The
eve of the New Year 2012, amidst the noise of a moving train, a train of
thoughts ran through my mind as to how to begin the New Year. The first thought
that came up was – ‘Forget your former ways and begin a new’. But is it really
possible? - A serious point to be ruminated. However, a well-meant person could
say this much: ‘on the way’.
Observing
the web and flow of life, people make structures (external and internal). In the
process people are structured by the self-made structures. Some silently agree
to the self-made structures because they are thrust upon out of necessity. Take
for example, the commuters in the train. They are ready to pay any amount on
the food items even if they are charged more than the written retail price when
the trains halt at different stations. This is an unavoidable necessity with a
created situation with a subtle and often visible manipulation on the part of
the business people. It is a situation of a ‘have to.’ I ‘have to’ buy a bottle
of water because I am thirsty. Most people give away few extra coins for an
actual 12 rupees bottle of water, because the train would leave by the time you
finish your argument. You can neither bargain nor have you the time to go to a
consumer court to lodge your complaint. The question then is unavoidable of a ‘have
to’ situation. You ‘have to’ because hunger and thirst do not exempt you from
the exigencies of your basic needs.
Looking
out of the window, the background images of NDTV news flashed by, the fact of
Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption campaign seized my thoughts and I whispered
corruption!! Corruption!! Lokpal Bill! A Strong one! Having heard that Sushma
Swaraj and other BJP Mps decline on passing the bill in the parliament because “it
is Rahul’s constructed version,” I questioned – who is in the “Responsible
List?” An angry voice murmured within – ‘it is better not to buy and eat
anything than to be cheated’. It is true that no one likes to be cheated; even
the deceivers do not like to be deceived.
The
train is a reality – besides the physical structure of a running train, the
internal structure of it is made up by the railway officials and most
importantly by the passengers. A visible reality often is that some TTEs have
no mercy on the poor. They are always on PQWL (pooled quota waitlist), RAC
(reservation against cancellation), or permanently WL (waiting list). They are
confirmed a seat only when some amount is handed to them. Who shall speak for
the poor? Or go on their way with adjustment and tolerance to sit up all night
and wait patiently to get down at their destination?
One
cannot forget ‘yesterdays’ because one is a product of history and its daily
flashbacks. But a new beginning is possible with a new awareness and a
challenged awakening.
When
the centre, influenced by a group of stubborn campaigners to pass the
anti-corruption bill, choose to make necessary amendments in the law, some may
question – what do we really mean by ‘administrative will,’ ‘self-will,’ ‘public
will,’ etc. Finally what difference does the law make? - A long route direction, an immediate
justification and mitigation for an unending dilemma?
At
the face of the grass-root corruption, the crows, the mice, the rag picker seem
to point a finger at the accuser.
The mice:
you chase me for no reason, while you yourself throw the wastes on the rail
tracks. I am chased for life for just cleaning up the wastes that you throw and
cause me terribly frightened unto death at the mere sound of your footsteps. What
a cruel world!!
The crow:
I live on your pittance and wastes, but your presence makes me terrified. One kick
or a stone’s throw and I am gone to dust.
The Rag picker:
I am not treated exceptionally well. Nor am I granted a better situation than this.
Is the situation I am in is really made as you seem to make profits.
The
only thing I can say is “on the way, a long way.” ‘On the way, on one’s own
way?’ is a reverse too difficult? It does seem an unmovable rock - a corruption
of nature? It has happened and deadened the minds with evil practices which
already silenced the voice and killed the beauty of conscience. Values now have
only face value. Another questionable instance popped up for a just answer. A
grandma is looked after by her daughter-in-law. The question that popped up was
– is growing old losing one’s independence and ruthlessly allowing oneself to
be swallowed by another’s dictates? This question has a deep root in the words
of a daughter-in-law to a third person: “I have allowed my mother to live on
her own, in her old age with all the household freedom. But now it is not
possible. She has to bend to what I say.”
The
new beginning is not like an adjustment in the train nor is it a decision to
move on one’s own way. On the way, if alone, one can get derailed. On the way,
if alone, it would still remain a long way but with SOMEONE who knows you and
on whom you depend even for the air you breathe, then you can say a long way
with a possible REACH necessitating a movement of dependence, independence and
interdependence.
