Click to play videoIn CNN-IBN's special series Ideas 2006 we bring you the big ideas of 2006. On Monday, the focus was on civic activism.
New Delhi: When Edison invented the electric bulb he wished away the candle, but in the age of perennial powercuts, the urban Indian middle class rediscovered the power of the burning wax.
When Justice for Jessica campaign was launched many believed that it would last as long as it takes for the candle to burn out. Perhaps because the high and mighty in India are more or less above the law.
But they ignored the fact that once lit, one candle can lights ten more, and then hundreds and perhaps thousands. And that's exactly what happened.
The Jessica Lall case was a Pandora's box, once it was opened or rather "re-opened", several other cases tumbled out waiting to see the light of justice.
In Lucknow, the state police remained in the dark about the broad-daylight murder of Meher Bhargava and candles burnt bright to try and showed them the way.
The Priyadarshini Mattoo case saw many faces from public spheres lending their voices to the cause.
Be it the case of the IIM graduate, Majunath or that of the brutally murdered IIT hero Satyandra Dubey, it's the candle that kept the hopes of getting justice alive.
Five IITians, all in their 20s decided that it was time for action. They floated their own political party, Paritrana. Their final tally stood at zero but the political fervour of the techies signalled the winds of change.
Also this year, the Mahatma returned to remind Indians of Gandhigiri from Lucknow to Bhopal, a rose tried to do what a thousand slogans couldn't.
In the Capital, students at AIIMS decided to say it with roses. To protest against Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss's late arrival at AIIMS after the dengue outbreak, doctors and the youth for equality brigade took Munnabhai's Gandhigiri a step forward placing roses and placards to wish the Health Minister a speedy recovery.
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