Things are getting worse; it’s really becoming hard to control my byke. There’s no sign of roads anywhere. I only have to depend on Alok’s navigation. I can’t even see my legs, water is reaching waist high. Worst floods ever since 1999 super cyclone. My first experience of a natural disaster; witnessed the fury of Mother Nature. Villages on roads in temporary shelters; cattle all over; no food no water; bodies floating; I have seen enough; can’t take it anymore.
After 3 hours of horrible drive we finally reached his village; thank god his family is safe; this village is luckily at a bit higher altitude so water didn’t reach but it is cut off completely. God knows how we managed to reach there.
The site was pathetic; it was a very beautiful village; we spent many moments here. Now it’s hell, all around.
Three months later ... .. .
I haven’t been there since long and I was excited. It wasn’t a 3 hour journey this time; just 1 hr 20 mins.; but still, exhausting. Water has receded but things haven’t improved substantially. Still no power; no clean water; no roads and it’s still raining. It was getting dark and I thought I just reached in time; just then somebody came running to me and asked for a lift. I was in no mood to drive but couldn’t say no to this innocent man. Got a feeling that he badly needs to go to a nearby store to get some essentials; food; medicine; whatever. In situations like these you don’t think twice before helping. We drove back a long distance and finally reached the nearest town. He got down; went running to a grocery shop and to my surprise he just purchased a pair of 3 volt batteries.
What the F#@K !!
I drove him all this way just to get this; it was dark now; was getting difficult to drive; and I was pissed off. I didn’t question him but all the while I was trying to think what is he gonna do with that.
Finally we reached the village. I went into Alok’s house and his sister gave me some warm cloths; a hot cup of tea made up my mood; it was dark all around; just a small lamp in the corner of the room. And in just 15 minutes I realised that I made a mistake coming here at night. No electricity means no TV, no fan, no nothing. Am screwed. Just when I was thinking what to do about it now, I heard some activity. The villagers were gathering outside; they were taking their places, settling down as if they were here for a community meet. When I went out to see, they looked at me and started whispering. They greeted me with smiles. I wasn’t new to the place; most of them know me well enough; but these smiles were different. Then Alok’s grand pa, that stubborn old man, came well dressed, holding his radio; yes radio. He always had this radio and took lot of pain in keeping it in good shape. I asked him once whether it actually works. The old man gave me an angry look and that was the last conversation I had with him. Even Alok makes fun of him saying it’s the old man’s first wife.
But what is he doing with the radio? And why are all these villagers here at this hour in dark?
Alok followed his grand pa with the lamp in his hand. They placed the lamp and the Radio on the mound near the Pepal tree outside the house. Grand pa sat on the only chair there and the villagers, on the ground. As if I was not confused enough, a villager stood up and pointed his finger towards me. Everyone looked at me with smile and some even clapped. I was a Hero. And then the Radio was switched on ... .. .
I called Alok and begged him to explain what had just happened. And then what he told me was something so touchy and inspiring that I couldn’t forget it ever. He told that since the floods came, there hasn’t been any sign of electricity. Life was becoming dull and hopeless without basic amenities. Then one day grand pa took his Radio and switched it on. It actually played. Prasar Bharati was broadcasting evening news. Within a few moments he had company. Gradually the number increased and now every evening the entire village comes down at this time just to enjoy the Radio programs. Since last three days the radio was not working as the batteries were down. This was the only source of entertainment for the villagers, so they all were upset. Reaching to the town was not easy as the roads were in really bad shape and rain won’t stop. Today when they saw me with a byke, they grabbed the opportunity. Today, after 3 days, they are all together again and enjoying the show.
And thus, I became a HERO.
But what I noticed during all this is, earlier they all used to be occupied in their own little worlds. Watch TV, stay inside their homes, talk to themselves, just plan their own life. Community and social instincts were missing all together. But since the disaster struck, things have changes. The true human values have come out of the closed doors. I never saw them together, except for some occasions. Now they share problems, help each other, have common issues and laugh together. I never thought that stupid old radio could teach me such a good lesson. But then, the Radio is just an excuse to be together, the real fact is that they have learnt the meaning of ‘Social Life’, which is supposed to be the basic quality that defines the word - ‘Humans’.
My uncle used to talk of old days when all our relative in Bhubaneswar used to have a get together at least once a week. They always had reasons to go to each others’ places. But since the age of technology came all these ‘human’ activities have gone back stage. Now we need an occasion to be together. TVs, Phone, Internet, etc., all these have taken the human touch out of relationships. Earlier we used to spend so much of time with our cousins, now if anyone comes and stays at your place for even an hour, you start looking at the wall clock.
What has happened to our human values? Since when did we start enjoying solitude? We have more friends in cyber space than in real. We chat for hours on net but we can’t talk to the same person face-to-face, even for 15 mins. And think of all the elderly people around; they are not used to this new ‘life’. They want us to talk to them and spend time with them but we hardly understand the meaning of those words.
So next time you think technology is connecting people, think again ... .. ..
