Gherao, meaning 'encirclement', is a word originally from Hindi, and is a typically South Asian way of protest. Usually, a group of people would surround a politician or a government building until their demands are met, or answers given. The term became popular in the 1960s when political activists in West Bengal started the practice of surrounding a politician or a government building in large groups, for hours on stretch. The term has been adapted in this form by all Indian English newspapers. In such usage, the past tense of the verb, gheraoed, is more common.