Many months ago, I had been flipping channels, thoroughly bored with no decent entertainment ever being available on any channel, when suddenly I saw a man sitting comfortably, cross legged, holding a light to the corner of his shawl. For a moment, I did not understand what he was trying to do. Then, horrified, I realized he was trying to immolate himself. The action was slow, and there was enough time to stop him. But, instead people watched and the TV camera panned on him in a leisurely manner, waiting for him to turn into a burning torch.
It was a performance being enacted for the news hungry media; anything, to get a byte to shock the viewers. After all, nothing sends the TRPs soaring like fear and horror. Strangely, the whole episode had no shock value for those who were actually there and seeing it first hand. It was just another tamasha to be watched and then move on. He was not another human being just like them, who perhaps, in his desperation to get some empathy for his plight had announced this step. He must have hoped somebody would care, at least the people around him; commoners, media and the arms of law would save him before he actually took the drastic step.
A similar incident took place some months ago when one hawker in Punjab immolated himself in full public view. It is the last resort of utter helplessness of an ordinary citizen, when he cannot find a single ear to listen.
To ensure, such an incident never takes place, the authorities, panchayat, relatives, friends should not only make all attempts to thwart such an act, but also to take him into safe custody, since, there is prior information and is to happen in a public place. At the same time, whenever someone announces his/her intention to immolate himself, concerning authorities should help in negotiations with the people/organizations that are driving an individual to commit suicide; a suicide, after all, all he/she is doing is to draw attention to his unresolved issues.
Secondly, all those (including media) who stand around waiting and watching at the scene of crime and allow such an act to be performed, should be arrested and convicted for abetting suicide. It is the moral duty of one citizen to not allow another to kill himself before his eyes. Not like this at least. It is not as if, he had a gun in his hand. They could have overpowered him, even before he poured kerosene/diesel over himself.
But no, all those who stood around, merely watched out of curiosity and some even got irritated when he did not get it right the first time. They even expressed doubts on the quality of the diesel used. It was not just a crime against one person, but against humanity. What have we come to?
Today, somebody’s father, husband, son would have been alive.
The local thanedar should be held accountable and be booked for dereliction of duty. After all, all such immolations take place with due notice. It’s just that the lives of ordinary people don’t matter to anyone.
And lastly, the media should be taken to court for showing such footage, again and again. In not doing their primary role, that of the fourth estate, which demands they prevent rather than record such incidents, even if they can. Do they realize how many more children, teenagers, impressionable and depressed people they are pushing on the same course by the visual depiction? It is despicable, how some channels are so desperate for viewership, they will show anything, however gory and terrible it maybe. They were busy making commerce out of an individual’s grief. It is not just highly irresponsible journalism, but, also, complete human decadence.
The court could take suo motto cognizance and send notices to all those who were present, especially media and police, for not stopping the man from killing himself.
The Information & Broadcasting Ministry should devise some guidelines for TV channels, whereby, they do not cross the Lakshman Rekha, since; they have failed to regulate themselves.
And lastly, all those who were harassing him, asking for bribe and not talking to him, should be brought to book. After all, there is no smoke without fire!
preeti_tej@hotmail.com
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