(This beautiful write up is contributed by Miss Parinita Hazarika. Parinita is a Asstt. Professor at Dibrugarh university institute of engineering n technology. My heartiest thanks to Parinita)
Human Rights violation has been a major topic of debate and discussion since ages and here, you won’t find any elaboration on my part on the various rights and acts meant for human rights protection. For, the Constitution of India illustrates them much better theoretically but unfortunately the practitioners of such rights and duties are very few in number.
Here,I, as the dual resident of two beautiful towns namely Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, in Assam would like to paint a life-like picture with words on different issues related to the topic, somewhat! Kindly don't cross- examine me as I’m not a seasoned writer of the first class order,yet I would like to point out some facts candidly and in good sense,not meant to hurt anybody! God forbid! Also I get diverted a lot. Pardon me! And I’m not being Aamir Khan; I do not even stand a flimsy chance, hats off to him! (Versatile actor and a praise-worthy person must admit!)
On the extreme opposite side of The Junction Mall and The United Bank of India in Dibrugarh, you’ll find a small time yet famous restaurant (for us of course!) which goes by the name of Mogambo(Not another sick joke from Mr India, please!). The Chicken Handi Biryani they serve there is out of this world, you all know about it, come on! If you would by chance raise your eyes from your scrumptious savouries, just outside the place you will find a wrinkled, scrawny kind of a man sitting by the pavement, beaten by age, grief, pain and hunger! Yes, right! He’s an old beggar, with a torn blanket, oversized baggy shirt and pants and a shaggy hat filled with some measly coins at times. Common monotonous description of a beggar, isn’t it? And yes, he stinks of the worst.......!! Yet, when he gazes with eyes full of hope, it feels like the end of the world! People throw money into his hat at times. Heaven knows if it’s enough to maintain his daily livelihood! Drifting off now......somewhat....once I handed him five hundred bucks out of true misery and sympathy, on the sly when my dearest friends were busy buying tickets for a fantastic movie. However, one of my dearest friend’s was spying (on the sly), and after that what happened at home base is another long, gory and violent story!!!!Yet, it was a bright day for me; the big, toothy smile on my Satan-like face showed it all, though my dearest friends looked like angry birds!! Of late however, I do not have the faintest notion as to where he has disappeared. Heaven bless the old beggar!
Next in line, comes an old, crazy woman in Tinsukia-yes, a beggar again; only she’s a bit delirious, keeps talking to herself. Sometimes she may be found near the Paradise cinema hall (it’s nothing like heaven, don’t get me wrong!), and at times near the old railway station in the all time favourite A.T.road (for shoppers!).Her garbs are quite unique and interesting-wears a blouse and a tattered skirt, and wraps layers of polythene sheets around herself, collected by her from the garbage heaps(no, it’s not the current trend of fashion guys!).Generally, she eats leftovers from the filthy garbage heaps or stares at the sweetmeats displayed in the’ seductive’ showcases of the nearby hotels thereby blabbing to herself and probably this way, she satisfies her hunger at times(got to try it, only I won’t blab because I would be busy drooling!).Observing the wrinkled contours of her face, Phil Collin’s famous rendering, “Another day in Paradise...,”comes to the mind at times; don’t worry I’m not providing background scores! Just wondering what would have happened if your or my mother or grandmother would have been in that position?? Pardon me for drifting off again......!
Once, near a well-reputed electronic equipments laden outlet in Dibrugarh, near Thana Chariali (no, it’s not the name of a person, it’s a road), I and all the denizens of that shop saw some miserable faces, smeared in mud and grime-(no guys, not guerrillas in camouflage but yes, everyday urchins from the ill-reputed untouchable colonies), staring from the Saint Gobain branded windows outside, at a LCD screen as a popular bollywood flick was being displayed to a customer. The moment the assistants saw them, all hell broke loose! There was awful cursing and swearing, baneful waving of arms and legs, even better than a Tony Jaa or a Jet Li movie! (Must copy next time I encounter an intruder!).Although the urchins escaped, one little urchin remained to view the wonders of the idiot box...he was caught by the ears and thrown off like a hand grenade and I could clearly hear the words ‘thieves...brats..’, under the heavy- whistling breath of the assistant.Allright, you are doing your job men! But, does staring at a LCD screen outside a shop make you a thief or a brat unless you are watching or thinking of something vile??What about the kids of those customers who touch everything inside a shop like those C.I.D. officers, even break things and escape with a smile and a pat on the heads from an over-acting shopkeeper and a rich (yet cursing, in mind) parent? No offence, but freedom is not your or my father’s sole prized possession! Excuse me, violent display of emotions...! Next time when I’m window-shopping, if by any god damn chance you happen to call me a thief, I’ll release my temper on you like those brave heart sons of electronic appliances! Beware!!
In Tinsukia, more than in Dibrugarh, you will find small time mobile tea-stalls as it is more of a commercial area rather than Dibrugarh. And who are the propagators of this thriving business in and around the varied flea- ridden, flies -dogs-cows’ infested yet busy and colourful market-place??Yes, you are right-the all time favourite ‘Chotus’ or ‘Puwalis’ (and yet we talk of prohibition of child labour!). But if any true son of Mother India views the residences of these little souls, their hearts would melt like a candle! Most of these chotus reside by the sides of the pavement; rain or sun, hail or storm they huddle together and face the elements thereby crossing the perils of the night(me thinks of Ulysses!). The same can be said about some of the part time newspaper delivery boys, some of the runny- nosed, frizzed-haired rag pickers, some miserable urchins who run hither and thither inside local trains at rest (thereby stepping on your Jimmy Choos ,Fendi or Kolhapuri chappals!Pardon me,o lord!)...lets continue...and then begging for alms when the train moves, some scrawny glint eyed small urchins (again!) near the movie halls or theatres etc etc. And I fear to think of those poor and vulnerable girls and women who become easy prey to pimps and ravenous beasts at night! I’m not talking about prostitutes here, for many of them it’s their sole source of livelihood. None of us bother to think as to what forces people whom we have named whores to sell themselves like goods; what about all those girls who are molested and who lead lives of pure hell afterwards.. Why bother?? So let’s continue cursing them and many others-‘shameless slut bitches’, ’son of a bitch’, ’fucking bastard,’ ‘darn shity rascals and assholes’ etc (No offence but now a days if you do not use the word ‘fuck’ in every sentence, you speak, you’ll be called an illiterate goon or uncivilized, and I must not forget to wash my mouth with soap and water. Over-acting? Okay!).
You must be thinking,’ this madcap has never ever been to other places than Tinsukia and Dibrugarh’.Allright then, let me tell you that once during the winter when I was on a trip to Shillong (in the wee hours of the morning when even the rooster hates to wake up!), I found a group of young boys in rags by the roadside, nestling cosily by the fire, wrapped in thin blankets. I have never ever experienced such a blissful sight other than in the readymade movies. At times as such when we dream of designer cardigans and ‘pashminas’, they show us the real value of life shredding our luxuriant materialistic dreams to itty-bitty pieces. However, people, kindly do not shed your attractive attires and scare the animals for the sake of fashion! This happens in case of both the sexes now a days; therefore it becomes immensely difficult to differentiate between the well to do and the downtrodden! Why in the name of Mother Earth do you all want to be Salman Khans or Sunny Leones??(Slip of the tongue, excuse me!)... Leave them alone; be who you are, take pride in your culture! Being modern in outlook is not bad; being modern and broad minded in the mindset is much better! Pardon me for the diversion again!
Only by donning a Being Human t-shirt or by shedding some tears while watching Aamir Khan’s television show, one does not become a philanthropist. He or she needs to contribute practically from heart and soul for the betterment of the society and I believe that I’m doing my bit in my own way. I also have faith that you all can do your part quite well from home base itself for the greater good of the society, in your own special little ways; after all charity begins at home...
So the next time any ‘chotu’wipes the windshields of your...say...Sedan or Lamborghini (yes sir, I’m dreaming), and your wife or girlfriend happens to notice a teensy-weensy spot, do not scold the poor guy. Rather, praise him for the neat job and hand him out an extra buck to make his day. Remember like you and I, he is contributing something on a daily basis for the family. The next time the delivery boy brings the newspaper a little bit late, do not screw his nerves up using nasty angry words; be patient and ask him the reason of being late. And if you are (feeling) kind, you may invite him to tea and ask his whereabouts. It does not hurt if you help a sick and dismayed being, lying by the road by volunteering to take him or her to the nearby hospital (Fine, I know you are not Gandhi or a Mother Teresa! I’m just asking you to try!) When the house-maid breaks a plate or a cup, do not shout as if it’s the end of the world. Patience again, you shall find a lot of up-to-date crockery in the market place. She is probably tensed due to work-load or maybe her husband’s or child’s ailment or constant warning from the landlord to vacate the house. Reasons might be a thousand and one, but if you lend her a helping hand, if you invite her children to your kid’s birthday party, if you add something extra occasionally to her wages, if you treat her like a good friend I guarantee you shall not win the Noble prize for peace but eternal love which will create immense happiness in your heart (and you’ll never lose your maid!).And that little girl, who helps you in the house, let her dream and play for sometime; let her study in a school; go and buy her a chocolate...! My best friend during my childhood was the little maid from the nearby house, who could climb nearly every tree in and around the housing colony! Now coming back to the present, you may at times tear yourselves away from the social networking sites, video games, iPhones-iPads and spend some quality time with your grandparents or you may visit an orphanage or a home for the elderly people... And do not throw away your old clothes, toys, appliances; collect them and donate these articles to the less fortunate; whether they are flood or earthquake victims, victims of war or people from the rehab centre does not matter; what matters is that you are the possessor of a beautiful mind and heart. And most important, do not avoid that molested girl in your locality like some fatal disease, do not look at her as if she is some animal from the zoo; her soul has been scratched by a devil (or devils) but you are not a devil. Show her some respect, give her some space, make her your sister or your best friend, make her feel like she’s the most beautiful woman in the world; only then, the poor being would be able to raise herself and face the world once again. People who harbour abject notions on womanhood are the most vicious animals lurking on the planet Earth (more than the tigers who make their presence felt in the capital sometimes!). Therefore treat all with dignity and respect; whether you are a man or a woman, whether you belong to the elite section or the low class, of which community you are a member of, does not matter at all, everybody deserves it (except hardcore villains responsible for destroying faith in humanity). Stop speculating about your neighbour’s daughter-with whom did she elope and why? You have not been invited by any Akhtar or Hirani to pen down the script of their next movie! Try bursting your bloated egos, tear off the masks and open your hearts, learn valuable lessons from the downtrodden and the unfortunate... and try making your selfish lives less complicated; after all you have not been invited for auditions for the lead role in Mission Impossible- 5!!
I’m not going to tire you anymore with my deranged ravings; but whatever has been stated above is all true...taking place in every nook and corner of the country! I’m not going to hand out sermons now, all of us possess common sense except souls inside an asylum, leave them alone! But it’s high time for people like us dominated by some crass and incomprehensible values of ultra modernism, to think on our own, to feel through our hearts and to do something benevolent rather than acting like comatose patients! All of us possess the ability to rectify and refine the deteriorating moral standard of the society by repairing our own sense of values and thereby providing lasting examples to the society.
Violation and Protection of human rights is a huge and endless topic and here I have touched (barely) some aspects only related to the topic. Yet, all of us possess the ability to ponder over such issues and to make special individual contribution of our own. Come on, no one is going to make fun of your efforts and if any one does so, pay no heed to the futile blood sucking parasite of the society, and do your bit in silence with dignity. Make your lives worthwhile to paint at least one beautiful smile on the heavenly face of a miserable little orphan or the wrinkled visage of an ancient abandoned demented soul..
Pic Source: :http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-32579719/stock-photo-cartoon-beggar.html
Here,I, as the dual resident of two beautiful towns namely Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, in Assam would like to paint a life-like picture with words on different issues related to the topic, somewhat! Kindly don't cross- examine me as I’m not a seasoned writer of the first class order,yet I would like to point out some facts candidly and in good sense,not meant to hurt anybody! God forbid! Also I get diverted a lot. Pardon me! And I’m not being Aamir Khan; I do not even stand a flimsy chance, hats off to him! (Versatile actor and a praise-worthy person must admit!)
On the extreme opposite side of The Junction Mall and The United Bank of India in Dibrugarh, you’ll find a small time yet famous restaurant (for us of course!) which goes by the name of Mogambo(Not another sick joke from Mr India, please!). The Chicken Handi Biryani they serve there is out of this world, you all know about it, come on! If you would by chance raise your eyes from your scrumptious savouries, just outside the place you will find a wrinkled, scrawny kind of a man sitting by the pavement, beaten by age, grief, pain and hunger! Yes, right! He’s an old beggar, with a torn blanket, oversized baggy shirt and pants and a shaggy hat filled with some measly coins at times. Common monotonous description of a beggar, isn’t it? And yes, he stinks of the worst.......!! Yet, when he gazes with eyes full of hope, it feels like the end of the world! People throw money into his hat at times. Heaven knows if it’s enough to maintain his daily livelihood! Drifting off now......somewhat....once I handed him five hundred bucks out of true misery and sympathy, on the sly when my dearest friends were busy buying tickets for a fantastic movie. However, one of my dearest friend’s was spying (on the sly), and after that what happened at home base is another long, gory and violent story!!!!Yet, it was a bright day for me; the big, toothy smile on my Satan-like face showed it all, though my dearest friends looked like angry birds!! Of late however, I do not have the faintest notion as to where he has disappeared. Heaven bless the old beggar!
Next in line, comes an old, crazy woman in Tinsukia-yes, a beggar again; only she’s a bit delirious, keeps talking to herself. Sometimes she may be found near the Paradise cinema hall (it’s nothing like heaven, don’t get me wrong!), and at times near the old railway station in the all time favourite A.T.road (for shoppers!).Her garbs are quite unique and interesting-wears a blouse and a tattered skirt, and wraps layers of polythene sheets around herself, collected by her from the garbage heaps(no, it’s not the current trend of fashion guys!).Generally, she eats leftovers from the filthy garbage heaps or stares at the sweetmeats displayed in the’ seductive’ showcases of the nearby hotels thereby blabbing to herself and probably this way, she satisfies her hunger at times(got to try it, only I won’t blab because I would be busy drooling!).Observing the wrinkled contours of her face, Phil Collin’s famous rendering, “Another day in Paradise...,”comes to the mind at times; don’t worry I’m not providing background scores! Just wondering what would have happened if your or my mother or grandmother would have been in that position?? Pardon me for drifting off again......!
Once, near a well-reputed electronic equipments laden outlet in Dibrugarh, near Thana Chariali (no, it’s not the name of a person, it’s a road), I and all the denizens of that shop saw some miserable faces, smeared in mud and grime-(no guys, not guerrillas in camouflage but yes, everyday urchins from the ill-reputed untouchable colonies), staring from the Saint Gobain branded windows outside, at a LCD screen as a popular bollywood flick was being displayed to a customer. The moment the assistants saw them, all hell broke loose! There was awful cursing and swearing, baneful waving of arms and legs, even better than a Tony Jaa or a Jet Li movie! (Must copy next time I encounter an intruder!).Although the urchins escaped, one little urchin remained to view the wonders of the idiot box...he was caught by the ears and thrown off like a hand grenade and I could clearly hear the words ‘thieves...brats..’, under the heavy- whistling breath of the assistant.Allright, you are doing your job men! But, does staring at a LCD screen outside a shop make you a thief or a brat unless you are watching or thinking of something vile??What about the kids of those customers who touch everything inside a shop like those C.I.D. officers, even break things and escape with a smile and a pat on the heads from an over-acting shopkeeper and a rich (yet cursing, in mind) parent? No offence, but freedom is not your or my father’s sole prized possession! Excuse me, violent display of emotions...! Next time when I’m window-shopping, if by any god damn chance you happen to call me a thief, I’ll release my temper on you like those brave heart sons of electronic appliances! Beware!!
In Tinsukia, more than in Dibrugarh, you will find small time mobile tea-stalls as it is more of a commercial area rather than Dibrugarh. And who are the propagators of this thriving business in and around the varied flea- ridden, flies -dogs-cows’ infested yet busy and colourful market-place??Yes, you are right-the all time favourite ‘Chotus’ or ‘Puwalis’ (and yet we talk of prohibition of child labour!). But if any true son of Mother India views the residences of these little souls, their hearts would melt like a candle! Most of these chotus reside by the sides of the pavement; rain or sun, hail or storm they huddle together and face the elements thereby crossing the perils of the night(me thinks of Ulysses!). The same can be said about some of the part time newspaper delivery boys, some of the runny- nosed, frizzed-haired rag pickers, some miserable urchins who run hither and thither inside local trains at rest (thereby stepping on your Jimmy Choos ,Fendi or Kolhapuri chappals!Pardon me,o lord!)...lets continue...and then begging for alms when the train moves, some scrawny glint eyed small urchins (again!) near the movie halls or theatres etc etc. And I fear to think of those poor and vulnerable girls and women who become easy prey to pimps and ravenous beasts at night! I’m not talking about prostitutes here, for many of them it’s their sole source of livelihood. None of us bother to think as to what forces people whom we have named whores to sell themselves like goods; what about all those girls who are molested and who lead lives of pure hell afterwards.. Why bother?? So let’s continue cursing them and many others-‘shameless slut bitches’, ’son of a bitch’, ’fucking bastard,’ ‘darn shity rascals and assholes’ etc (No offence but now a days if you do not use the word ‘fuck’ in every sentence, you speak, you’ll be called an illiterate goon or uncivilized, and I must not forget to wash my mouth with soap and water. Over-acting? Okay!).
You must be thinking,’ this madcap has never ever been to other places than Tinsukia and Dibrugarh’.Allright then, let me tell you that once during the winter when I was on a trip to Shillong (in the wee hours of the morning when even the rooster hates to wake up!), I found a group of young boys in rags by the roadside, nestling cosily by the fire, wrapped in thin blankets. I have never ever experienced such a blissful sight other than in the readymade movies. At times as such when we dream of designer cardigans and ‘pashminas’, they show us the real value of life shredding our luxuriant materialistic dreams to itty-bitty pieces. However, people, kindly do not shed your attractive attires and scare the animals for the sake of fashion! This happens in case of both the sexes now a days; therefore it becomes immensely difficult to differentiate between the well to do and the downtrodden! Why in the name of Mother Earth do you all want to be Salman Khans or Sunny Leones??(Slip of the tongue, excuse me!)... Leave them alone; be who you are, take pride in your culture! Being modern in outlook is not bad; being modern and broad minded in the mindset is much better! Pardon me for the diversion again!
Only by donning a Being Human t-shirt or by shedding some tears while watching Aamir Khan’s television show, one does not become a philanthropist. He or she needs to contribute practically from heart and soul for the betterment of the society and I believe that I’m doing my bit in my own way. I also have faith that you all can do your part quite well from home base itself for the greater good of the society, in your own special little ways; after all charity begins at home...
So the next time any ‘chotu’wipes the windshields of your...say...Sedan or Lamborghini (yes sir, I’m dreaming), and your wife or girlfriend happens to notice a teensy-weensy spot, do not scold the poor guy. Rather, praise him for the neat job and hand him out an extra buck to make his day. Remember like you and I, he is contributing something on a daily basis for the family. The next time the delivery boy brings the newspaper a little bit late, do not screw his nerves up using nasty angry words; be patient and ask him the reason of being late. And if you are (feeling) kind, you may invite him to tea and ask his whereabouts. It does not hurt if you help a sick and dismayed being, lying by the road by volunteering to take him or her to the nearby hospital (Fine, I know you are not Gandhi or a Mother Teresa! I’m just asking you to try!) When the house-maid breaks a plate or a cup, do not shout as if it’s the end of the world. Patience again, you shall find a lot of up-to-date crockery in the market place. She is probably tensed due to work-load or maybe her husband’s or child’s ailment or constant warning from the landlord to vacate the house. Reasons might be a thousand and one, but if you lend her a helping hand, if you invite her children to your kid’s birthday party, if you add something extra occasionally to her wages, if you treat her like a good friend I guarantee you shall not win the Noble prize for peace but eternal love which will create immense happiness in your heart (and you’ll never lose your maid!).And that little girl, who helps you in the house, let her dream and play for sometime; let her study in a school; go and buy her a chocolate...! My best friend during my childhood was the little maid from the nearby house, who could climb nearly every tree in and around the housing colony! Now coming back to the present, you may at times tear yourselves away from the social networking sites, video games, iPhones-iPads and spend some quality time with your grandparents or you may visit an orphanage or a home for the elderly people... And do not throw away your old clothes, toys, appliances; collect them and donate these articles to the less fortunate; whether they are flood or earthquake victims, victims of war or people from the rehab centre does not matter; what matters is that you are the possessor of a beautiful mind and heart. And most important, do not avoid that molested girl in your locality like some fatal disease, do not look at her as if she is some animal from the zoo; her soul has been scratched by a devil (or devils) but you are not a devil. Show her some respect, give her some space, make her your sister or your best friend, make her feel like she’s the most beautiful woman in the world; only then, the poor being would be able to raise herself and face the world once again. People who harbour abject notions on womanhood are the most vicious animals lurking on the planet Earth (more than the tigers who make their presence felt in the capital sometimes!). Therefore treat all with dignity and respect; whether you are a man or a woman, whether you belong to the elite section or the low class, of which community you are a member of, does not matter at all, everybody deserves it (except hardcore villains responsible for destroying faith in humanity). Stop speculating about your neighbour’s daughter-with whom did she elope and why? You have not been invited by any Akhtar or Hirani to pen down the script of their next movie! Try bursting your bloated egos, tear off the masks and open your hearts, learn valuable lessons from the downtrodden and the unfortunate... and try making your selfish lives less complicated; after all you have not been invited for auditions for the lead role in Mission Impossible- 5!!
I’m not going to tire you anymore with my deranged ravings; but whatever has been stated above is all true...taking place in every nook and corner of the country! I’m not going to hand out sermons now, all of us possess common sense except souls inside an asylum, leave them alone! But it’s high time for people like us dominated by some crass and incomprehensible values of ultra modernism, to think on our own, to feel through our hearts and to do something benevolent rather than acting like comatose patients! All of us possess the ability to rectify and refine the deteriorating moral standard of the society by repairing our own sense of values and thereby providing lasting examples to the society.
Violation and Protection of human rights is a huge and endless topic and here I have touched (barely) some aspects only related to the topic. Yet, all of us possess the ability to ponder over such issues and to make special individual contribution of our own. Come on, no one is going to make fun of your efforts and if any one does so, pay no heed to the futile blood sucking parasite of the society, and do your bit in silence with dignity. Make your lives worthwhile to paint at least one beautiful smile on the heavenly face of a miserable little orphan or the wrinkled visage of an ancient abandoned demented soul..
Miss Parinita Hazarika,
(A simple and sane person on the planet Earth)
Pic Source: :http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-32579719/stock-photo-cartoon-beggar.html
