THE INCIDENT ...
A car rams into an auto at a busy intersection in Mumbai.
The auto driver is injured, the auto damaged
The driver doesn't get out of the car, drives away while talking on the phone all the way
Not a single cop stops her
The auto passenger and the auto driver go to a nakabandi less than a 100 meters away and give the cops the number of the rogue car.
The cops ask you to report in a Thana.
When they ask if the traffic police can't stop them at the next signal? They reply - " main jaakar pakdoon kya?'
The auto wallah gets scared at this point, refuses to go to the station. Also refuses medical help.
Outraged by callousness, all around, the Auto Passenger posts the vehicle number on social networking sites . That elicits all kinds of responses, from are you going to catch the driver on Facebook to some supportive ones.
The Auto Passenger also feels guilty about not reporting to the police, so after work heads to the chowki, armed with number of the rogue vehicle.
The constable, after hearing the entire narrative, says - Abhi kyun aayi, agle hafte aajati?
At this point, the Auto passenger loses her cool... and launches into a narrative about how their goddamn duty was to take note of a rule broken and not lecture the person reporting it ( all this while, feeling guilty about not having come earlier)
The Senior Inspector steps out inquiring about the commotion and after seeing the auto passenger's Press ID talks to her and gives her a blank paper to write her complaint out.
The auto passenger, now knows at this point that nothing is going to come out of any of this...
THE RAGE....
But here is why she is angry...
What in the name is happening in this country?
How can we all say down with corrupt politicians, when if any of us were put in the same position, would do worse.
Is she generalising, damn well she is.
Everyone went overboard with patriotism, when 26/11 happened. But what happened when elections came?
How many of us have become so cynical, that we don't believe anyone or anything?
How many of us even aim at doing something beyond what suits us
The Auto Passenger always believed her father's generation of middle class bureaucrats let this country down.
Now, she thinks this generation is worse. This is a generation of eunuchs. The 'Yes Man' Generation.
The 'no opinion of their own' generation
The 'GOOGLE IT NAA' generation.
A generation that is so arrogant that it will do worse that all before...
It is driving her mad...
The marches happen when it is fashionable. And then nobody cares what happens to the cause
And she is also mad, that people laughed at her when she went to lodge a complaint.
And she is mad because people told her you don't shout at lazy-assed, bulging stomached policemen who behave like they own the damn city
And she is mad because people tell her the Prime Minister is a good man, hence should not be grilled...
She can also be nice sitting in her living room and not give a damn about what happens around...
What use is nice, when you are a spineless puppet...
How long is this generation going to 'NOT CARE'
3 comments:
Well said. Internet activism and once in a year marches have become a fad.
The silver lining in all of this is the Auto passenger's rage. It's one person and yet it gives hope to another person who would get enraged. The fire has to live on! :-)
I was the one to say "Don't yell at the policeman!"
And I don't live here anymore because when I sat down and thought - "Do I want to change this country .. or escape it?" I came to this personal answer - I'll escape, because I think it's easier to justify that to myself than actually work towards change here.
A brilliantly written post. I know and saw the 'will you catch her on FB' comment and I thought it was just crazy that everyone likes to pass judgements but hardly anyone will help and do something. I think its amazing that the auto passenger went and filed a complaint. Why fucking not. I think its brilliant that she shouted at the police wallah. Why fucking not man. Why not. Its hard to do the right thing. Its easier to escape and ease your conscience, but at the end of the day, you will sleep better knowing you did the right thing. As that cliche goes 'phal ki ichha mat kar, tu sirf karm kar' and I am glad that auto passenger is my closest, most loved friend and sister. :) I solemnly pledge to always support this girl in everything she does.
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