United We!

I read an article-cum-story in Marathi newspaper "Sakal". To summarize for non-Marathi readers, it goes as follows. It mentions two incidences - in both of them, a "bhaai" kind-of a person tries to trouble some good person unnecessarily. In one of them, when the person looks for help from others who have been just silently watching the incidence, they continue to do so! The article puts forward few points and asks few questions. It asks- Aren't the "quiet" people themselves responsible for such incidences? Don't these so called "bhaai"s get motivated because others are afraid of them and they keep mum? Are we so helpless that if say, one of us goes through such a situation, we will have to back off because there is no one even to support us? And similar..

We all have learned a story in our childhood which signifies the power of being "united". A stick can easily be broken but not a bunch of sticks. We all appreciated the sense of "being united" and we keep telling the same story to our kids / younger siblings / nieces and nephews! And similarly many other such stories, which we only keep reciting over years and never follow them actually. When I read this article, following was the sequence of my thoughts.

- Why do people behave that way? Why don't they come forward and support?
- Well, what if I was one of those standing and watching this "quietly"? Would I have come forward?
- Umm.. may be! But, if someone else also comes to support, I may join them.
- What if I am the only one to support? Umm... don't know then!
- What if I was getting troubled by some "gunda/bhaai" kind-of a person? Will I expect support / help from others?
- Of course! (well, I myself was surprised at this! If I expect this from others, how did I say just one line before that I *may* join? Why did I not say that I *will* join?
- Is it because I am scared of such people? because I feel, why to get involved in such matters when I am safe? Let them see what to do..
- I am so selfish!
- And then everyone is! then how can I expect others to come forward when I am in trouble?! It's simply unfair!
- No, but I am not scared of anything.. it's just that I can't stand alone. I need someone then I may.. no no.. I will support.
- Why do I need someone? Why? Because, a stick can be broken and not a bunch of sticks..
- Umm.. I don't know..
- Fine! Can't I myself be so strong that even I alone am hard to break?
- What rubbish I am thinking!?
- please let me think about something else.. :(

And give up?? But this time I did not. I was in my lab when I read this. I locked the screen and went out of the lab. I stood in the balcony for some time and kept thinking about this. I suddenly remembered that two-three days back, I had joined a group on Facebook called "Justice for Ruchika" and then I laughed at myself! This is how I was going to be part of that group? Someone like me - who is scared of such people and who doesn't even have guts to stand in front of them, she is a part of this group!? Did I join it just like that? What if tomorrow, it's decided that all members of that group will be arrested? Who knows! Few years back, they did create trouble for Ruchika and her family, can they do the same for all who support her. Then what? Will I leave that group?

Uff! so many thoughts to deal with! then I decided not to think about all this and get back to my work. I can't believe myself but somehow I started thinking afresh on all this. This time, quite positive! It went on as follows.

Everyone is afraid of someone or something. It's a dialog from some movie I think - "duniyaa jhukati hai, jhukaane wala chaahiye". Isn't this similar? Even those "bhaai/gundaa"s are afraid of something / someone. They just don't need to, because no one scares them. No one unitedly oppose their "deheshat" or ragging or trouble. Is it so difficult for 20-25 people to start throwing stones on that gunda than keeping quiet? What will happen if they do so? What will happen in worst? What? Well.. nothing!! At least I could not find any answer.

Seems, this is something which is good in theory, hardly works in practice.. or may be the theory doesn't reveal the risks involved in following it practically..! United We_the_good_people_around_the_world_independent_of_caste_religion_gender_and_so_on..!