Almost 10 days ago, Kolkata woke up to another morning of sorrow, anger and losses. Little can I say to console the Kolkatans who lost their recuperating kin and relatives in supposedly one of best private hospitals (AMRI) due to an avoidable fire. As happens with most of the tragedies, this one too saw some blame game to begin with, continued with political propaganda coming to the fore and finally news channels flashing the combining effect of all the above.
Readers of this blog will remember the best things about Kolkata in my own words in one of the earlier series on the city of joy. Very generously, I ignored the grey shade of the city perhaps because the flow was so beautiful and at times romantic. Alas! All is not beautiful in this world and we have seen from time to time that it is not. I would not like to portray a grey shade of one particular city here, but from what we saw was mostly apologetic from human front and inhuman from safety front.
People flouting the rules and regulations can be seen across the country irrespective of social status, religion, state and background. Before one blames anyone, there is a need to look at one’s own self. How many times have we seen basic rules being flouted – 'umpteen number of times'? Haven’t we? How many times have we refrained from holding the accountables 'the accountable'? Very seldom. Just because it is so easy. Isn’t it? And who cares if these negligent acts cost few lives? None cares – what one care is to blame all the possible culprits once found in this very trap. I can’t see more miser way of looking at life.
My heart goes out to all those people who have been losing their lives due to failure of us as a society to do right things and follow basic discipline in day to day affairs. Yes, there was total lack of leadership in this particular mishap. But, leaders is none but one from us. And when largely the society consists of such mean and rule-breaking people, there is always one such fire on the cards. Sadly, these accidents take place and are then forgotten. No learning taken and chalta hai attitude! No words I have! No sentiments to represent what I think at this juncture! Hope a few handful can hear and understand what my point is!!!
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2 comments:
Eloquently put Vishal. We collectively hang our head in shame. Its sad that we pay so little attention to safety - when was the last time we did a fire drill at our homes.
We must wake up, and remain awake.
@ Ramesh - Precisely. Safety is just not in our genes. I fail to understand this casual attitude towards safety. I remember one of your post on the similar lines associated with Bhopal tragedy.. Indeed a lot to be done..
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