Why the Indifference?

Jun 22
NabanitaDhar

“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
― Albert Einstein

She was happy, it was her fifth birthday. Cakes, candles, more time to play, a new dress and friends all around; she was happy. She shyly cut the cake and looked coyly towards the camera. With both her parents around her, she celebrated her birthday.
Did she know what was going to happen in a matter of minutes?  She certainly didn’t, for she would in a very elaborate manner learn at this early age that she was born in the most indifferent country in the world, she was born in India!
Mahi, a child, all of five years falls into an open bore well pit, falls 60 to 70 feet and 46 hours hence we still haven’t been able to get her out of that hell. What sort of a country are we living in? Where is the professional help and if at all it’s there then why does it take so long? Why do we have to summon the army all the time in such circumstances? Or should the question be why on earth the authorities in our country are so apathetic? We live in a country that has funds for the Euro zone but not for improving the conditions here in our own backyard!
Exactly 6 years back another child had suffered a similar ordeal, but still there hasn’t been a system or a body in place to make sure such incidents do not happen again. It’s shameful and unfortunate. Our country, our authorities do not value the life of the common man.
It’s sad, really really sad that this is our country and our India. No matter how proud we may be being Indians; it pains me to admit that this indifference also happens only in India. We have the worst set of politicians; we have the worst lot of bureaucrats who only care about credits to their bank accounts. No one, not a single person in authority cares about us ordinary Indians. Who is there to help us?
If the girl in the pit would have been the daughter of a big shot politician, would it still take so much time to save that poor soul? Sometimes I feel so claustrophobic in my own country. Such painful things keep happening all around that I really wonder if at all any positive transformation would ever occur in this country of ours. Even I am tired and dejected writing over and over again about the loopholes of our lacklustre system; but sadly no one learns!
I pray for you Mahi and I know all so called ‘common’ Indians like me too wish well for you. I am sure you will come out safe, no matter how long it takes and when you do remember for the rest of your life that in this country you have to take care of your own self even if you are a child. And a note of thanks to our Army, if it wasn’t for you even the small glimmer of hope that we have would fade away.

58 thoughts on “Why the Indifference?”

  3. Our system sucks, Naba…what a sad piece of news! I am sure with all our prayers she'll come out safe…am praying!:)

  4. I hope, wish and pray Mahi comes out alive and safe.
    It is a Fact that we have dirty politicians and corrupt bureaucrats Naba. It is useless to expect a positive change.

  6. Our system is pathetic at many times… really a sad thing. Again and again such bad things are happening here.

    Let us hope and pray that the little on will be safe.

  8. We pray that this does not happen to anybody. We should really learn to take care of our own people. I'm sure outside India nobody cares if you're an Indian or a Pakistani or whichever country you're from. You're a person first and foremost and if you have fallen in trouble, people will come to your aid.

    It's sad that in our country only, we feel like outsiders at times.

    Nice post btw 🙂

  9. Very well written indeed! I am sure that the post will succeed in scorching our indifference to a certain extent. It is the combined effect of indifference and ignorance that's eating our nation from within. All are prayers are with Mahi… let's hope for the best 🙂

  10. If I say our society is already degenerated, fragmented.., perhaps people may not like it, or even feel offended. Some live in ivory tower, while many carry on drudgery of living, some live in the "Culture of Contentment". Indifference is our national characteristic! We want the Government to work for our protection (but we don't know from what), make laws (we are law-loving people as a ritual)but when the law-makers break the laws, we are indifferent.
    Maha-Govt Secretariat was on fire, because of sheer neglect in design of the building. Now the appoint inquiry commission, so some jobless finds work…
    Nehru had appointed a commission on Corruption, decades ago; that report is rotting govt-vaults, and never saw the light of the day.

    One of the reasons for corruption, it said:
    CORRUPTION BEGINS AT THE TOP AND COMES DOWN BY infamous "TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT in ECONOMY"

    Even Govt is indifferent, can't here, can't see, can't speak, until a few or few hundred die, because of its negligence.
    You know the word "government" is newt gender that implies impotency.

    Nabanita, this litany is endless…!!!

  11. P.S.
    The late Barrister Nath Pai, then MP, who was on the commission on corruption, once told our elders at my village during election campaign. Many of the elders are dead and gone.

  13. Your writing is so heart touching Naba.. I adore you.. You are the perfect combination of beauty+brains+heart 🙂 Yes I have seen some of your pictures on FB.. U r amazingly gorgeous 🙂 Keep Sharing:)

  16. You do bring very relevant issues to the fore…reading & writing about them is certainly very depressing-the problem is that we just don't do our duty or follow the rules-here i want to add,the parents too should be more vigilant.

  17. I am sure a day will come when things will be fine and everything will work out .. GOd willing and hopefully that day is not far away

    hope for the best for Mahi

    Bikram's

  35. i agree, we probably have the worst safety record in the world, among nations pf our size.

  37. ''The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
    ― Albert Einstein

    You have already given the reason in the above verbatim. We write posts and comments. But why do we not go to the public to make our protest stand counted? what is the reason for that?

  39. 80 hours and counting as of now (9.30 am on June 24th). Hopefully, the end of Mahi's ordeal is near.
    Thanks for raising the issue of governmental apathy. Looks like the entire rescue machinery is employed in getting the child out safe. However, precious money and time wouldn't have to be spent if our municipal services took basic precautions.

  41. Its a sad news that such kind of incidence happens again n again , but our government as not learned from the past and taken any action to avoid this situation in future.. Hope that she is fine.

  42. Maybe we feel that unless every person out there feels the same way, it wont make a difference…Sad I know!

  46. Its a great post and I agree its very disheartening and makes u furious.

    ure right, there's no value of life in India. If you see in the western countries, they put in all their efforts to save a life if something goes wrong, and we feel nothing.

    every life is important, and we must raise our voice against such incidences.

    http://styledestino.blogspot.com/

  47. Some even try to justify saying that this kind of incidents have taken place in developed nations also ….. pathetic.
    @Nabanita : Nice post.

  48. Quite sad… but this is how it is in our country…. life is cheap. When things like this happen, the media goes berserk and creates hype for a day or two, and then it dies down and everyone accepts it and forgets. That's the unfortunate part.

  50. As per regulations all such bore holes if unplugged, persons responsible for this shall have to face legal sentence. In my profession whenever we make such holes it is plugged immediately after completion and a barricade is made to prevent any one coming near to it. These incidents are now frequent because persons know that nobody can touch their hairs even. Why not some NGO comes forward seeking legal punishment. The print and electronic media made so much halla but till now surprisingly they have not published the offender although it is easy to get. Have the offenders smartly put some delicious Khana from their huge Khazana.

  51. I have been looking up the comments here. I look at this event objectively. Some similar events in different regions were reported in last decade on TV news channels. Mahi case is one too many!

    Let us come to the point.
    1. Construction here involves agencies, persons & machines costing crores of rupees.
    2. Projects, places people must be protected & insured against hazards.
    3. In our country, civil works e.g. road, dam, bldg. or SEZ also become Act of Law, hence answerable.
    4. By displacement one could lose livelihood, or life.
    5. There are laws made, but we the citizens may not be aware.

    Press or media do report if they reach in time, in this vast land. What could citizens–we–I, not necessarily NGO, do with limited resources?
    Write a letter straight to the Apex Court (SC) in plain language stating fact, cause and effect. Supreme Court on its own would not take action unless pointed out, I think. One too many! No sentimental melodrama.

    I am not a lawyer. But I am certain and believe Justice is above Law/s.

  52. Apt quote for the topic Naba 🙂 I am currently busy wth other stuffs, so not much into blogging,,,,,,but your post was a nice read …this indifference is a concern….

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