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In the dark days of the Emergency, someone slipped a small notice into the classified columns of the Times of India. It read like any other death announcement. “D’Ocracy — D.E.M., beloved husband of T. Ruth, loving father of L.I. Bertie, brother of Faith, Hope and Justice, expired on 26th June.” The censor missed it. The reader did not. Democracy had died, mourned by Truth, Liberty, Faith, Hope and Justice.

The date of death was the date of the proclamation. It remains the most eloquent piece of protest journalism this country has produced. It said everything, while saying nothing the censor could strike out.

‘Democracy is Dead’ advertised during Emergency was understood by readers although censors missed the point.

Fifty years on, another image travels from phone to phone. It is drawn as a Delhi Metro map by Rohit Kumar for this web site. The line is marked “Janta Metro.” A notice announces that the following stations will remain shut till further notice: Democracy, Decency, Free Speech, Free Media, Right to Protest, Secularism, Equality, Fraternity. The legend at the bottom supplies the authority. “By order of Tanashah.”

A cartoon depicting the shut down of democratic ideals along with metro stations in wake of government’s crackdown on the student movement. Cartoon by Rohit........

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