Last week there was a “bandh” and the bustling city of Bangalore had a sleepy look, no traffic jams or congestion.
I spent the day catching up with correspondence and writing, leisurely enjoying cups of tea. But my heart goes out to those who are on daily wages and would have lost their earning, the sick who were not able to go to hospital, the homeless who may not have been able to get food in restaurants, the hawkers whose perishable goods may have been spoilt.
I do not know politics, business or economics. But I watch human suffering and inconvenience helplessly, and feel guilty also that I did not do anything actively for such people. I tried to appease my conscience without much success, and went back to sipping tea and reading good books.
Why are we so insensitive to the reality of the common man? Those in power get away with anything and we quietly surrender our rights to them. Ironically many such moves are decided in the comfort of air-conditioned rooms, and are supposed to be “for” the common man. No one questions them and the poor are the greatest sufferers.
Next time something like this happens can a few of us work towards helping out those who are deprived of their daily wage?
