Who are we trying to hide from?

India is a “great” nation. What Indian will not accept this? I certainly do. I accept that our greatness lies in our people, our visionary political leaders, our dynamic youth, our vibrant media, and our strengthened civil society. But, with a heavy heart I have to accept that the greatness also lies in their hypocrisy. We, today, are concerned about everything, ranging from the marriage of a superstar couple, century of a cricketer, illegitimate son scandal of a politician, elections in US. We would know, what happened in the popular TV soap operas, or who abused whom in Bigg Boss, or why did the fight start between a husband and his wife next door, we would know everything. But we either fail to observe, either intentionally, or due to extremely underdeveloped or degraded mental faculties, what happens in our own house, to our friends, brethren and people who really matter.

The recent tragedy of a Punjab Police ASI, trying to protect his daughter from being harassed by goons, being shot dead cold-bloodedly in wide day-light, with people looking at the heroic feat of the murderer, a general secretary of the ruling party is a blatant example of the anarchy that exists in our country, and our souls. If that was not enough, I feel deeply pained to see the lack of customary ‘hullabaloo’ created, amongst public, as is witnessed on other rather unworthy instances. Neither has any senior politician, taken a trouble in trying to issue a trustworthy, or even consolatory statement to look into the matter expeditiously, since it hardly affects any locker of their vote bank, nor has any of our otherwise intellectual columnists, taken effort to pen down their comments on this utter disregard for law and order. Perhaps they are justified, because there is nothing special about what has happened. People always die, due to all reasons in a billion plus country, because ‘that’s what people do’.

On the contrary, the smart and proactive journalists of one of the national dailies hardly wasted time to come back with a biographical note on the ‘disturbed’ background of the accused, detailing about his short and easy path to riches and success in politics, his parentless childhood, and his drinking habits, in an attempt to decode his ‘sickness’ that led to the murder. Of course a dash of spicy bites from his acquaintances, to shed further light on his character – “Did you ever think that he would one day kill someone?” to sensationalize the incident was not missed. Finally a picture of dejected 'murderer' lying in a hospital bed (I don't know why), admitting his folly by saying, "I regret what I did", does nothing but downplays the murder. The story would sell won’t it? Certainly it would, as it is backed by the studies on the psychology of people- They always love to know what is happening the next door. That is why Facebook earns, which has become a multibillion dollar company, and also an easy forum for people to share the photo of the slain ASI’s wailing daughter and to vent out the ‘fury’ that people are ‘feeling’ over the incident.

This is certainly not a unique incident, at least not in India. However it certainly does once again highlight some very basic facts about us.

• ·         It reminds us of the very reasons, why we are so easy to be dominated by others. Just like a few thousand British were able to slowly, but slyly, able to dominate and then rule over 300 million of us; I am sure it won’t be harder for the history to repeat itself. This is because we still lack the ‘unity in diversity’ that we are so proud of. I will not bother myself if someone’s daughter is being raped, or someone’s father is being murdered, in front of my eyes, if that ‘someone’ is not ‘me’ , which can always be. I believe that this is hardly because I am weak, but because I am indifferent and I don’t care. I will remain a part of the hugely ‘populous’ mob, a silent spectator of the cruelties of ‘few’, watch the street show, and leave after it ends with perhaps a teary eye, to tell others an eye-witness account of what happened, debate on why it happened, curse the administration, feel bad, and then forget it. I shall be more than happy, however, to become a part of any ‘peaceful’ procession to protest against what happened, to demand for better Police administration, to protest against the political parties, or for that matter to protest against anything or anyone.
• ·         We are an emerging superpower in the world order. We are ready to become the new leader of the nations. Are we? This incident also shows the underdevelopment of our political landscape. It is strange and worrying to see the level of responsibility shown by the veterans to choose the younger generation of leaders. The fact that the accused is a district Gen. Sec. of the ruling party shows what type of leaders lead us. Or perhaps it is just a glimpse of the internal dynamics of our political parties, which raise such goons to perpetuate their ‘goondaraj’.
• ·         The incident also shows that we have not yet learnt to handle power, be it money power or fire power. This is a very serious social problem that needs to be acknowledged by the policy makers and think tanks of the country. We are taking big strides towards our spectacular economic growth, riding on a huge wave of new economic environment of capitalism. People are getting empowered-politically and economically. But they are not learning how to handle the power. They take pride in showing their strength riding on a broad-tyred roofless jeep, with a rifle on the backseat, zooming around in the cities, and harassing and eve-teasing any weakling- be it a man or a woman- who was not as lucky. I empathize with Gandhi ji who said – “it has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honored by the humiliation of their fellow beings”. It’s time for us to realize the utter degradation of values and morals in our society.
• ·         A worldwide discourse has started on the irresponsible role of media and its impact on our society due to some eye-opening cases that have demonstrated falling standards of journalism, corruption of media, and its capture by power structures and vested interests. I am unable to decide whether to cry or to laugh when I see a news reporter on TV with a long mike asking a person who has recently been traumatized by an accident or a tragedy and lost his/her kin –“So how are you feeling right now?” TRPs and viewer ratings are the only things that now concern our media. They have forgotten that they are not another source of entertainment, but an instrument of informing and empowering people, by making, staging and channeling public opinion against such incidents.
• ·         I want to put the onus of what happened on our Police too, for not being able to stop what happened. But then I realize that one who was slain in the incident was a cop himself. But surely the responsibility falls on our legislators, and our bureaucrats, and ministers and judges, to selflessly achieve that which they are supposed to, and they can. To withhold the ideals of constitution, by working in harmony and synchrony, to strengthen our public agencies, our police and our courts, to ensure that justice is given to people who need it.