By: Ashim Kumar
Ghosh. (ashim57@gmail.com)
Today 2nd of January 2014, it
was morning time, very sharp weather. Sunlight is welcoming all to come out
from bed and have a look at beautiful nature outside. People have enjoyed and
continue to enjoy New Year. We are all exchanging New Year’s greetings, giving
wishes to each other; “Happy new Year 2014”. Really I was very glad that people
around are enjoying with their families, friends, colleague and others.
Somebody is dancing, playing, singing, somebody is busy with children in park,
riverside and Circus. Really it looks well. Somebody is also busy in giving
charitable services in shelter home, children’s home and also in street. Really
glad to see that everybody is happy and very energetic.
I
was also busy with my work and also enjoying my home work in morning hours. Currently,
my routine job every morning is to wait for the newspaper, checking in every 10
minutes the bag hanging from my balcony, whether newspaper delivered or not.
Really very interested to read the newspaper- how was the previous day, what are
the events organised in street, where is the exhibition for children. It was
also enjoyable moment for me to read what happened on 1st of January
2014 (first day of the calendar year) in the streets of Kolkata. Though I was
less interested to go through the political news, now a days it is too much
confusing to me!! But may be interesting for others, should respect the feeling
of others.
Going
through the supplement pages- Metro news, it was the gala party across the
street in Kolkata, artists came together, mind blowing songs and rock
performance by the artists, all are happy by face and nice snaps.
I
was shocked when I read the news on death of girl, who was sexually assaulted
in Kolkata. I was totally stopped, what is happening? why we are permitting
such types of inhuman act and serious criminal attitude? Who has given
authority to them to disturb the peace in the society? Who has given authority
to do sexual assault? Are the children and girls safe in the street? who has
given authority to say this place is not for you? who am I to say? What is my contribution”. Yes my contribution
is to maintain the social norms, not to disturb.
I
was thinking about the girl, her struggle started since October 2013 till she
ended her life in 1st of January 2014 in hospital. She was chased to
death, nobody thought about that girl, she has been picked from home in false
assurance and she was assaulted by group of people. She went to Police station
with her parents gather lot of courage, but once again she was chased by the
same group. We were all silent; law makers and safe guarder-citizens, all.
Political parties and leaders are watching and waiting the incident, they are
looking for opportune situation. Pressure mounted to her family members from
different corners of the accused family to withdraw case from police station, neighbours
of the victim also maligned the girl and her family members in public place.
Can you assume how it must have felt for the victim and her parents? She was
burned by the accused family members, charges were also framed against them by
the police, but what is the result- “death of 16 years girl”. She was brave
enough to give testimony at that stage.
I
was also thinking about the father- he is a taxi driver in Kolkata- he came
from Bihar for livelihood in metro city. In my opinion this city is not
belonging to only few but this is for all. He came with family, managing
resource for the family, running taxi from here and there in Kolkata and
earning money for family. He has seen so many things in the street of Kolkata and
ultimately what happen, he lost daughter. I question whether we are living in
the society where we are honouring the dignity of all individuals? It was the
struggle of the taxi driver since October to January 2014. He was compelled to
shift rented house from MadhaymGram to Dum Dum just opposite direction in
Kolkata city. He couldn’t able to see the lively face of her daughter on first
day of New Year 2014. Are we thinking that taxiwala worked for so many people
in the street of Kolkata, sometime he pulled patient from hospital to home,
sometime during night he has taken passenger from dark to home, reach them
safely in home. Do we do justice to this taxi driver who worked for us, who has
provided us services? It is not, a big question?
I am
also thinking about the police officials- what they are doing, are they
committed to their work, are they protecting our children in street. Why not
they acted in time, why second and third incident with the victim could happen?
How they can threat to the taxi driver “how will you drive taxi in kolkta, we
will see you” how dare they are? Are we are paying taxes for that to state for
inviting such types of incident in our society, are they entitled to threat
people like this.
Yes
political parties, they are busy in political blame game. They are working with
their own mandate. We have given our consensus mandate for that “you come and
do whatever you are find fit” we have given mandate to them for blame game,
only that is visible in newspaper and TV channel. Responsibility and duty are
things attached with you, you can’t deny it, you have to do your job, for which
we have assigned you, if not then don’t waste our time.
Yes
got some positive signals, civil society came in the road for demonstration.
There was also agitation for justice of the victim. Police administration came
in action. My point is that we have to tell the administration, something is
going wrong, people need to come in the road for demonstration and agitation,
after that only they become alert, it is not good symptoms of good governance
and vigilant institution.
I
was really in the mood to enjoy with the rhythm of Kolkata but sorry, I stopped
reading newspaper for the day and decided to write something on the issues.
Yes
I am very optimistic, will change, we all have to contribute to welcome the
beautiful nature.