Last week a daily published a picture of a group of young
students surrounding a couple getting cozy at bandstand, holding placards that
read ‘Atleast have a bit of shame, please get cozy at your homes!‘ Firstly what are these protesting students doing at
bandstand? Moral policing?? when their duty is to be in classroom in company of
books? Secondly do we really need these moral police and are they legally or in
any ways empowered to take preventive actions? Do they know the parameters
within which they must or should ideally work fully observing the safety norms
for themselves or others? And then how about the youngsters talk at
lengths about theses social issues and smoke
in public places, get into crowded trains with wet wind cheaters or go about
their smart phones without a sign of remorse or even the faintest idea of the
inconvenience that their indisciplinary behavior in public places causes to
others. How many moral police ridicule them? Then how about the youngsters who
danced their hearts out when Salman Khan was acquitted in hit and run case
which claimed life of a families sole bread winner. Where were these moral
police then? Did they ridicule the revelers as they did now? And then how about
the youth who came out in support of Shahrukh Khan for getting into a verbal
spat with a poor security worker who was doing his job honestly? Did these
moral police ridicule them? Or even the recent All India Bhagchod (AIB) how
many moral police ridiculed them? And worse these moral fools were not to be seen or heard protesting when some so called elitists were criticizing and opposing the Government blocking porn sites! True that a person watching porn does it in privacy but that does not make watching porn moral or ethical. So should we excuse some one because he rapes, molests or sodomizes in private? True that some or even many find such acts disgusting but then they cannot ask some one to leave a place until they own it. Its quite likely that they may ask you to leave ! And they have an equal right. And yes if you or me find something disgusting, offensive or unwelcome I guess we know there 's police to help you out. Seek police assistance rather than take law in your own hands. And then if that's disgusting is urinating or defecating in open fine? We don't see a moral police holding placard towards a squatter! And if population density is an excuse to explain that then the same holds true for the cozy lovers.
I remember a group of such college juveniles
in Bandra who would hold placards reading ‘Go Back’ and send back every person
who crossed tracks! Is there any sense of responsibility in their actions? Had
there been some sense of responsible behavior probably they would have given a
hand to the offender and counseled him. What if the person being returned meets
with an accident? Do these juveniles have an idea that the person crossing the
tracks has committed one offence and these so called educated youth forces him
to commit another by asking him to return? Having motivated and selfless youth
who find some time for social service can be a great asset but having an
overenthusiastic unguided youth can aggravate the problem. It is very important
if these youth can be educated and importantly guided in their missions and be
told what not to do than what to do, be made aware of the legal implications of
their acts. Tree plantation drives along roads and railway tracks can be fine
but it comes along with safety issues not evident on the surface, cleanliness
drives can be a great idea but then there are health and hazard issues that
must be addressed, working for population control is a great national service
but then it can invite ire of a few. Therefore while we encourage and
appreciate the youth who are motivated and embark on a mission or a cause
that’s noble they must be cautioned to do a brief homework before they actually
do so. People who are willing to work in areas where there is lot of legalities
involved or where there is enough man power already deployed should essentially
be discouraged to go ahead and their energies be diverted towards some other
field where their services are badly required. Why have moral police when we
have police? Why do tree plantations in national parks, reserves and
sanctuaries when it is actually needed in urban and industrialized areas
rapidly losing green covers and choking with pollution? But then otherwise the
youth should better concentrate towards being better students rather than to be
criticized for being a bad moral police.
- Bhushan Kumarsen Sarmalkar, Mumbai, 01.09.2015.
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