Vandalism

In 5th century CE, Vandals - an East Germanic tribe conquered Rome. In an orgy of plunder, they ransacked the great city and carried away untold wealth. Their barbarity is acknowledged by English language and vandalism is the term used for senseless violence and plunder.

I read about the Lahore violence in today’s TOI. So, the protesters burnt their own buildings and damaged their own vehicles to vent their ire at some cartoons printed in Denmark! To an outsider, this would appear craziness. However a closer look at all these so-called spontaneous demonstrations, which slip into chaos and violence, tells a different story.

In India, most of the troops for such rallies are bought by 50 Rs currency notes and a bottle of tharra. Since the objective is violence and making it to newspapers, the lumpens don’t bother much about what is being destroyed. Symbols of government are favourite targets. This invariably results in burning of buses and shattering of window panes, making the condition of the tottering public transport system even more tenuous. It is no co-incidence that most of the foot-soliders have never paid a single paisa of tax.