In a sensationalism-driven media world, one by one the stripes emerge of Rohingya refugees, hungry, with no sanitary facilities and now giving birth to stateless babies in a country not their own. Aid that trickles through does so painfully slow. The biggest tragedy is an almost apathetic view of our countrymen beyond the oho and ahas. The refugee influx isn't new, though perhaps bigger in size but sense and sensibility have been completely lost.
Hospitable is a value proudly revered but it would seem that too has been buried under the mindless mire of sensational but less important events. 'I'm the excitement of it all'-- we seem to have forgotten the hapless millions trying to build their lives after the devastation of the floods.
We weren't like this. In the 1988 floods, students took over the DUCSU cafeteria rolling out countless rotis, the neighbourhood contributed in their own way and groups of dedicated student volunteers went to affected areas to ensure distribution. Forty years on they must still be around yet no organisation be their political front organisations or BGIs or simply local communities seem oblivious to both catastrophes.
The economy was weaker in the 1980s but not today. And yet milk producers and distributors have not lifted a finger to help. Rice traders have been in heated arguments with the food minister but no one is suggesting relief convoys or gruel kitchens. One shudders to think what would have happened if Indians had stood around with folded arms during the 1971 refugee influx.
And to add insult to the injury foreign media on the ground have been shocked at the mismanagement that ultimately brought the armed forces into display. The International Office of Immigration jumped in with 14,000 tents, fourteen thousand to shelter close to 400,000 people; it leaves a sick feeling in the stomach. Slow as it was donations to the Prime Minister's Relief fund have begun to come in, but is it too little too late.
The Relief Ministry could have summoned in all agencies to chalk out accountability but again politics and egos could not be risked. Common people reeling under massive price increases of essentials can't totally be blamed but not a single major trade body or affluent individual is suggesting donation of a few meals a day. The civil society and intellectuals choose to be silent and the concept of sharing seems something remote.
The refugees and flood affected need poles and tin sheets to rebuild their homes but all the fancy advertising companies are blissfully silent, waiting no doubt for the business opportunities of brisk sales.
But what hurts the most is the absence of big businesses and banks in their positive response. Think too about the softer hearted school children, who haven't been motivated to offer up a day's tiffin. And the waste! Big hotels and confectionaries combined can feed a substantial army provided transport agencies came forward to do their bit. And as for the public representatives, one day's allowance for attending parliament would have gone a long way.
The scripture says 'God helps those who help themselves'. When the tables turn, as they did in 1971, it was a sight for sore eyes. Now it just causes the sores to multiply.