The messiah of hapless children
Kajal Chatterjee *
What honour has India bestowed on this great selfless humanitarian and Nobel Laureate for Peace ? Even after he received the highest recognition in the world way back in 2014, for his yeoman’s service towards the hapless vulnerable souls engaged in child as well as bonded labour; India did not regard him eligible enough to get Bharat Ratna !
In contrast, professional singers and cricketers, who “serve” the Nation in lieu of Himalayan fees, are lavishly served with the highest civilian award of the land!
Esplanade station within Kolkata Metro Railway network has designated a portion of its premises to pay tribute to the Indian Nobel Laureates. The ‘Nobel Wall’ features pictures of all the beneficiaries not only from Rabindranath Tagore to Amartya Sen; it also includes those who are foreign citizens, but Indians through mere ancestry only!
But again no spot for that unsung Kailash Satyarthi! India has simply excelled itself as far as displaying utmost indifference to Satyarthi is concerned. However there lies no mystery behind such criminal negligence towards Satyarthi.
India zealously flaunts its "elitism" by placing a spaceship on Mars orbit or landing it on Moon! It tries to display its “might” in the international community by building gigantic statues at State’s expense, launching Bullet train projects and performing mass Yoga on Rajpath!
But that epitome of divinity named Kailash Satyarthi's noble fight and work, which have earned the recognition of the world, have blatantly exposed India's dark scandals like child labour and slavery in front of the international community!
As "true nationalists", it remains our supreme duty to sweep all the woes of the downtrodden lot and vulnerable children under the "patriotic" carpet of space missions, bullet trains and statues. In such a pathetic, heartless and “nationalist” perspective; it is absolutely natural that Kailash Satyarthi would be religiously offered a cold shoulder in his own backyard.
And the woes of the poor and helpless children of the country will continue to get ruthlessly throttled behind the shadow of the glittering malls, multiplexes flyovers and "Grand" temples!
No wonder why despite deluge of "Bharat Ratnas" all around with the "posthumous" honours dominating the show ; the fully living and walking Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Laureate for Peace, doesn't get treated as "Ratna" of Bharat !
Does such indifference towards him draw "inspiration" from his "sin" of registering valiant fight and work, which have blatantly exposed the dark scandals of child labour and slavery in front of the international community, thereby bringing shame and disgrace to the "Ram Rajya"!
Perhaps such naked truth about the relentless assault upon childhood is too much for that nation to digest which is "valiantly marching" towards the goal of emerging as "world's third largest economy"!
* Kajal Chatterjee wrote this article for The Sangai Express
This article was webcasted on April 26 2024.
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