The Maratha community pulled off yet another peaceful protest on Wednesday, bathing south Mumbai in a sea of saffron. While the debate will continue over their demands, particularly over the burning issue of reservation, the Marathas are touting it as a victory, and rightly so. Not only did they get their demands met, but they did it without resorting to violence.

How many times have we seen Mumbai brought to its knees by other protests, as the city is gripped by uncertainty and raw fear. To win justice for one section of society, other sections should not be terrorised as buses are burnt, cabs are stoned, and local trains are brought to a standstill with mobs running amok on the tracks. Social media and WhatsApp groups contribute to the frenzy as mischief-mongers spread rumours and fan the flames.