Our tragedy is different from what tragedies usually mean. The difference lies in the way we respond to any fresh development. We fume at the pettiest and ignore the gravest. We are losing (or may be we have lost) the distinction between the most serious and the most trivial.
A petty issue swept the whole week. Infact calling it an issue means lending weight to it. A teenage girl band triggered a fierce argument between music lovers and music haters. What followed was a comic display of anger which could be enjoyed and lamented at once. It drowned a grave concern like rape and AFSPA. Verma Commission recommendations paled into insignificance as some Moulvi suddenly slapped a fatwa (his extra assignment as Naeem Akhter puts it in addition to the two moon-sighting spectacles) against the band. Well, Moulvi did his job but what it entailed was pain, shame and ignominy. Was it done to give a malicious spin to a chain of events which all go against us as a people or it was a usual amusement which such Moulvis are known for? That question can be left answered, but what needs a serious thought is the way even crimes are being redefined in our context. Justice Verma report came as a breather in the wake of some horrendous events. Admiration was still pouring in and hopes were alive that it will finally come to fruition. Silence fell as the ordinance was seen silent on what it was expected to voice its concern for. It certainly wasn't about declaring Kashmir a dispute which could have possibly harmed the national interest. It was about human dignity and safety. Conflict zones do necessitate a different policy for the volatility of the situation. But  no matter the region you are dealing with, honour and life weigh same everywhere. Infact for trouble-torn zones, the laws have to be even stricter so that the conflict doesn't become an excuse for law-enforcers to go on rampage. That – unfortunately - didn't happen.
Tail piece: `People should rally behind these young girls and defend their right to sing'. Thus screamed a Delhi-based civil rights activist on an Indian television channel! Sure. We promise we will do that, but who will rally behind us and defend our right to live? And who will finally fix the priority for us. Do we need to sing first to live or live first to sing. What precedes what?

Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST