Among many other events of different hues and shades that we have had privilege or misfortune (depends whether it was winning cricket world cup twice or unification of two Germanies or Sqn Leader Sharma in space OR Tsumani in SE Asia or WTC attacks or scams and scandals....and the list goes on and on and on!), our generation is in the process of witnessing a catastrophe in Uttarakhand. I say,'in the process' because no one really knows when the tragedy will get over finally. I am afraid it will be long after people of my vintage are gone because such scars (more because of inhumane acts than floods per se) take a lifetime to heal.....ask those who have survived the ordeal!
Debates on TV and articles in print media notwithstanding, things have certainly gone wrong somewhere. Some blame it on the mad race to build dams and roads (globally accepted definition of development even though we ignore global safety standards quite conveniently), others see religious reasons like shifting of a statue. I am no authority and want to pass no judgement. Having been to such areas as a traveller, I would (though) confess that one usually got that sick feeling when one drove on certain roads in lower Himalayas. In any case, we need to look ahead and think of ways to avoid such tragedies. And as a layman, I would go with what Tom Alter had to say a few days ago. He believes, and I support while I quote,"..let us, at least for next five years, do our char-dham yatra as it was being done for centuries before we decided to build roads there!" (I unquote, with errors and modifications) And why not!
A pilgrimage is a time to move away from material world, both emotionally and physically. Why attempts must be made to say hello to Gods directly after alighting from your SUVs and not otherwise. Having grown in the lap of the Vaishno Devi and having been there numerous times, I do feel the change. We would soon be, if all goes on as planned, saying hello to Mother Deity directly after alighting from our vehicles whether electrical or flying! Pilgrimages, if believers are to be believed, are meant for fortunate ones who would be called by sitting deities to present themselves when the moment comes. Today, it is a matter of a few clicks on a website and some currency in the bank and you are ready to 'shout' right in the years of the deity. And yes, you do not mind littering, you do not mind indulging (see my post on Rishikesh..31 March(second part)), you ignore others' comforts and you do throw all courtesies to wind, you click pics where you are not supposed to, you ogle at fair sex and YET you are on a so called 'pilgrimage'.
I may not be an orthodox believer; I may not see gods in statues and temples but I do feel HIM in my own way. But when, after having seen and having felt upset over all such happenings, I am told that it was cosmic dance of Shiva (ताण्डव ,ie), I tend to believe the rumours. In fact, sounding harsh as I may be, it was long over -due.
We must, no doubts, think global while planning developments, duly incorporating global standards of safety and disaster management. But not every area on this globe is amenable to constructions and blastings and we must have the good sense to accept such realities with grace because if we have the intelligence to overcome such hurdles, we must also possess the ability to assess the stakes that get thrown in and the likely costs that might have to be paid on a bad day. I do not intend indulging into facts and debates as to electricity produced at place A gets utilised where finally nor do I pretend to be Mr Know All. All that I would request my countrymen, the wise men ie, that while going in for world class projects, lets realistically assess local conditions and ground realities and then see if prevailing global safety standards can fit the mosaic. And if any compromise is made with the safety and that too in a good faith, let us first create a balance sheet and see the likely costs that will have to be paid if the idea backfires. Ask me, I would rather remain cut off, would rather read in a kerosene -lit diya rather than usher in a culture where corpses are mutilated and survivors extorted in a land that is believed to be inhabited by our deities and gods. In any case, I will do everything to make sure that I am not made to witness the ताण्डव that our generation has had the misfortune of watching helplessly as videos from the cursed hills descended on our computer and TV screens. I do not ever want to hear stories about what goons did to helpless victims in a land where Lord Shiva's गन are believed to be roaming!
