We the People: Which way will you swing?

The last couple of months have seen some big news and even bigger headlines. From Anna's Lokpal Bill to Rahul Ghandhi vs Mayawati to the riots in London to an angry/exasperated Vijay Mallaya doing what he hates the most, talking to the media about not abandoning his baby Kingfisher and not ever having asked the government for a bailout!

While the big guns continue to grab the hot seat and become even bigger, let's spare a thought to the one day headliners. Leave the Anna's, the Gandhi's and the Mallaya's to hog the limelight. Trust me; they do it well and that too in a very nonchalant way. They can very well do without the common man, contrary to what they want you to believe.

Let's for a moment look within the common man club, I know the first thought in mind is, that's hardly a club and if so, the membership hardly any matter of prestige. But look closely and you will see your real/everyday heroes. Actually, the reason why you and I aren't looking is exactly because they don't want to be portrayed as heroes or something spectacular. They do their duty as a citizen and as a human and then merely fade away in the same common man circle. To them it's no big deal!

Take for example, the two men from Bombay who came to the defence of a few women who were being harassed outside a club in Bandra. Keenan Santos and Ruben Fernandes, these boys  did what they thought was right. Standing up and helping complete strangers because that's what we as children are taught. Yes there were many others present there and yes it happened in India's most progressive and westernised cities. But it takes real men to stand up to defend a woman's honour. And these boys were just that. Neither of them would have consciously thought about being a hero or being dead. It was their reflex action. Like when one puts one's finger on a hot plate one immediately springs it back. Not much thought process is involved there. Isn't it?

The same went for Keenan and Santos. Their actions were just as straight forward. Now many of us, without spine would call it foolish! Yes those of you can very well return to the Anna's and Gandhi's. Feel intellectual in knowing what's happening and discussing how corruption is a bad thing. And how it's someone else's dirty job to fix everything that is going wrong.

Because what some of us won't ever realise is that a change begins single handedly. It takes one to stand and one to make a noise.

Which brings me to my another member of the common man club, Catholic nun Valsa John (52), who was involved in a movement against displacement of tribal people by coal mining companies in Jharkhand, and was shot dead early on Wednesday. The murder happened at Bachuwari village of Pakur district. Reports said a gang of about 50 people surrounded her house. The assailants singled out Valsa and attacked her with weapons in her room killing her on the spot.

A woman, a nun and she single handedly stood up to various threats. Her family members are reported saying that she had been threatened on various accounts. But she would not budge. Is that another act of foolishness or merely living a life of doing what's right?

Do these people who make one day headlines really put all that thought into what makes for a great visual drama and rehearse their scripts so that they can be portrayed as heroes? I don't think so.

The moment they take the plunge they are in it 100 per cent. They know their reasons are right, their intent is right and the rest they leave it to god. (Although this does not show the dear almighty in a great light!), but then again more than god the blame looms large on you and I- the bystanders who are capable of turning anything into a saas bahu serial, just about anything for a visual treat or instant salacious pleasure no matter how morbid the situation and how catastrophic the result.

We like to think that as a society and civilization we are moving forward. We like to tell our children that equality shall prevail if we put our faith in it. That inherently people are good and if you do well to others it too shall come back to you.

Honestly, the world that we live in today we don't want any good coming our way. Because we can't be too bothered doing any good either. So while we are ready to miss school/college/ work and sit with a candle, go on marches, we are not ready to act when the opportunity actually knocks on our heads.  At that point we let two boys go alone in a fight and die, a nun to take on a mafia and be brutally killed. We like nothing better than standing tall at the post of a bystander. And 'making a difference' philosophy is then royally kicked in its arse.

Before the riots occurred in London, a peaceful march was organized by the locals to protest the police response to the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan by Metropolitan Police Service firearms officers. But as soon as the scenario changed into a violent one it turned into a riot. These riots were characterised by rampant looting and arson attacks of unprecedented levels. People who had nothing to do with the case or even participated in the initial peace march saw it as a perfect opportunity to do an early Christmas shopping. Teenagers, men and women saw it as a convenient way to instant material gratification.  A perfect example of the participation and unity of the masses without any invitation, ironic but true.

I have never doubted the power of the mob! In fact it can never be undermined. But the pertinent question to be posed at this juncture is that what we use that power for?

When I look at these incidents, the obvious dichotomy instantly hits me. The people are the same everywhere, the longitude and the latitude does not lend them any great or base powers. It ultimately comes down to what we make out of the situation in hand.

Rather than being exploited at the hands of those who want to make the headlines all day, everyday, rather than being convinced that the force of the common man needs a face which has to be shown on repeat telecasts all day, for weeks and for months, we must now look within ourselves. We must be aware of the real commoners amongst ourselves who not only carry great potential but will not want anything in return. It is not about the Anna's or the Gandhi's. It is about the nameless, faceless heroes who do so much more but yet are unsung. And probably their charm and power lies in just one headline!

It's time for all of us no matter where on the globe we are to make a noise and believe that with us shall be brought a new era of revolution and we most definitely do not need a candle for that. All you require is a conscience. Give it a jolt and you will be amazed to learn that it's still somewhere hanging in there.

P.S (A role of a bystander never really allows anyone to have a complete experience of the scene at hand. The only way to ensure complete entertainment is to be in it first hand; hopefully with a conscience I will see you on the right side.)

Divya Jha.

17th Nov, 2011.