Popular Struggles and Movements: Class 10 Civics NCERT Chapter 5

Two Tales of Democratic Struggles: Nepal and Bolivia

To understand popular struggles, we look at two key case studies.

1. Nepal's Movement for Democracy (2006): Nepal became a constitutional monarchy in 1990, but the king retained significant powers. In 2005, King Gyanendra dismissed the elected government and took absolute control. This led to a massive movement in April 2006. All major political parties formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and called for a 'loktantra' (democracy) movement. They were joined by the Maoist insurgents and other organisations. They demanded the restoration of parliament, power to an all-party government, and a new constituent assembly. Millions of ordinary citizens defied the curfew and took to the streets. On 24th April 2006, the last day of their ultimatum, the king was forced to concede all three demands. This struggle shows how organised political parties can channel popular discontent into a successful movement to reclaim democracy.

2. Bolivia's Water War (2000): In Bolivia, the government, under pressure from the World Bank, sold the municipal water supply rights in the city of Cochabamba to a multinational corporation (MNC). The MNC immediately increased water prices by four times. This sparked spontaneous protests. An alliance of labour, human rights, and community leaders formed an organisation called FEDECOR. They organised a successful four-day general strike that shut down the city. The government agreed to negotiate but arrested the leaders. This led to more intense protests. Finally, the government yielded, cancelled the MNC's contract, and restored the water supply to the municipality at the old rates. This is an example of a specific, issue-based struggle led by non-political organisations.

How a Popular Struggle Becomes a Movement

1. Step 1: The Spark - A Spontaneous Protest — Most struggles begin with a specific event or decision that angers a large number of people. In Bolivia, it was the massive hike in water bills. This leads to spontaneous, often unorganised, protests and demonstrations.
2. Step 2: Organisation and Channelling — For a protest to become a sustained movement, it needs organisation. This is where political parties (like the SPA in Nepal), pressure groups (like FEDECOR in Bolivia), or movement groups step in. They provide leadership, a clear set of demands, and a strategy.
3. Step 3: Mass Mobilisation — The organisations then mobilise public support through various methods. This can include calling for strikes (hartals), organising rallies and marches, running publicity campaigns, and using media to spread their message. The goal is to show the government the scale of popular discontent.
4. Step 4: Achieving the Objective — If the mobilisation is successful, the pressure becomes too much for the authorities to ignore. This forces them to negotiate, concede to the demands, or reverse their decisions. In Nepal, the king had to restore parliament. In Bolivia, the water contract was cancelled.

Key Players: Pressure Groups and Movements

Pressure Group

An organisation that tries to influence government policies. Unlike political parties, they do not aim to directly control or share political power. They are formed when people with common occupations, interests, or opinions come together to achieve a common objective.

Sectional Interest Group

A type of pressure group that seeks to promote the interests of a particular section of society. Examples include trade unions, business associations, and professional bodies (like lawyers, doctors). Their main concern is the betterment of their own members, not society in general.

Public Interest Group (Promotional Group)

A group that aims to help groups other than their own members. They promote a collective good rather than a selective one. For example, a group fighting against bonded labour or an environmental protection group (like Narmada Bachao Andolan) works for the benefit of all.

Movement Group

A group that relies on mass mobilisation to pursue a broad goal in the very long term (e.g., the women's movement) or a single objective in a limited time frame (e.g., Nepal's movement for democracy). They usually have a loose, flexible, and informal structure.

Exam Tip: Sectional vs. Public Interest Groups

A common question asks you to differentiate between sectional and public interest groups. Remember this simple trick:

• Ask: Who benefits?
• If the primary benefit goes to the members of the group itself (e.g., higher wages for factory workers sought by a trade union), it's a Sectional Interest Group.
• If the benefit is for the general public or a disadvantaged section of society that isn't necessarily part of the group (e.g., clean air for a city, rights for prisoners), it's a Public Interest Group.

For example, the Bar Council of India is a sectional group for lawyers. BAMCEF (Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation) is also a sectional group. In contrast, Narmada Bachao Andolan is a public interest group.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Describe the main demands of the popular struggle in Nepal in 2006. A: Step 1: Identify the context. The movement was against King Gyanendra's seizure of absolute power in 2005. Step 2: List the three core demands made by the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and other protesting groups. - First, restoration of the Parliament that had been dissolved. - Second, transfer of power to an all-party government. - Third, the formation of a new Constituent Assembly to write a new constitution for Nepal. Final answer: The main demands of Nepal's popular struggle in 2006 were the restoration of parliament, handing power to an all-party government, and the formation of a new Constituent Assembly.
• Q: What is the key difference between a political party and a pressure group? Explain with an example. A: Step 1: Define the primary goal of each entity. Political parties aim to win elections and form a government to exercise political power. Pressure groups aim to influence government policy from the outside without seeking power themselves. Step 2: Explain the scope. Political parties have a broad ideology and take a position on almost all issues. Pressure groups usually have a narrow focus on a single issue or a set of related issues. Step 3: Provide examples. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Indian National Congress (INC) are political parties that contest elections. A trade union like the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) is a pressure group that works for workers' rights but does not contest elections. Final answer: The key difference is that political parties seek to directly control political power by contesting elections, while pressure groups only seek to influence policy from the outside. For example, the Congress party contests elections, whereas a farmers' union protests to influence agricultural policy.
• Q: How did the struggle in Bolivia differ from the one in Nepal? A: Step 1: Identify the core issue of each struggle. The struggle in Nepal was about the foundation of the country's politics: democracy itself. Step 2: Identify the core issue for Bolivia. The struggle in Bolivia was a specific policy issue: control over a natural resource (water). Step 3: Identify the leadership. Nepal's movement was led by political parties (the SPA). Bolivia's movement was led by non-political organisations (FEDECOR). Final answer: The struggle in Nepal was a fight for democracy and was led by political parties, aiming to change the political foundation of the country. In contrast, Bolivia's struggle was a specific, issue-based movement against a government policy, led by non-political organisations.
• Q: What are public interest groups? Give an example and explain their role. A: Step 1: Define a public interest group. It is an organisation that works to promote collective good rather than the interests of its own members. They are also known as promotional groups. Step 2: Provide a clear example. The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is a public interest group. It started as a movement to protect the rights of people displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Dam project but broadened to include environmental concerns. Step 3: Explain their role. Their role is to raise issues that might be ignored by the government, represent the interests of disadvantaged or voiceless sections of society, and put pressure on the government to create policies that benefit society as a whole. Final answer: Public interest groups are organisations that promote a collective good. An example is the Narmada Bachao Andolan, which fought for the rights of displaced people and environmental protection. Their role is to advocate for the common good and influence government policy for the benefit of all society.

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