The world was going crazy, there was music everywhere. The streets were deserted and every living soul was with their loved ones. All eyes were fixed on the clock. No one wanted to miss the chance to shout their lungs out and welcome the new year. There was happiness everywhere.
But there were few people to whom it was just like any other day. Even in this cold they were busy in their work. They were oblivious to their surroundings. I am talking about those countless homeless people who can be found loitering near Mahakaleswar Temple, Ujjain.
For the first time in my life I have planned for a different welcome to the upcoming new year. This brought me at the steps of Mahakaleswar Temple, Ujjain. I was overjoyed with the prospect of seeing the famed Bhasm-Aarti of the temple. Though I was unaware of the plans of the GOD.
I was in Ujjain just before new year dawned onto the world. I was just ambling around the premises of the temple. Just then a scene caught my eye. Some drunken youths were harassing a small child. The helpless child was crying for help but few people cared for his tears. Before anyone could intervene, the child was slapped few times and one of the culprit was trying to make him smoke. Had it not been the sight of the patrolling police gypsy, this inhuman act would have continued.
After the culprits have left on their bikes, a sudden silence dawned in the area. The child sat there crying for sometime. It was the only sound one could hear beside the occasional sound of the temple bell. Finally, when the child got exhausted, he fell silent. His face was still red from those slaps and was all swollen up.
Seeing such a sight was not on my wishlist for new year. I was not prepared for such a realistic welcome to 2012. Before my eyes was the reality of our nation. It was just one child being harassed there but GOD only knows if more of such homeless children were safe or were just being soft targets for such drunken youths??
The incident shook me from within. It aroused me from my sleep, where I was dreaming of a nation growing by leaps and bounds. The fact that I celebrated most of my new year drinking and dancing, made me a culprit along with those who had just harassed the child. It also made me realize that how conveniently we turn a blind eye to such events. The common people does not care a dime until and unless someone close or they themselves are subjected to such inhuman acts. But why do we behave in such a manner ?? Why we turn silent the moment someone is harassed ??
We blame terrorists for killing our fellow countrymen but we all have died long back ago. That child showed me that we can wash away our sins at the steps of GOD but we cannot reignite the humanity in us once its dead. He was no longer crying but sat there staring at the road. That blank stare is something that has been haunting me ever since.
It was hard to visit the temple in such a mood so I returned back. But i was thankful to GOD. It was by his grace that I realized that I was no longer alive. The ways by which one should lead one's life have long been forgotten. Those methods are hard to follow but keep our soul alive. Living with a dead soul is one thing that most of the people are doing today. Just by donating some money to a trust or giving away for charity has become a fashion statement. The time calls to be alive and not just fulfilling one's duty. Or are we all waiting to be witness to such an inhuman acts to take place with our self or our loved ones ???????
But there were few people to whom it was just like any other day. Even in this cold they were busy in their work. They were oblivious to their surroundings. I am talking about those countless homeless people who can be found loitering near Mahakaleswar Temple, Ujjain.
For the first time in my life I have planned for a different welcome to the upcoming new year. This brought me at the steps of Mahakaleswar Temple, Ujjain. I was overjoyed with the prospect of seeing the famed Bhasm-Aarti of the temple. Though I was unaware of the plans of the GOD.
I was in Ujjain just before new year dawned onto the world. I was just ambling around the premises of the temple. Just then a scene caught my eye. Some drunken youths were harassing a small child. The helpless child was crying for help but few people cared for his tears. Before anyone could intervene, the child was slapped few times and one of the culprit was trying to make him smoke. Had it not been the sight of the patrolling police gypsy, this inhuman act would have continued.
After the culprits have left on their bikes, a sudden silence dawned in the area. The child sat there crying for sometime. It was the only sound one could hear beside the occasional sound of the temple bell. Finally, when the child got exhausted, he fell silent. His face was still red from those slaps and was all swollen up.
Seeing such a sight was not on my wishlist for new year. I was not prepared for such a realistic welcome to 2012. Before my eyes was the reality of our nation. It was just one child being harassed there but GOD only knows if more of such homeless children were safe or were just being soft targets for such drunken youths??
The incident shook me from within. It aroused me from my sleep, where I was dreaming of a nation growing by leaps and bounds. The fact that I celebrated most of my new year drinking and dancing, made me a culprit along with those who had just harassed the child. It also made me realize that how conveniently we turn a blind eye to such events. The common people does not care a dime until and unless someone close or they themselves are subjected to such inhuman acts. But why do we behave in such a manner ?? Why we turn silent the moment someone is harassed ??
We blame terrorists for killing our fellow countrymen but we all have died long back ago. That child showed me that we can wash away our sins at the steps of GOD but we cannot reignite the humanity in us once its dead. He was no longer crying but sat there staring at the road. That blank stare is something that has been haunting me ever since.
It was hard to visit the temple in such a mood so I returned back. But i was thankful to GOD. It was by his grace that I realized that I was no longer alive. The ways by which one should lead one's life have long been forgotten. Those methods are hard to follow but keep our soul alive. Living with a dead soul is one thing that most of the people are doing today. Just by donating some money to a trust or giving away for charity has become a fashion statement. The time calls to be alive and not just fulfilling one's duty. Or are we all waiting to be witness to such an inhuman acts to take place with our self or our loved ones ???????
No comments:
Post a Comment