I just watched a social media clipping which shows this appalling scene: A hungry young man sitting in the middle of Jaipur-New Delhi highway eating a dead dog. Someone who was driving by stopped and gave him food and water.
Now there are two opinions on this –
One, the mainstream ruling dispensation, says he must be a mad man, the type of which we find across the country. ‘Anti-nationals’ are spreading such canards to discredit an otherwise proactive and efficient government.
Two, the dissidents who say it is a clear manifestation of the grave callousness of the ruling dispensation who only claim to serve the poor, but are in fact totally anti-poor and selling the nation to the corporates and the rich.
One of the tragedies of Indian politics is this: Forget the tragedies and the human beings involved, and just play politics. We are so sadly divided into two clear cut groups: Pro- government and Anti-government.
Nevertheless, I truly think that there is a third option: Bring our attention to the poor and needy ones around us.
For instance, in the Covid-19 corona virus pandemic attack on India, the worst-affected are the migrant labor running up to 100 million or more (Government acknowledged only 80 million). 153 of them have already died, some under tragic conditions like being run over by trains and trucks, as they were trudging back home, walking or cycling thousands of kilometres because no one provided them a transport. And let us not forget, they are the ones who are building our homes, driving us around, catering us, cleaning up our roads, helping us in housekeeping and what not.
The only way to be human in this situation is to rekindle the humanity in us. Like the man who cared to stop by on the highway, feed the man and offer him some money. It is so consoling to hear of stories of unbelievable acts of charity, feeding the poor, helping them reach home and serving them wherever they are.
Here is the challenge: Can I look around and find one poor woman, man or child and help him or her to live a dignified life? That is the kind of moral revolution we need.
“They alone live who live for others”, said Vivekananda.
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Varsha Paralikar
Good article. I completely agree to the article and above comment of taking responsibility of one person
Sachin Harsh
This is the need of the hour and the days to come to define India as a Nation. Rather than continue to share WhatsApp forwards of Political Memes we have to request people to join hands to help those in need. There could be just someone next to your house who would be in need and you do not even know.
Leena Jacob
True if each person start helping one person I don’t think there will be any person hungry I feel at this time of Covid-19 many people have come forward to help the hungry in different ways they have contributed. We still have humanity not influenced by any one. Just people came out to help.