On Tuesday morning Sergeant of the Traffic Guard- Kolkata, Anirban Das, did not have an inkling of what was about to befall him when he fined an auto-rickshaw driver for flouting traffic rules. This forty one year old police officer lies in SSKM hospital at this very moment bearing a testimony to the condition of anarchy that pervades the state of West Bengal. Every lout, every hoodlum from all over the planet has found refuge in the dingy gullies of this God-awful town.
Crooks of every description have taken over the place. Procuring taxi drivers’ or auto rickshaw drivers’ licenses they go about the city causing nuisance, destruction and lawlessness. To add insult to injury they also have the full support of the political parties who need these villains to keep them afloat and stay in power. The saddest thing is that the influx of hordes of people from other parts of India has caused the psyche of this once alive and compassionate city to change beyond recognition. The city dwellers who once opened their arms to welcome all shades of people into their warm hearted midst today stand perplexed to see their beloved town going to the dogs.
When I was a young girl growing up in the southern, rather posh, part of the town, I remember witnessing many little nameless acts of kindness and generosity of spirit being displayed by the people of this now accursed town. It was not as if there were no mischief makers then but the daring and magnitude of rottenness was far less. There were perverts in buses and trams even then but you could count on the local “dada”s to protect you from eve teasers and leering jerks if you cried out for help. I have seen local youths give chase and return an old lady’s gold chain from the hands of a thief who had snatched the heavy gold ornament from her throat as she was taking her morning air near the Horticultural Gardens.
The fact that a bunch of auto drivers could actually get away by beating up an on-duty police officer in broad daylight with hundreds of passers-by being mute witness to this dastardly act, sends a chill down my spine. What ails this public? The ubiquitous presence of tacit law-breakers on every street, in every corner is a menace that the state government and administration is turning a blind eye on; because they fear that they will open the flood gates of protests from these hoodlums they have nurtured over the years for their selfish ends if they try to rein them in now. But what has become of the so called “public” consciousness? How can people stand mute and impotent when they see such brazen acts of violence right under their very noses?
The Mahatma’s axiom “turn the other cheek” does not work very well under such trying times. If today you wait and watch while a law enforcing officer gets beaten up by criminals in your presence you sound your own death knell because tomorrow it’ll be you who will be at the receiving end and the others will simply do what you are doing today- wait and watch, while you die a slow and agonizing death. The only way out of this hellish existence is to be aware of your responsibilities as a neighbour, as a city dweller and as a human. Don’t allow the “mob” to scare you. Each one in the mob is a coward- that is why they are in a bunch. Remember it just takes a pin’s prick to burst a gas balloon of immense proportions.
Having said all of that, I do not recommend that you take on the avatar of superman or super woman. It will be foolish to confront every miscreant and jeopardise your own safety. However, it is within your power to mobilize the sleeping authorities and make your protest when such mindless acts of violence happen in your presence. Have your wits about you. Get information about the law-breakers and report them to the police. If you get a few like minded people to do that in sufficient numbers even the somnolent OC of the nearest Police Station will sit up and listen. Protest is a peaceful way of showing you care. Use the media in a positive way, use technology to bring pressure upon the administration to act. Make a splash about Anirban Das and circulate opinion letters, post your protests in your blogs- do anything that will vindicate this man’s position and bring the criminal elements to face the consequences of their misdeeds.
No comments:
Post a Comment