We are the world
There are some stories that bring me to tears. They create a lump in my throat and leave a bitter-sweet satisfaction as an after-taste. It happened recently when I (finally) watched The Help, and it happened again when I read the following article:
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/cover-story/Ignore-them-such-people-are-druggies-passersby-told-him/articleshow/32438449.cms
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| Originally from Talk Sikkim. |
To summarize:
Sanjay Subba, a 17 yr old mentally ill boy, had been brought to Bangalore by his mother's brother-in-law for treatment. He ran away from the only people he knew in the city (due to his illness or other reasons, one cannot be sure). Three weeks later he was found malnourished and injured by Nanda Kumar while the latter was on his way to visit the Mahabodhi Loka Shanti Buddha Vihara with his family. Kumar managed to rescue the boy and reunite him with his family.
This appears to be a happy ending to what could have been another tragic story, had there been no intervention by a person who chose to believe in the humanity in a suffering stranger. Whether it was God watching over Sanjay, or just a good deed by a good man, it doesn't matter. Its stories like this that restore my faith in humanity, especially, humanity in India between races.
Why is it that we find it so easy to think the worst of other people? We must remind ourselves to be kind to them. We see a homeless person on the road and we usually presume, as in this case, that that person has probably brought that situation on themselves. Even if that's the case, does that mean that they don't deserve a helping hand? That they must continue to suffer? To what end?
To bring change one must be the change. Gandhiji seemed to have cracked the code long ago. It makes me happy to hear of organisations like The Ugly Indian who understand this and appear to function impactfully (my English degree should allow me to coin some words, don't you think? hehe). Anyway, I am like the rest of the ignorant/lathargic/uninspired, but I know an amazing thing when I see, and in this case read, it. The many followers and likes that these stories have got proves that I'm not the only one.
To my fellow admirers (of such awesome things), I hope we find something that drives us as well and are able to make an difference, regardless of how big or small. Be kind to the people in and around you. You don't know their story nor what they might have gone through.
Gandhi out!
(Like a soldier communicating through radio, in case you were about to misunderstand. :P)
xoxo
