India, June 21 -- Mass movements remain indispensable to democratic life. They awaken societies, challenge complacency, and push governments toward reform.

But history shows that mobilising people is often easier than transforming institutions. Lasting change requires not only protest but also patient policymaking, consensus-building, and effective governance. The street may ignite change, but only institutions can sustain it.

Movements create their legacies. They produce leaders, conscientious citizens, organisations, and even political parties. The bigger the movement, the bigger the impact and longevity of the legacy. This is true for the pre-Independence national movement, which gave us leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Bose, and B...