Thursday, July 4, 2013

Uttarakhand – The Man, The Nature.


The Man

It all happened so suddenly. The night before was marked by landslides and torrential rain. The morning looked calm. But the peace was suddenly broken by a booming crash of thunder. Massive, dark surge came rushing down at incredible speed from the hills. A cloudburst probably had occurred at a lake in one of the nearby mountains.

Heavy rainfall wreaked havoc on the region because of the fragile nature of the area and the poor stability of its soil. Water, slush and boulders as big as houses struck so suddenly leaving very little time for anyone to escape. The entire area was full of water. All roads, houses, shops and vehicles were swept away within minutes.

My wife and daughter were swept away. Vehicles full of people were swept away. 556 bodies have been recovered and there were reports that more could be buried under the debris.

The ordeal of the survivors was traumatic. They had to sleep, if sleep was possible, with many bodies strewn around the temple premises, some of which had begun to decompose. Amid the stench of death, they remained foodless and waterless for over one week.

Rescuing survivors is topmost priority but alongside, security forces have to be alert to the possibilities of child trafficking. Missing children and unaccompanied girls have to be identified; otherwise it will be too late once they fall prey to child traffickers

The living are starving.
The dead are being robbed.
The kids are getting kidnapped.
And you are patting your back.
And complaining of others not acting.


The Nature

It has been in the making for more than a hundred years. I was able to hold on for a long time. But l have been deprived of all my internal strength. I have been broken, bore’d, butchered & botched up. I could hold it no longer. I have to let it go. I have to let it go. 

I am not fragile. I was never unstable. Rains only made me stronger. It made all living things on me merrier. At least till a few years ago. Strange things have been done to me by the creatures who call themselves intellectuals. I was deformed. My arteries are blocked. My body is infested with this tumor called construction for comfortable living. And all along I know one day I have to let it go. I have to let it go.

I was tunneled. All my precious belongings have been sucked out or extirpated. All the plants & animals on me have been exterminated. And whatever remains have been polluted and stripped off its natural self. I have no strength to hold it any longer. I have to let it go. I have to let it go.

The ordeal to survive is traumatic. I have to serve, if serving was possible with plastics chocking my breath, with acid and chemicals running down my throat all the time, with radiations bringing all kind of suffering on me while I have been placed over a fire grill. I could take it no longer. I have to let it go. I have to let it go.

I stopped as soon as I could. It’s sad to see people suffering. If only you had been a little kind on me, I could have held it all to myself. In spite of this massive suffering I could soon spot your true self. You kidnap the children, do unthinkable onto the girls. I know I could hold it, but I could take it no longer. I am letting it go again. I am letting it go again.

I have been robbed of everything.
All my belongings have been destroyed or abused.
I am left to starve, left to die.
And with whatever little that is left of me.
I shall give you peace. I shall make you happy.


The Man's version of the story is mostly copied as-is or with modifications from ndtv.com & rediff.com. 

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