Many years back while attending a workshop to become a corporate trainer we were told that a trainer must think from audiences’ perspective because those attending the workshop have the tendency to look for; What is in it for me? If they find nothing useful in the presentation/ topic they tend to switch off.

We all, as part of the society, also largely behave in this manner. Every issue that the society faces, the people tend to ask the same question - what is in it for me? and, when we find that the issue does not concern us we promptly respond ; “ Mere ko kya lena dena”, “ It’s not my problem” and as a result many of us often turn a blind eye.

It would not be wrong to state here that - We all therefore, suffer from this “It’s not my problem syndrome”.

The same is perhaps applicable to the problem faced by women wrestlers.

Those girls are complaining for last four months and it made no difference to us all, because none of them are perhaps our daughters and sisters, and hence ; Its not my Problem. But surely, they are someone’s daughters and their parents must be concerned.

If one looks at it dispassionately, surely It does not take four months to complete an enquiry, provided it was ordered.

The Wrestling Federation Chief, a BJP man and a six-time MP, has political clout and so the whole lot of politicians, including Mr Amit Shah, whom the girls met three months ago, have been dragging their feet. Otherwise by now the enquiry would have been finished and justice would have been done. Therefore, its common sense and even a layman would understand as to why he could get away with charges of sexual harassment since 2012 or so.

Unfortunately, the pathological Modi supporters are unable to see what kind of monsters we have created and are in the process of creating.

This “It’s not my problem” syndrome will one day burn the whole edifice created by our forefathers.

For instance; Today we are not displaying any concern on the growing hooliganism of BAJRANGDAL activists and dozens of other Right wing senas that have come up in recent years. Some of us are even justifying their presence little realising that we are playing with Fire and that Fire has the potential to reach our homes and families.

Today, this may sound to be an alarmist’s call to many but these news reports are surely an indicator of what lies ahead;

One. UNI Report. Sehore, MP, July 8 (UNI) Bajrang Dal activists today created a ruckus at Rehati police station and beat up a head constable in this district, police sources said.

Two. The police probe carried out after the murder revealed that Sunil, a Bajrangdal activist had been stalking and pestering Sameer’s sister for more than three months, Shivamogga Superintendent of Police Mithun Kumar said. Sunil used to pester her to share her mobile number and she had informed her family members. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/day-after-bajrang-dal-worker-attacked-shivamogga-cops-say-he-stalked-harassed-muslim-girl-8375131/

Three. Activists of the Bajrang Dal thrashed and humiliated several young couples sharing cards and gifts on valentines day. Reports also stated that a teenage girl suffered injuries.

Read more at:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46249364.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Four. Police sources said, Bajrang Dal activist Dinesh Acharya illegally entered the house of a woman and tried to molest her. When she raised alarm, the neighbours rushed to her help and beat him Wednesday night. 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/bajrang-dal-activist-thrashed/article4768666.ece.

Five. A group of Bajrang Dal activists on February 19 allegedly vandalised a church, and assaulted and threatened the worshippers, in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district.

https://thewire.in/communalism/up-bajrang-dal-activists-allege-forced-conversions-vandalise-church-assault-worshippers.

Six. In a video from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, which has gone viral, the Bajrangdal activists are are seen slapping and hitting the young boys by leather belts in public. However, a police complaint was filed against the two youths who were beaten by the Bajrang Dal activists. Those young boys had come to meet their female friend.

 https://news.abplive.com/news/india/watch-bajrang-dal-activists-in-muzaffarnagar-thrash-2-youths-who-had-come-to-meet-their-female-friends-529853.

Seven. In Chhatral Town, Gandhinagar district, fingers of a Muslim woman were chopped off and her son was brutally beaten up allegedly by the members of Bajrang Dal for not obeying their diktat to stay indoors.

The left thumb, index finger and middle finger of Roshanbiwi Syed, 52, were chopped off. Her son, Farzan, 32 suffered fractures on his hands and skull after being brutally thrashed by the miscreants.

https://thelogicalindian.com/news/bajrang-dal-members-chop-womans-fingers/.

Eight. Surat: Armed with wooden sticks, Bajrang Dal activists barge into garba venue, 

.https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/surat/surat-armed-with-wooden-sticks-bajrang-dal-activists-barge-into-garba-venue-beat-up-bouncers-8189978/.

Nine. Bajrang Dal activists beat up husband-wife sitting in park on Valentine's Day. https://english.newstracklive.com/news/bajrang-dal-workers-beat-up-husband-and-wife-sitting-in-the-park-on-valentines-day-the-reason-is-surprising-mc23-nu915-ta322-1268475-1.html

Ten. The Sadar Bazar police station in Fatehpur Sikri of Agra came under attack by Bajrang Dal activists yesterday as they attempted to rescue five of their 'co-workers'.

The attackers set a vehicle ablaze during the attack on the police station. One policeman was injured in the clashes with the agitators

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/uttar-pradesh/story/agra-bajrang-dal-police-station-973040-2017-04-23.

Eleven. As many as 12 people were injured after a scuffle broke out between police and Bajrang Dal activists in Bihar's Nalanda district as the police personnel resorted to lathi-charge to pacify the crowd. The incident happened during the Aarti of Lord Hanuman near Amber Chowk. Bajrang Dal activists became furious, created a huge ruckus and asked the shopkeepers to close their shops. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/scuffle-bajrang-dal-men-police-hanuman-aarti-bihar-nalanda-2334942-2023-02-15.

Twelve. A Police inspector and three constables were suspended in Manguluru on Monday, 25 April, pending a probe for allegedly assaulting Bajrang Dal activist .The Bajrang Dal activists were detained by the police for harassing a coconut vendor who had complained against them in Moodbidri. 

https://www.thequint.com/news/india/4-manguluru-cops-suspended-for-allegedly-assaulting-bajrang-dal-men-in-custody.

Conclusion.

These are just some of the reports that have been quoted here to drive home a point that sooner or later, if we do not take right measures now, we may reach a stage when this fire reaches our homes.

Even now if some suffer from this It’s not my problem syndrome then Consider these instances;

Your brother is hit by an SUV driven by a …….. activist and the Police is reluctant to file a case.

Your daughter or sister is harassed by a …….. activist and you will not be able to file a case against him.

Your plot is illegally occupied by one of their activists, and you will not be able to take a legal recourse.

Your son is studying in a college and gets into a tiff with these activists, they come and thrash him, the Police will not file a case.

You are going to a market with your family and a reckless driver comes and hits your car, and then he drags you out and thrashes you in front of family, when you try to file a case against him in the police station, the Police does not file a case because he is an ACTIVIST.

These are not imaginary incidents; this has already started happening as brought out above.

An Indian Army soldier, was allegedly killed by a politician in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district. His brother who is also a soldier reportedly said ; He wants justice and he will not return to the force until those who killed my brother are punished. We didn't do anything wrong. He (the political leader) said that 'you might be working in the Indian Army but can't do anything to me'.

This is not a political issue but is a social and an administrative issue and therefore should not be politicised.

This is not something that has not happened before; Subedar Pan Singh became a dacoit because he was illtreated by the local administration, father of a serving soldier was lynched to death a few years back, a soldier was beaten in Delhi a few years ago in full day light.

There was a time when a company commander or a Commanding Officer of the unit could write a letter to the concerned SP or a Collector and a soldiers’ domestic problem could be resolved but over a period of time the administrative machinery in most parts of India has become defunct and it only works when kick started by a politician. It would not be surprising to notice that even a few kilometres from PM’s and Chief Minister’s house, people have little regard for law.

A soldier and his family is now at the mercy of society which has become so politically vitiated that there is no empathy left. A society where concern for dead is reflected based on caste and religion, what better can one expect.

Although the Directorate of Sainik Welfare which has its offices in every state can play a big role towards providing help to the aggrieved soldiers; retired or serving but when the entire administrative machinery in the country is rotten , even they can not be of much help.

Notwithstanding the above, if concerned authorities have the will the procedures can be streamlined but as the whole system is politicised and corrupt even the most determined tend to give up.

Yes, indeed a lot is happening.

Unfortunately, we the common men, realise the inadequacies of our administration and arrogance of our Politicians only when we are faced with a crisis situation or someone close to us has to face its consequences, till then we keep praying God; HEY BHAGWAN MEREY PARIVAR KO MUSIBAT SEY BACHANA.

All this may sound to be cynical, but just try dial 100 and call for Police help for Loud music being played after 10 PM at the nearby banquet garden or during Devi Pujan and one’s doubts about the efficiency of administration will get cleared.

When this year we would be celebrating our 75 years of independence, the least the state can do is to make sure that the Police help is provided on time and it upholds SC’s judgements.

People having degrees from top universities, at times, have a habit of Flaunting and boasting about their Degrees at every opportunity.

I am compelled to write this column because a lady shared her plight form her car, she was travelling in along with her family that was stuck, rather is still stuck, for almost 12 hours near Bhopal in a jam, that was caused by lakhs of people that have come to receive a magical Rudraksh necklace from a Swami.

There is already a news going round that a lady has lost her life in this messy situation.

Do not question the Faith? That’s what we are being told these days.

There is a long list of such sadhus and swamis who have been claiming of miracles but in last few years they have gained prominence. Some monks exhorted Hindus to kill Muslims and Christians and they are still not behind the bars, a month ago a Swami talked of reading the minds of people and his followers demanded action against those who opposed him, a year or so ago some washed the feet of brahmins when they entered temple and now this traffic jam of almost 20kms near Bhopal , all this is happening in the guise of Faith.

If we introspect dispassionately, we will find that thousands of those stuck on the Indore-Bhopal Highway is purely because of our deeds of last few years. We are surely being driven towards medievalism by a nexus of swamis, politicians, and many other stake holders. And if we do not mend our ways even now, things would further slip out of our hands and we shall take India to medievalism. Instead of routing out the practices of medieval era we are in the guise of culture and faith are encouraging them. We have stopped questioning them and rather humiliating those who are questioning those medival practices and irrational beliefs.

As a society we need to remember, our freedom fighters had to do toil hard to get us freedom because first they had to fight the social evils of medieval era that had got ingrained in the society. Rather , we should be careful about these medieval era practices because it were they which made us lose our political freedom.

The job of the leader is not to make a society conservative but to inculcate a scientific temperament.