Chennai rains taught us quite a few things. Made us realize a few more.
One, the City can rise when it matters. It doesn't need any empathizing helpful hands. People just go out and help others. Either they believe in doing good things just for the heck of it, or believe in Karma, and hope that these good deeds will help them later, or just that they feel obligated to offer and provide their help to others. Countless volunteers operating in groups, interacting with each other, reaching out to far corners of the town, without a photographer towing them, and none of them with any Government backing, just shows how much they care for Chennai.
Two, despite the tragedy around, the guys around cannot lose their sense of humor. Or "nakkal", as we call it. The countless memes that are floating around the net stands testimony to this fact. Some of these memes were plain funny, and some of them as acidic as they can ever be. Be it taking pot shots at the political parties (the one on "Thaathaa and the Catamaran" was plain spot on), or at our Reel Heroes, and that some dimwit from Mumbai for his decidedly uncharitable remarks on "Tamilians".
Three, Chennai does not forget to respect its real heroes. Countless thanks and respects to hitherto unknown Auto Drivers who were plying for free, or the milk delivery lady who religiously delivered milk packets irrespective of rains or water levels, or the local kirana shops, who could have charged a premium, but didn't; the medical shop which supplied medicines to people who didn't carry enough cash etc.
Four, despite the not so favourable reporting on their work by the media morons, Chennai Corporation, the Tamil Nadu Police, the Electricity Department and countless Government employees and workers went about their job without much fuss or care for credits. Instances of Electricity Department people visiting every house independently to check whether it is fit to enable connection, or to check if people needed help in evacuating didn't attract the media's attention, but did generate goodwill and trust among the people who experienced these things first hand.
Five, religion was decidedly out of vogue. Religious differences and debates, and the resultant nuisance, were meant for the TV studios. On the ground, people of different faith just operated together, and helped anyone having a need. Individual faith didn't come in the way of giving a helping hand to any one. Caste didn't matter. People just helped each other. Temples and mosques and churches and other religious places just gave shelter and food. Make a call, or drop a request, you are sure to get food and relief materials from them irrespective of who you are.
Six, the City didn't hold back when it came to confronting politicians and questioning them. Be it voicing against the stickering bull shit by AIADMK, or the imploring by DMK to deliver the relief materials at their office, or simply standing upto local thugs, without giving a rats ass, was simply among the greatest developments.
And now to some other truths....
One, the National Media, or to be more specific "English-Speaking-Hyper-Ventilating-News-Channels-of-the-Hindi-Heartland", or simply put "Bunch of Buffoons" can please hang itself and die. The abuse of "ChennaiRainsHelp" hashtag by the CNN IBN Channel, or Times Now's usual self glorifying initiatives, or NDTVs patently blind approach were all exposed. Not that we care about them. I had stopped taking these idiots seriously for sometime now. They are brainless, brash, arrogant, hypocritical and totally fake. These morons are no more than self serving bootlickers of those in power.
Two, irrespective of national media or local media, the most convenient narrative was "Government's Response is Inadequate" or "Government Departments were Caught Napping" or "Government Did Nothing". Have you ever seen any news item, ever in India, when they have considered the Government's response to be even remotely adequate? I have not. The kind of provocative questions these bunch of scavengers ask the people ask is sure enough to create a controversy, and good TRP ratings for them. These idiots came to the site good four or five days after the rains / floods. During that gap, people were rescued, medical facilities were provided. All done by whom? Let us not invoke Chennai volunteers here. Even before these things started happening, Government and its representatives did something. Now the adequacy or inadequacy can always be debated. But to deny the devil its due, just to boast of yourself as some guardian angel is plain scavenging, if not anything else.
Three, admittedly "greed" of Business men, and property developers, and corruption in Government Departments led to buildings being constructed on now dried out lakes. What about the common man's obsession to acquire properties in these places? Can they simply claim ignorance knowing very well that they are acquiring properties where once there was a lake? You wanted lake view apartments, and the rain gods gave you. Admit it, and move on. And stop farting through your ass that it is the corrupt Government to blame.
Four, another standard question was what was the corporation doing all these days? What did they spend that Rs.500 Crores on? Did they really upgrade the drainage systems? "Yet another instance of corruption", our hyper ventilating morons started screaming. Half the drainage system is blocked by garbage. These garbage were neither generated by the Government, nor strategically placed near the storm water drains. These were created and indiscriminately thrown by the General Public. At the first instance of rain, guess what people are doing? They are throwing garbage from their roof tops in to the middle of the road. At one level I do feel that all these suffering by people is often their own doing. But to play the holy and innocent cow, and shift the entire blame on to Government, the convenient whipping boy, is just stretching your plight to the maximum.
Five, if the volunteering works organized by countless people was something to be proud about, what was equally depressing to see, was the countless well built, and well fed buffaloes staying indoors, and waiting for food packets and water to arrive. I am not speaking about people living in relatively affluent areas. I am speaking about people of middle class and lower class background. Two visits, to two different locations, and interaction with more rigorous volunteers affirmed the above. We have lot of freeloaders. The asses who can't navigate through a feet or two of water to procure basic necessities for their family members, and who manage to navigate the same distance for a bottle of liquor, don't deserve food or help. A box of cyanide and bullet in their head, would be more appropriate.
Six, the political parties have countless thugs and dimwits. The countless videos of politicians behaving in lazy or arrogant manner or both bear proof of this. The shameless bastards didn't even have one iota of self respect when they wanted to create an impression as if they were doing all the hard runs. Their obsession for photo ops is one thing, but to stop people from doing good, since it would As one meme put it succinctly, "2016 Elections, We Are Waiting".
Seven, the other extreme of karma theorists have already started ranting on why these kind of rains and floods happened at Chennai, and how some past sins (and we are not speaking about illegal construction / encroachments etc) are the reasons for such devastation. Dei, ungalukellamm vera velayae illaiyaa? Wonder how their family members are managing such morons.
Eight, the ugly side of people seeking aids and help also included people robbing volunteers, mobbing them for food, not allowing them to proceed to deeper pockets of affected areas, and ogling, whistling and molesting girls. Scores of instances are being shared on Social Media on this menace. These bunch of lepers should realize that people have come to help them in these times of distress, and not satisfy their carnal desires. Also heard was that armed forces when trying to rescue people, found some of them to be totally drunk. Government should have had to courtesy to atleast shut down Tasmac during these times. With "monetary compensation" expected to flow to people affected, do also expect such money to flow back to Tasmac.
Seven, the other extreme of karma theorists have already started ranting on why these kind of rains and floods happened at Chennai, and how some past sins (and we are not speaking about illegal construction / encroachments etc) are the reasons for such devastation. Dei, ungalukellamm vera velayae illaiyaa? Wonder how their family members are managing such morons.
Eight, the ugly side of people seeking aids and help also included people robbing volunteers, mobbing them for food, not allowing them to proceed to deeper pockets of affected areas, and ogling, whistling and molesting girls. Scores of instances are being shared on Social Media on this menace. These bunch of lepers should realize that people have come to help them in these times of distress, and not satisfy their carnal desires. Also heard was that armed forces when trying to rescue people, found some of them to be totally drunk. Government should have had to courtesy to atleast shut down Tasmac during these times. With "monetary compensation" expected to flow to people affected, do also expect such money to flow back to Tasmac.
Helping the people in distress is one thing, but ignoring your immediate circle is another. I have never understood the concept of helping those in need without checking out and helping your near and dear at times of distress. Even if every person did this small act of helping your neighbours, immediate friends and relatives, things could have been better. Those who did, hats off. Those who didn't, all your charity and public volunteering works and FB posts can attract a million likes, they do deserve, but you also need to remember that you weren't that friend in need to the one who deserved your attention first hand.
Finally, the "Chennai Dawww...." crowd should realize that Chennai could manage to stay afloat, not just because of people born and brought up at Chennai, but also by thousands and thousands of people who have moved into Chennai to make a living, either permanently or temporarily. The people helping Chennai people in these tragic times, also includes Defence Personnel, volunteers from other states. The more we celebrate "Chennai Daww...", we shouldn't just forget it isn't the spirit of being at Chennai, but a common emotion of people associated with Chennai and the entire Tamil Nadu. To take it to a level that only Chennaites are great, and the rest of the makkals aren't would be a tragedy which could better be avoided.
Finally, the "Chennai Dawww...." crowd should realize that Chennai could manage to stay afloat, not just because of people born and brought up at Chennai, but also by thousands and thousands of people who have moved into Chennai to make a living, either permanently or temporarily. The people helping Chennai people in these tragic times, also includes Defence Personnel, volunteers from other states. The more we celebrate "Chennai Daww...", we shouldn't just forget it isn't the spirit of being at Chennai, but a common emotion of people associated with Chennai and the entire Tamil Nadu. To take it to a level that only Chennaites are great, and the rest of the makkals aren't would be a tragedy which could better be avoided.
Comments