If you could redesign your society, what would you change?
It was Diwali. We received a call from our friends. A devastating news was delivered. One of our common friends lost his son in a bike accident. The news was so traumatic and unbelievable that I reconfirmed again and again. Just hoping each time that it was a case of misinformation! But sadly, it turned out to be true. The young lad had just turned sixteen and was besotted with his fathers bike. He was underaged and hence did not have a licence. But on the fateful day, he managed to sneak out with the keys when the parents were caught up with puja (prayers) preparations. He went off for a quick ride with a pal. They were apparently on their way back when he received his moms call on his mobile. He ignored once. But when the call came through again, he answered it while riding. While attempting to answer it he failed to see a sand laden truck backing out from a narrow lane. The truck driver was reversing at a high speed and the lad wasnt paying attention. He collided with the rear of the truck and fell down. He expired on the spot while the pillion rider escaped with minor injuries. I couldnt, rather cant, even begin to fathom the deep grief of the parents, siblings and extended family. The entire town was plunged in grief. We struggled to come to terms with the loss. But what ensued later was insensitive and unimaginable! The parents were offered sympathy and blamed in the same vein! They were called irresponsible folks who couldnt control their child. The mother had to deal with people who asked her why had she called her son? If she hadnt, he might have lived! And the boy who survived, was blamed for causing the death of his friend!! Just name the idiocy and it could be found in the so called condolences that were being offered. I would never wish anyone to go through such grief and added ordeal in the name of sympathy! What would I like to change about society? The tendency of people to act all holier than thou and go around bringing people down, in whichever way possible. All the sensitivities are demanded as a right and none is offered whatsoever! People have a nasty habit of speculating, adding two and two to make twenty two, offering unsolicited advice and pinning blame whenever they feel like. All while being JUDGEMENTAL without cause. Forget empathy, even sympathy isnt honest in some cases. And instead of learning lessons from such tragedies, they choose to make it a matter of gossip. Sad! A certain segment of society is always ready with salt to rub onto wounds that arent their own. This is pathetic. People need to change. Society will change automatically.