A large share of India is passing through a phase of heat wave.
Social media is not only flooded with “moral sermons” of “maintain the greenery”; deluge of tasteless jokes are getting showered revolving the heat – – even going to the extent of bringing the “great Sanatani” custom of Sati also into the discourse! Yes those who are trying to lie on bed (despite enjoying the luxury of staying at home and avoiding the scorching heat) are getting reminded of burning in pyres like those widows of few centuries ago! Had these “heat-sensitive” lot possessed minimum heart within their ribcage, perhaps they would have refrained from making a mockery of the unfathomable torture meted to the Hindu women across several centuries!
In this heartless insensitive selfish scenario, it is too much to expect minimum sense ethics from these “heat-tortured” souls!
When social media is immersed in Do’s and Dont’s related to the heat wave (don’t venture outside, intake lots of water – – though all are well aware of it since generations) along with senseless jokes; innumerable non-privileged hard-working souls are bravely negotiating these harsh conditions with head held high (might be compelled to do so for the sake of livelihood, but we must salute their courage and effort)! Can’t these “vulnerable” lot see in their own eyes how despite the centigrade surpassing 40 degree, labourers are painting towering complexes by swinging on ropes or engaged in construction of buildings! Who are driving rickshaws autos E-vehicles and buses in these conditions! So that the privileged can enjoy luxuries right within the comforts of home, the gig workers are frantically rushing upon bikes with Himalayan load upon the shoulder to deliver the ordered items within astonishingly narrow time frame! Less said about the farming community the better!
In many slums, countless people have to share hardly a fan in unventilated condition! Perhaps they are not human beings or they are not supposed to be affected by the heat!
In contrast, the privileged class are painting the town red revolving around the “heat” despite enjoying the luxury of adequate fan AC refrigerator and cold drinks!
What a deluge of insensitivity heartlessness and obscenity!
Actually the “educated” privileged class simply do not recognise any other “creatures” barring their own!
This is the very reason why a certain Bollywood superstar had dared to tweet (following a certain “God’s” attainment of that statistical jugglery of “century of centuries”) – – “From now onwards, whole India can sleep peacefully at night”! In this very country, millions of our own citizens (including children) have to spend the night with pangs of hunger! Millions engaged in child/bonded labour. Countless are simply homeless sharing space with street dogs and rodents! Innumerable people suffer in various diseases for failing to receive medical facilities or medicines. Yet all can afford to enjoy “peaceful sleep” at night just because a cricketing superstar has achieved a personal record! Either these suffering millions do not get counted as citizens or their plight should never matter at all in “national consciousness”!
No wonder why when billions of poorest of poor were marching on the highways following instant lockdown in starved stomachs with many collapsing on streets ; privileged lot were posting pics of consumption of Dalgona coffee to count the number of “likes” and beating pots and pans on balconies! Or going over the moon just because our spacecraft has invaded the dark side of the lunar body ; never mind if darkness of poverty and hunger continue to dominate over majority of the Indians!
This is simply a heartless society. And amidst such insensitivity, it is natural that the privileged class will continue to play the role of “victim” and have fun over the heat wave in social media!
Salute to the ocean of faceless unsung marginalised hardworking souls for building the infrastructure of the nation through honest toil and perspiration without creating minimum fuss.
