Saturday 4 October 2008

Powerless....


We live in a democracy. The constitution endows us with n number of rights to empower ourselves, so that our freedom, our expression is not infringed upon. The framework called society gives us a sense of security. Yet occasions arise when we feel utterly helpless and powerless....... Some recent occasions when I experienced this feeling.......

The Nano episode( or rather the Mamata episode)... Not a single person I know of wants the Tatas to go away. I mean who doesn't want our state to have industrialization and usher in an era of technological development. So many people are longing for the Nano to roll out- for it promises to fulfill the long cherised dream of many to own a personal car. Everyone who possesses a pint of common sense know that if Tatas move out, it will be doomsday for West Bengal. Yet, we must watch the political melodrama. We must watch parties giving out unrealistic ultimatums. We must watch hypocrites proclaiming injustice. We must let pass by an opportunity of progress and witness an onset of stagnation...too helpless, too powerless to act.

Terrorism. The loss of life in the Delhi blasts. These people seem to have a right of way anywhere. Unstoppable. Unabashed. They were known to own responsibility for their deeds, but now they even send warnings before the blast. Who can stop them? Their utter disregard for the gift of life makes you wonder whether its all upto them. You can only feel numb, helpless, powerless.... when you think about the fate of people affecteed by the blasts; and shiver in fright if it were to happen to you.

Life and death. We all know that the former implies that the later will occur. Some die young, some die old. Some deaths affect us, change our lives forever, but gradually we accept and life moves on. But about most deaths, we are least bothered. Recently, someone passed away. For me, it should have been the second category, for he was not any friend of mine. Who he was? He was a guy like me, like many others like me, studying in the same year in our university. But he had an impressionable face, once you looked at him you would have remembered him for sure. I just knew him as a guy I acquainted in the TT room. But the news of his demise shook me. He was like so many of us- only son of his parents,endearing to his friends and brilliant to his teachers. And the away he died- struck by a wave on the sea-shore which caused cardiac arrest, no fault or slack on his part. A young healthy jubilant personna suddenly comes to an end. One can only ask why him of all? There so many people in this world who engage in inexcusable vice, so many who have withered, who live on life support systems, who have achieved their purpose, who are uncared for and have nothing to live for. Why not them but a life full of potential? I feel this sense of helplessness, powerlessness....when I realize how indecipherable the rules of life and death are!

But in spite of this sense of powerlessness we sometimes feel, Life moves on!!!