By Shishir Joshi
I remember watching him two nights ago, a little away from where I live. Not so old. Not so young either. He stepped out from a building across, possibly for a late night post-dinner stroll. His purposeful strides betrayed his intentions. He had come out from a meeting of senior citizens who had told him of how locals in the neighbourhood had torched a Holi bonfire on the night of Holika dahan (the night prior to the day of colours). Nothing unusual, except, that the bonfire was lit dangerously close to one of the housing structures. While the shelter was not damaged, the telephone lines had got charred, resulting in about 150 lines in the area being rendered dead.
The not-so-young man walked out of the meeting and went straight to a bunch of youngsters in their late teens. I noticed them every night, chatting away animatedly under the tube light, making room for themselves in two parked-for-the-night auto rickshaws which also belonged to one of them. These youngsters lived in the shanties along the building where this not-so-young (NSY) guy had emerged from.
I saw him engage in a conversation with these youngsters, asking them if they knew who had lit the bonfire so close to the wall. “What’s your problem”, asked one of them arrogantly. It is not in front of your house, grunted another.
The NSY man told them that it may not be his problem, but, telephone cables of the area had got ruptured because of the fire. The youngsters kept denying any knowledge of those responsible for the fire and yet, began verbally heckling the NSY. “Did it damage your wall, if not why are you complaining”, said one. Ho do you know so many telephone lines have been damaged, questioned another. Patiently, the NSY chap replied, trying to get the youngsters to see reason. Maybe MTNL should not have put the wire box at that location. We will continue to light the fire here. At this defiant response, the NSY chap lost his cool. Chutiyas are those who lit the fire, without thinking of public safety, he remarked, before turning away.
No sooner had he said that, than the youngsters pounced on him. Demanding why he had been abusive. Not for once repentant about the damage they had caused. This went on for five more minutes before the NSY chap finally retreated.
I could see the youngsters had now ganged up. For a moment, I thought they were disturbed that their bonfire had caused damage and that’s what they were discussing. I was wrong…. very wrong
They were angry with the NSY chap for calling them chutiyas. Within a few minutes, I saw the NSY chap walking back…. towards the same crowd. Here, I thought to my self is a showdown brewing. The silence and tension was palpable. The NSY came up, called the youngsters together and said. “Guys, I am sorry for having called you Chutiyas. I went home and returned, only to apologise to you. Bad language is not what I subscribe to. But, I am pleading with you, please do not burn the bonfire so close to a shelter the next time.” Having said his piece the NSY chap rendering left, rendering the youngsters speechless.
I know who this NSY chap is. I also know he is not one to use foul language. But, he was provoked into doing so. I also sensed why he went to apologise to the youngsters. It wasn’t only because his own usage of foul language was bothering him. But, he was worried about the outcome. The youngsters, locals, had the protection of the unwritten law. Their confidence to have a street fight, or a bonfire which can damage homes, and get away with it, emerged from the inability of the local leaders to rein them in. Inability of the police force, which lacked the spine to act against them! A confidence which this not-so- young chap no longed could boast of. He was also worried that in his absence, these youngsters were more than capable of causing harm to parked vehicles or the senior citizens, out of spite.
This was just one small battle that the middle-class had fought. And possibly lost!
In such straightforward a manner too. How do we expect him to win the war? At one level, one criticises Karan Johar for having met Raj Thackeray and placated him to ensure that his movie gets smooth passage. Or a Bachchan singing paeans of the senior Thackeray depending on which way the wind is blowing. Mind you, the state government has time and again promised action against these goons. But then, look closely. Does a Johar or a Bachchan or a MF Husain stand a chance against goons? Especially when the rulers have failed us time and again? Do we aim for the war? Or waste our energies fighting the smaller battles? Don’t you think we could be more tactical and start voting, to begin with? Rather than not vote and then expect the government to protect us?
Or be a cynic and go on your holiday on Voting day?
(Mumbai based Shishir Joshi is Journalist and Mentor and co-founder of JM Foundation for Excellence in Journalism, Mumbai. He can be reached on [email protected])