Justice delayed is justice denied-William Gladstone
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. -Martin Luther King, Jr.
I remember once while editing a story about something unjust and immoral, I had told the writer how the world has become a bad place. He had said, "When was the world a great place anyway?"
What has this world come to? But a few conscious citizens can make it a bit better, can't they?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/26/11-heros-uncle-sets-self-on-fire-near-Parliament/articleshow/7421873.cms
http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/feb/040211-News-Delhi-Sandeep-Unnikrishnan-uncle-Rashtrapati-Bhavan.htm
This news kind of shocked many. But it isn't such a surprise. It's really sad.
The uncle of Mumbai martyr Major Unnkrishnan, a youth icon for many true citizens and compassionate people of the world set himself ablaze in front of the parliament of India. He wanted to convey his message strongly to the authorities that he's upset about delayed justice, about their apathy, about them not doing much for the 26/11 victims and their families.
There's not much to say or do(anyway the common man can't do much) as the news is widely reported.
Yes, it will be reported widely till the media and the authorities don't go back to sleep again and become busy with other issues( sadly most of them frivolous and unjust).
Unfortunately this is what happens time and again. The media forgets fast, people forget fast. Only the families remember along with a few true well wishers. It's a battle of a few against too many. A little good against too much evil.
Most just don't care. I've said that in many of my posts.
For the 'aam janta'( common men) of any country in the word(guess the first world countries have better systems), life is hard. They are too busy taking care of their everyday needs to do something great and yes, justice for them most of the time is a distant dream. Yes, the quest for justice is a slow and hard process for the common man.
They are at the bottom of the pyramid if we define it according to Maslow's 'Hierarchy of needs'. It's standard everywhere.
Thankfully introduction of the theory by a well wisher recently has made me understand things a bit better. First one needs to better one's situation to do something for others, for the society, fight for justice and so on.
The world belongs to the power brokers but then power corrupts most, except for a virtuous few( very few to be precise).
The fed up kin of the martyr wanted to wake up the sleeping people with a bang. One shouldn't be judgmental about his action because only he can understand the pain he's going through and why he chose to react this way. His 14 page note had strong words and it has a loud and clear message in Malayalam& English. He seems like an aware senior citizen who is totally frustrated with the system.
"Anyone can come and do anything in India. Indian democracy is a curse for India and its enemies are taking full advantage of it. Why is the government delaying the introduction of a bill in Parliament against terrorism? Democracy should be for the well being of the nation, and it should not make way for terrorism. Sandu mon,( Major Sandeep's pet name ) you are being forgotten with each passing day. But I can't. My son's last lines were "Do not come up, I will handle them". But no one is going to handle this situation...."
He has inflicted tremendous physical pain on himself along with the psychological and emotional one.
But the question is, will it work? Will it move the ones in power?
Yes, there will be protest and good wishes from the genuine well wishers, family, loved ones, some conscious citizens and the very few compassionate media activists.
But will justice happen soon or will the authorities concerned go back to sleep again?
As of now, we can just pray and hope that he gets well soon and is alright again. Amen.
P.S- It was really sad to find out only the next day that Major's uncle didn't make it. The damage was too much to be fixed. It's said that he suffered almost 98% burns. It's really unfortunate that it had to happen this way. People shouldn't be judgmental about a sensitive issue of this sort.
I don't even live in India anymore. If someone like me writes too much, critics might feel that people like us don't do much and just write and talk. I and others like me can't say or do much. Other than saying rest in peace. As I said, the people in power can actually make the changes and the differences. I and a few others like me would just pray that all he asked for and sacrificed for gets done. And that Justice happens soon, somehow. Amen.
It's really so sad to see that most Indians have forgotten this event as well. It was nice to find your post through google search. You are one of the few compassionate writers.India is sure a country of the rich and the powerful and the other citizens just like to live in reflected glory, or run needlessly after the ones who have everything and ignore the basic issues like this.It will be sad if people ignore something grave like this as well. There's no unity among Indians( haven't we seen it form the 18th century when the Brits enslaved Indians) owing to selfishness, envy, ignorance. A people revolution like the ones in Africa wud have perhaps helped to get some justice for the unfortunates, victims. But can Indians unite to pull off something like that? Or will they wait for disaster to strike and maybe till more than half of the useless/ harmful population wiped out?
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