during the anti-CAA movement.

– Ufaque Paikar