By Robert Clements
A Long, Long Walk..!
It’s a long walk he’s settled himself to do, from Manipur to Mumbai!
Six thousand seven hundred and thirteen kilometres!
Stretching and arduous, it’s going to be, but tis not the distance covered that will be tiresome and difficult, but the uncovering and tending of all the pain, the hurt, the anger and hatred that have been exploited in the minds and heart of the nation, that needs to be soothed by gentle steps, compassionate strides!
The beard will grow I know, but what if…. if love can be regrown into this nation, those unshaven looks will not be in vain. If a mending can happen between neighbour and neighbour, if love can be re-fostered twixt those who worship differently, if friendships, cleverly fractured be fused together, if eyes made to focus only on pictures of hatred be restored to their original vision, then may God above bless each of those six thousand seven hundred and thirteen kilometres his feet touch.
It’s a long walk he’s settled himself to do and I know his hands will reach out to touch those whose dreams now lie shattered in a land that flowed once with brotherhood and love. I know faces streaked with tears will walk hesitantly by his side, and I pray he will feel their pain as they with no words left will in their silence speak of a brother, sister, father, mother, son or daughter, raped, killed, thrashed, wounded by forces unleashed by professional motivators of hate and violence!
The beard will grow, I know, and blisters will slow down his pace, but even as those physical conditions deter his stride, may the One above magnify the outcome of this two month trudge, that every step, still and rest this unhealthily stirred nation, that as he wends his way, plods, strolls and saunters through a disturbed, roused and agitated people, a calmness, peace and quiet will descend and remain, to be unruffled no more by gusts and winds of hatred fanned intentionally, purposefully and mirthlessly by a certain rabid lot.
It’s a long walk he’s settled himself to do; stretching and arduous. But tis not the distance covered that will be tiresome and difficult, but the uncovering and healing of all pain and hurt, anger and hatred exploited in the minds and heart of the nation, that needs to be soothed by gentle steps, compassionate strides!
My prayer, as men of peace try through gentle ways to hush and quieten harsh blows the country has received, that the One above will protect, preserve and prevent all harm to these who seek to unify and re-form a brotherhood in Bharat once again. My prayer is that all one point three billion will make this their prayer with me!
But even as I pray, a new thought comes to mind; what is it that is blinding the people of India? And sadly, I see what they see. They think they see progress. A bridge that stretches out into the sea, tunnels, metros and bullet trains that cut short travel time and that speak of a new India, equal to the west.
But is it?
In my recent visit to New York, it was a strange sight I saw. Not just subways, gigantic bridges and lengthy tunnels. Oh yes, they were all there. But what I saw was freedom written on the faces of people.
Freedom to be unhappy with the way things were going and being allowed to express feelings about it. Near close to where I lived was the home of the New York mayor, and in my five minute walk across to sit by the East River and watch the boats and Roosevelt Island across, I had to pass nigh every day, protesting groups, holding placards and shouting slogans, which I know the mayor must have heard and certainly heeded if he wanted to be elected again.
That was the expression I saw on the faces of the people, the freedom to say what they want, and the certainty to be heard. And that I believe is true progress!
Are you listening my people?
As I walked along the roads and watched the cars going by, I did not see rules being broken, because people had that freedom. I saw rules being followed because citizens were given the right to express themselves.
Ah, but here, even as I see roads being widened, and flyovers stretching across the sea, I know that at the first opportunity the motorist if he does not see a policeman around, will ride on the pavement, go down a one-way street, and bribe authorities.
We think harsh laws will deter people from doing wrong. Nay, only a value for freedom will.
America was built on the outcasts of the world, who ran away from persecution, starvation, and poverty, but as they tasted a new freedom, they grew to love and cherish it, and then safeguard it, not just with uniforms and police cars, but by themselves.
And as he the walker walks, and lays his arms on the shoulders of the downtrodden, let him also learn to give those same people the freedom they so richly deserve. Because, it is not just those in power now, that have robbed the people of their freedom, but all the previous governments, including that of his mother, father and grandfather, who once seated on yonder Delhi throne, forget us who put them there and pass draconian laws which rob the people of their freedom.
Walk, dear sir, but remember that those same hands and shoulders you touch, also need to be strengthened and that that strength, that power will only come as you set them free just as your namesake Gandhi did, from British rule near eight decades ago,
Compassion and freedom, what a balance that will be, for a country called Bharat, that is India!
Maybe it’s a longer walk sir, a long, long walk for such change to come about..!
The Author writes a daily column. If you’d like to receive it by WhatsApp every morning, send a ‘YES’ to him on his WhatsApp no 9892572883