We all are opportunistic patriots. Come Independence Day or Republic Day, we shout love for the country from roof tops. At every tragic incident, we express our protest on social media and among friends. But the subject will change as soon as something new happens.
We belittle national issues by talking about them like we talk about weather. We frown our brows and roll our eyes when a national tragedy occurs. And then wipe of our hands off it by always blaming somebody else.
The real culprit is us. We have missed an opportunity for reform every time we forget the criminal records of our politicians and vote for them again. We miss every opportunity for change when we finish thinking about a crime after we share the story on Facebook. We miss an opportunity for progress every time we return from a candle march and then forget about it.
The candle marches being held for Asifa are actually an insult to her. Candle marches were held for Nirbhaya and nothing happened. Protests were held even against corruption in Jantar Mantar in Delhi, and nothing happened.
Image Credit: twitter
Why Have We, Indians, Become A Nation Of Amnesia?
We forget every wrong and move on with our personal lives. Are we waiting for something horrible to happen to us directly before we start taking things seriously? Is not the rape in Kathua a violation of each of us? Is not it a robbery on each of us when Nirav Modi or Vijay Mallya escape after duping our banks? Is it not a hazard to each of us when the air in Delhi is thick with smog? Why do we forget that nature will serve its wrath even if the tsunami did not wash away your home?
Image Credit: councilofforeginrelations
We forgot that Salman Khan committed some of the most heinous crimes when he shot endangered creatures. The Bishnoi community which revers the blackbucks is still not getting due justice because Salman has a huge influential clout among his fans and peers.
Image Credit: dnaindia
We forgot the crimes committed in Naroda Patiya. The case is still lingering in the corridors of judiciary, without any conclusive sense of justice. Former Gujarat minister Kodnani has been acquitted giving her a benefit of doubt, and Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi has his sentence commuted to 21 years. We forget their crimes when we vote for fundamentalist parties.
Image Credit: youtube
Why do we think that our responsibility ends at our doorstep? Why do we easily forget when the nation suffers a tragedy?
Image Credit: yourarticlelibrary
It is on each of us that justice is served to all the victims who have every suffered a wrong in India. It is everyone of us who is responsible for reminding the government and authorities to do their job.
Only when we remember the national tragedies, and let those stories burn our hearts with shame, will we ever be able to correct every wrong ever committed.
Read Also: Why India Needs A Tradition Of Roasting, Like The Americans
