I am sure all of us are watching the protests over the recent incident. The protesters were serious committed and wanted justice to the victims and right punishment to the victims. Since the time I was made aware of the social responsibility, I have been seeing these protests. I remember Satyendra Dubey's death when he sent a note to PM Office about corrupt practices in Bihar. I saw many posts in the internet and many demonstrations, burnt effigies, lots and lots of opinion surveys in the TVs for that incident and many similar incidents since then.
The area where I am a bit confused is on how much are we responsible before such incidents happened. And how much responsible are we after the protests are over. How many times did we offer a helping hand to the likes of Anamika, Dubeys or many others before they died?
I can quote atleast an incident when I was working with a Power Sector. One Subcontractor went to Farakka along with his team to execute one small subproject for our organization which is very much under the influence of local political party. From the day he arrived the local leaders approached him and asked him to take local people in his project. The engineer politely explained that he brought his team from Andhra Pradesh. The leaders were fine with that and said that the Engineer need to pay the same size of the team from local area even if they don't work for his project. The engineer was confused and tried to get the support from his management. the management suggested him to manage with the local Law & Order. He went and complained to the local SP who incidentally was a Bengali. The SP always responded that he would take action but it never happened.
One day in front of as many as 30 plus families, the local goondas annoyed him. They didn't beat him but insulted him more than that in front of his family members, neibour and colleagues. After that one or other of those goondas used to meet his wife in public places like Veg markets, shops and enquire whether her husband is at home. They used to ask such questions to terrorize the family.
No one in the locality or his colleagues tried to help him. There was only one person who took him to the GM Office. Getting the GM appointment was not easy but we tried out best to get 15 minutes time. We didnt waste time and explained the situation to the GM. The GM was Non Local(Sardarjee) and it helped us explain the local scenario (While I have nothing against locals there were some local dynamics which made me mention this point). We made it clear that it will be a situation when people from other parts of Bengal will leave if these incidents continue.
The GM reacted very fast, faxed a note to CM office. Immediately there was a lightening call to the SP. All goondas were seized immediately.The issue was resolved. Our Subcontracting Engineer became a hero at the end. I would say he was allowed to live while he became the hero. Otherwise he could become a hero but like Dubey and others who lost their lives.
The reason for telling this incident is to let all of us understand our responsibility. There are many people who are fighting against the odds but they are known and were admired only after they are perished. We all will go in group and light candles, maintain silence, do marathons. I may sound cynical, but want to see an outcome and not just complying to a group representation.
Even now, I want to check on how many of the recent protesters come forward to do the daily patrolling till the Govt creates more reliable law & order situation? We must definitely fight for more powerful law but till then what are we going to do? Can we think in those lines?
Can we stop and beat the guys who are doing eve teasing today (We cite reasons like urgent meeting for not stopping and helping)? Probably that will scare majority of people from getting to next steps. If we cant kill, can we set our work aside and offer helping hand to the people who suffer in front of us? In the same incident the male victim was telling that people didn't stop when he and his friend were lying on the road. It is just matching to the point I was trying make. We supported them only when one person was close to death. And we supported when many people were going in the groups to protest. At the end, did we really support the cause?
I request all of us to show our seriousness in every action and act well before things go wrong.
