A year has passed since Rizwanur lost his life for his love.
Lot of questions been asked, views exchanged, candles lit, consciences introspected, the social and religious dogmas shaken; the concept of civil liberties, the right of social justice discussed exhaustively. People have wept for Rizwanur, they have stood up for him, and they have fought for him.
A lot has happened for someone who could easily be classed as “a nobody” in our country. Somebody not connected to the police, the politicians or the underworld and did not have filthy amount of money to lavish on all of the above. Sadly that is the profile of most of us. And perhaps that is why Rizwanur feels so close to us. For it could easily be you, me or her.
Most of us are pragmatic. We accept the chains of society and religion that tie us. We do not dare and at times do not even yearn to break free. We accept our limitations. We know we cannot fight the power of religion on one hand and the police, politicians and the underworld on the other. So we give up, at times with bitterness and on occasions with frustration. But deep down, the ordinary nobody in us always wants to be somebody. Somebody who wants to make a difference, somebody who can break free. And that is why Rizwanur feels like a hero to us. For he was the nobody who actually became somebody.
But was it all worth it?
There are lots of questions lot of us need to answer. If not to others then at least to ourselves.
In a moment of pure speculation the mind wanders and asks what would the person who may have actually killed Rizwanur be thinking one year on? What did they do with the money they got? Bought their kids their school books, a new pair of shorts! Every time they caress the messy hair of their little one do they remember Rizwanur!
Perhaps he was not murdered. Perhaps he was driven to suicide. Anyone feels responsible!? One year on Perhaps a tear of repentance, an unspoken apology- would it lessen their burden of guilt- who knows? In their solitude do they ever feel they made a mistake? Could they have done things differently?
To those who hold power and are supposed to look after the law of the land-the police and politicians alike- it is hard for them to do any soul searching for their cannot be much of it left in them. But still it’s worth a try. The nexus, the bullying, the high handedness, the disregard of the constitution was it all worth it? You can be moved around, shuffled, demoted and promoted, you can run and hide from the media gaze but can you hide from yourself. When your kids go to school do you worry about their safety in the jungle you have created and perpetuated? History is at least read if not learnt from. Doubtless the next generation in your families will read this history in years to come. Will they be proud of what you gave them?
Lot many questions remain- some we need to answer or at least think about? Have we changed our perspectives? Are we ready to sacrifice our dogmatic views and prejudices? What are we doing for developing a fairer and more tolerant society? What are we doing to protect our kids? Shall we chain them and tell them never to break free or should we give them the wings to fly? Shall we keep reminding them they are nobodies and should always remain so just like us or shall we teach them to be somebody?
Lot of questions been asked, views exchanged, candles lit, consciences introspected, the social and religious dogmas shaken; the concept of civil liberties, the right of social justice discussed exhaustively. People have wept for Rizwanur, they have stood up for him, and they have fought for him.
A lot has happened for someone who could easily be classed as “a nobody” in our country. Somebody not connected to the police, the politicians or the underworld and did not have filthy amount of money to lavish on all of the above. Sadly that is the profile of most of us. And perhaps that is why Rizwanur feels so close to us. For it could easily be you, me or her.
Most of us are pragmatic. We accept the chains of society and religion that tie us. We do not dare and at times do not even yearn to break free. We accept our limitations. We know we cannot fight the power of religion on one hand and the police, politicians and the underworld on the other. So we give up, at times with bitterness and on occasions with frustration. But deep down, the ordinary nobody in us always wants to be somebody. Somebody who wants to make a difference, somebody who can break free. And that is why Rizwanur feels like a hero to us. For he was the nobody who actually became somebody.
But was it all worth it?
There are lots of questions lot of us need to answer. If not to others then at least to ourselves.
In a moment of pure speculation the mind wanders and asks what would the person who may have actually killed Rizwanur be thinking one year on? What did they do with the money they got? Bought their kids their school books, a new pair of shorts! Every time they caress the messy hair of their little one do they remember Rizwanur!
Perhaps he was not murdered. Perhaps he was driven to suicide. Anyone feels responsible!? One year on Perhaps a tear of repentance, an unspoken apology- would it lessen their burden of guilt- who knows? In their solitude do they ever feel they made a mistake? Could they have done things differently?
To those who hold power and are supposed to look after the law of the land-the police and politicians alike- it is hard for them to do any soul searching for their cannot be much of it left in them. But still it’s worth a try. The nexus, the bullying, the high handedness, the disregard of the constitution was it all worth it? You can be moved around, shuffled, demoted and promoted, you can run and hide from the media gaze but can you hide from yourself. When your kids go to school do you worry about their safety in the jungle you have created and perpetuated? History is at least read if not learnt from. Doubtless the next generation in your families will read this history in years to come. Will they be proud of what you gave them?
Lot many questions remain- some we need to answer or at least think about? Have we changed our perspectives? Are we ready to sacrifice our dogmatic views and prejudices? What are we doing for developing a fairer and more tolerant society? What are we doing to protect our kids? Shall we chain them and tell them never to break free or should we give them the wings to fly? Shall we keep reminding them they are nobodies and should always remain so just like us or shall we teach them to be somebody?
Altleast for the time being the miscreants clad in police uniforms have found themselves behind bars.
Justice is the inevitable.
Love seeks nothing. Love fears nothing. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. [1 Corinthians 13:4-8a]
Can we still believe in love?
Love seeks nothing. Love fears nothing. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. [1 Corinthians 13:4-8a]
Can we still believe in love?
I for one am not very sure.....
