What a chimera is this!!!!!

Incident 1: 

In a heart-breaking incident, we have a poor tribal carrying his wife's dead body for 6 hours left to fend for himself, denying all humanitarian aid even by the person videographed and photographed and the collector says, 'he did not ask any help'.

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-haunting-image-man-walks-with-body-of-wife-on-shoulder-in-odisha-1450240

Incident 2: 

In another heart-breaking incident, we have Mr. Piotr Malachowski, a Polish discus thrower, who fought and won a medal in Rio Olympics the other day, auctions it to fund treatment for a three year old boy stuck with cancer rescuing the humanity and telling the world, that the "life's medal is much more worth than a medal of silver, bronze or gold."

http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/polish-olympian-sells-medal-to-save-3-year-old-battling-cancer-1450549?site=full

I am not comparing the events for the sake of blogging. But this is our reality. 

What is wrong with our system? Who is at fault? Who is right?

We speak and write about issues. But when it comes to respond to the reality, we become 'smart' with our 'smart-phones' capturing the 'crucial moments' and later justify our claims. When it becomes 'viral' we take pride in our 'shooting.' 

Weeks ago when someone pulled off the skin of a dead animal, it was skinning their mothers, for the cow is their mother god. Weeks after, in the same vicinity when someone denied to dispose the carcass of a dead cow, it becomes a revolt against the 'division of labour' prescribed by the smrti and sruti. Has our culturation, encultured us? Has our education, educated us? 

Speech is an art. Content of it is culture. One who rides the chariot is a King and the horses are his. He has the right to drive it anywhere, but not to the place where there is a real war, a war of poverty, illiteracy, differences, murk and what-else. Someone has rightly said, 'teach the man to catch fish and don't catch the fish and give.' True. I agree. But you don't get the fish the moment you throw the bait into the water. Person needs stamina, power, thinking, alertness and patience. Empower the person first with these. Then, even if you do not teach, no problem, the person will swim and catch. 

They are so, not because they lack skills,

They are so, not because they lack personnel,

They are so, not because they lack talents,

They are so, not because they lack culture,

They are so, not because they lack thinking

They are so, not because they lack stamina

They are so, not because they lack power

But they are so, because they are not given opportunity

They are so, because we have made them so

They are so, because we have not shown our humanity

They are so, because we believed in 'having more' and not 'being more'

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

Our Social Reality

I do not know from where these lines are coming. Received them as a forward in my WhatsApp. Kudos to the one who coined it. With the author of these lines, I echo my gratefulness to our  athletes in the arena for making us proud. 

"For the Indian girls at Rio...

They defeated the ultrasound that declared 'it' was a 'she'.

They defeated the nurse declaring in a sombre tone 'ladki hai'.

They defeated murderous parents or even worse those who keep them alive but kill their spirit every single day.

They defeated the odds against them for parents "allowing" her to chase her dream.

They defeated the family pride that wants every Indian child to be a doctor or engineer.

They defeated the school teacher who said "it's not a girl's game".

They defeated bad sports infrastructure and even lack of healthy food needed to fuel the fire.

They defeated a system where overweight foreign travelling officials, who have only played Ludo as a sports, decide her fate.

They defeated the Dada-Nana who told her "good girls don't wear short clothes".

They defeated the Dadi-Nani who told her not to play in sun and become "kaali-kaluthi."

They defeated friends who told her she needs to "control aggression and chill."

They defeated the pados waali Aunty ji who wondered "akele kahan-kahan ghumti hai aapki ladki."

They defeated the million eyes staring at her legs and not noticing the brilliant game she played.

They defeated the Bua jee and Mausi jee who ask "tum shadi kab karogi."

They defeated the journalist who asked her when she would "settle".

They defeated the cynics who thought they were pouting and clicking selfies on a fully paid foreign trip.

So dare not take even a slice of her glory by calling her HUMARI BETI!

They have achieved what they have, not because of us. But despite us!"

I am proud of our girls at Rio, I congratulate them, Bless them, and wish them all the success in the future. I want to tell them, no matter what the society says and treats, you are the pride of our country. It is your hard work, hours of sweat that today where you are now. We are proud of you. 

Those athletes, who have not brought any gold, silver or bronze, need not worry or feel bad. You must feel proud, great and happy that you are the chosen ones to represent the country having over crores of people. Sportsman spirit is not just getting medals, it is in participation. There can be only one winner. Real worth of gold is known when it is tested. Take this rich experience of Olympic as an inspiration and you will see the results in the coming days. Today, your names are heard and noticed in every house-hold and not the names of politicians or writers who babble for vein  glory. We hate such people, but love you dear friends. 

* Raju Felix Crasta