Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism' > > By Yoginder Sikand > > 19 April, 2012 > > Countercurrents.org > > http://www.countercurrents.org/sikand190412.htm > > > > I read the article as a self-cleansing public rite. I appreciate that the author tries to highlight prevailing unfortunate trends in his profession as he sees them. But I think his thoughts are flawed. One, I honestly do not know why social activists are faulted for making a living from their work. They are people like everyone else and they have to spend money to live. One doesn't have to be an austere monk to be a sincere worker for a cause.
Second, I don't see introspection and social activism as mutually exclusive options. Surely it is not true that one cannot grow and develop oneself as a person while also struggling on behalf of other people? If the author realized that the flood of negativity in activist circles is a problem, why not try to reduce it instead of turning away from the work completely and focusing solely on himself? In a sense the two issues are related- the assertion that one extreme is better than the other is often just plain wrong, and both problems above are instances of this. So I am annoyed at the author for trying to showcase personal tendencies to extreme (and narrow) points of view as a general malignancy. Perhaps it was the writing style or the choice of words and incessant repetition, but I came away thinking the author hasn't learned much from his life-changing insightful moment after all. I do not know any "real activist types", so it is quite possible I am missing something here? Deepa (A)
