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As citizens of a democracy, it is is also on us to demand consistent response and effective action from our governments, rather than knee-jerk reaction.
Most of us live in our respective cocoons, trying to create our own idyllic world, devoid of conflicts or turmoil. Toiling towards this endeavor, often, we become isolated, cut off from the problems of the rest of the world or the way it lives. However, once in a while comes a tragedy so gut churning that, we end up questioning the very social or moral fabric that we choose to live by; like the horrific stampede at Elphinstone Road railway station, a consequence of the prolonged neglect of urban public transport in India.
Does human life mean squat to us in India? Do we need a tragedy to shake us out of our stupor? Skewed policies or knee-jerk reactions towards overhauling the archaic transport systems wouldn’t work. A course correction and restructuring of mass transport in all cities, plus augmenting the creaking and broken infrastructure should be a high priority,
Experts say that the way a society reacts to tragedy, shows how mature we are, how our moral fulcrum is tilted. According to a report, in this stampede, a female victim was allegedly molested seconds before breathing her last, as she lay on a heap of bodies. Many people stole purses and gold ornaments from women. How could any human molest a girl who was fighting for her life and asking for help? Can we sink any lower? I presume that even the animal world is far gentler to their suffering folk. Yet life will go on, Mumbai will go on!
A National Highway and a Metro line separates two Gurgaons. Just across a famous station, inside those byzantine lines, exists another Gurgaon, untouched by growth, with its open naalis, crumbling houses and worse. We close our eyes to the same and just coexist! Period!
Where am I leading with all this? Apart from fool proofing our lives, if we can, in any way, put even a tiny stop to the spiraling chaos all around, we would have lived!
Here, I have to mention the recent movie, Newton.
The movie features some seemingly small cogs in this gigantic wheel, who somehow, try to do their duty, in spite of overwhelming odds. Hopefully, that is what most of us are trying to do!
As the heroine tells the hero, ‘No big work is done in a day. Just keep at it. Live your life as righteously as possible and hopefully things will fall in place.’
But this premise is extremely difficult to believe, leave alone adhere to, especially in these utterly cynical times. Thankfully, we do have many positives to cheer for ourselves. Our great electoral process is one for sure.
Newton is a good movie filled with terrific lines. Here are two examples.
“Tumhe Imaandari ki Ghamand hai’. (You have the arrogance of integrity) – If only everyone were afflicted with this or accused of this particular trait!
(I would love to change this to ‘Mahaanta Ki Ghamand’ or the pride of greatness, because this is also a serious all-round affliction. Because, “Aaj kal Sab Apne Aap, Mahaanta ki chaadar odhke, chal rahe” – Today, each of us cloaks ourselves in greatness and strut around.)
If you change nothing, nothing will change.
We need to constantly question, and demand solutions!
Agreed there are enough ennui inducing circumstances…But, if we all give up? Then?
Image credits Rajarshi Mitra, used via Flickr under Creative Commons license 2.0
Anupama Jain is the author of: * ’Kings Saviours & Scoundrels -Timeless Tales from Katha Sarita Sagara’, listed as one of the best books of 2022 by @Wordsopedia. Rooted in the traditional storytelling of Indian legends, warriors, read more...
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Rajshri Deshpande, who played the fiery protagonist in Trial by Fire along with Abhay Deol speaks of her journey and her social work.
Rajshri Deshpande as the protagonist in ‘Trial by Fire’, the recent Netflix show has received raving reviews along with the show itself for its sensitive portrayal of the Uphaar Cinema Hall fire tragedy, 1997 and its aftermath.
The limited series is based on the book by the same name written by Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, who lost both their children in the tragedy. We got an opportunity to interview Rajshri Deshpande who played Neelam Krishnamoorthy, the woman who has been relentlessly crusading in the court for holding the owners responsible for the sheer negligence.
Rajshri Deshpande is more than an actor. She is also a social warrior, the rare celebrity from the film industry who has also gone back to her roots to give to poverty struck farming villages in her native Marathwada, with her NGO Nabhangan Foundation. Of course a chance to speak with her one on one was a must!
“What is a woman’s job, Ramesh? Taking care of parents-in-law, husband, children, home and things at work—all at the same time? She isn’t God or a superhuman."
The arrays of workstations were occupied by people peering into their computer screens. The clicks of keyboard keys were punctuated by the occasional footsteps moving around to brainstorm or collaborate with colleagues in their cubicles. Most employees went about their tasks without looking at the person seated on either side of their workstation. Meenakshi was one of them.
The thirty-one-year-old marketing manager in a leading eCommerce company in India sat straight in her seat, her eyes on the screen, her fingers punching furiously into the keys. She was in a flow and wanted to finish the report while the thoughts and words were coming effortlessly into her mind.
Natu-Natu. The mellifluous ringtone interrupted her thoughts. She frowned at her mobile phone with half a mind to keep it ringing until she noticed the caller’s name on the screen, making her pick up the phone immediately.
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