Sunday, January 6, 2013

Remove your glasses first

As mentioned in my last blog, today I went to Jantar Mantar.I had been to Jantar Mantar numerous times before but this time it was different.For the first time in my life I was going to that place to register my presence in protest to a national cause.It was only after reaching there and standing for first 30 minutes that I felt that I went there for a personal cause rather than a national or international one. I found my self there standing and listening to the way every one around was expressing himself or herself. There were mainly two forums , one of which was totally political and the other one was totally emotional. Rationality was still missing. Everyone was whole heartedly blaming the police,the government, the system, the laws and even the public which did not extend support in time to the victims. I started to feel that everyone was looking at the case through their own perspective and through their own glasses of politics, emotionality, hatred, excitement, consciousness, insecurity but hardly anyone was rational. It was a big hue and cry over the spilt milk but no-one was having a clarity on vision on what is to be done next. There were suggestions about being pro active in such situations arising in future or creating a social police which may act at an interface of public versus the existing Police. A couple of rational thought also appeared when someone shared his inclusive view on everyone around in society in all possible roles and status. He said that police or a leader is no more different from us. If we are indifferent to such incidents then we can not expect them to behave differently. After spending around two hours I started my journey back to my home. While in the Metro a lot of things were coming to my mind. Suddenly I realized that almost every one I heard was speaking by looking at the incident through his own glasses. No one was finding himself actually responsible to what all has happened.Everyone was trying to prove in his own might that he is really making a great contribution by facing the police , water cannon or even spending their time in such a chilly weather at jantar mantar. Reality remains that we all are a part of the police, the public and the government. Till we start looking at this incident by removing our glasses then we may find that it is us only who is responsible for this all. The police is secondary , even the people who have ignored the victim on the road should be treated as a primary accuse. Even ourselves who have been so silently watching eve teasing or any indecency with the females around us for whole of our life are equally responsible. This incident is not the first of a kind.It is a bursting at the tipping point.We should be thankful to the youth of the country to have taken such an initiative without any face of leadership.I feel that today is not the time to change the world outside rather it is a moment to go inside and change the way we behave against all the atrocities happening against woman and even children. Let us open forums at all places and even within our houses. Let everyone talk about it and become responsible to react appropriately at all the places where such incidents are taking place. Let us all talk about it and look for all possible solutions which are far beyond all laws and policies. Even laws have also limitation to support those who are aware of their own rights. Let us make our country and the world a place where instead of preaching dos and don'ts to the females, we give them a free environment where they could feel safe and secure. Let us all remove our glasses of self praise and looking good and not looking bad image. Let us all feel and realize the contribution which we have offered in happening of this historic incident.

Friday, January 4, 2013

A movement without a leader

The end of 2012 has seen a dramatic shift in the paradigm of leadership. The whole nation with second largest population in the world and rest of the world with rest of the population just got united over an incident which brought shame to humanity. That was just not another rape or gang rape. That was not the first rape in which the victim was brutally murdered.It was not the first time that police was found very casually passing their time in the latest SUVs with latest weapons and communication instruments. It was also not the first time that the public transport has ditched us again. It was also not for the first time that the traffic regulations meant to be abided by everyone to be there on the roads were just not followed up completely( My earlier blog ( almost two years back mentioned the need for governance through traffic rules). India the country of billions has more than 60 % young heart and this time that heart got beaten somewhere deep down.The kind of movement which started just proved that we were at the verge of the tipping point as per Malcolm Gladwell best seller.The blast occurred and everyone in whatever roles of a brother, father, husband, friend,mother, aunt, sister, uncle and even grand parents unleashed their threshold of bearing and surfaced up on roads in the chilly winters of Delhi. No barricade, no water cannon, no tear gas could stop them. The girls once again became the flag bearer and showed that till now only the fairer sex has a first right of refusal to get rid of evil in this country. The western attire might not be mistaken with a weak or casual attitude towards atrocities taking place around.The Durga or Kali is in the the DNA of Indian girl, however this time it erupted out a bit late.It could have saved a large number of such incident, had this social enlightenment occurred a bit earlier. Delhi with a statistics of almost two rapes a day ( recorded) and uncountable when it comes to the molestations and exploitations occurring at all levels and all age groups required such movement much before. Better late than never, the society is waking up, defying all laws of leadership in which a movement is never complete without a leader. Our youth has proved that he is not going to succumb to any circumstances as well as does not require any purposeless, stupid leadership to come and use them for their political dreams. The youth of today has understood its power and is leading himself as well as developing synergies with everyone around. The concept of "I am Me" is emerging and that is where my "India merging with Bharat" is all about. The english speaking Durgas and kalis in western attire are today the frontline facing the water cannon in chilly winters. We are proud to have them as our sisters, mothers and daughters. Let us all join this movement and contribute in our own might to let the whole world come together with us to get these malicious intention of anyone around towards women get turned into respect and love which they deserve. Let us not support and accept any such actions from anyone including our own family members. I just could not go to India gate but now I wish to visit Jantar Mantar and light a candle and so I expect from you also to do it in wherever you are living and let this candle be incessantly fueled by your will to get the due respect and love being deserved by the women in our society back to them at all levels.