Am I my brother's keeper?

The tragic death of Soumya, a 23-year-old lady thrown out of a running train on the night of February 1 and brutally raped by a disabled criminal near Vallathol Nagar railway station had sent shock waves throughout the Kerala. The incident drew wide media attention and protests from all over the state. There were also articles in newspapers deploring the apathy of the railways and the government towards women's security in trains.

While traveling alone in the ladies compartment of the Shoranur- Ernakulam passenger train, she was first pushed out of the running train by the criminal. He then jumped out, dragged her away from the track and raped. She died on February 6 after battling for life for five days.

Soumya belonged to a poor struggling family and was on her way home from Kochi where she was employed. By dint of hard work, she had managed to pull the family out of poverty. That night she was entertaining dreams of marriage, a proposal having been under consideration. But everything ended up in smoke in a moment.

Perhaps what had pained most was the fact that the tragedy could have been averted if only the witnesses to the crime had pulled the chain to stop the train after the incident. Later reports said that one passenger was inclined to pull the chain but was dissuaded by another who casually remarked: 'She won't die'

They didn't care. They were more concerned about reaching their destination without delay than with any risk a fellow passenger might have faced. That unwillingness to suffer even a little inconvenience for another's sake is a manifestation of 'selfishness.'

We killed
'We killed that girl!' wrote a social activist and writer commenting on the incident. 'Who will wipe away the tears of that mother!' lamented another. 'That death was caused by selfishness!' wrote yet another. Besides there were plethora of suggestions on improving safety of women on the move.

Large rallies were witnessed in several towns across the state. Agitators blocked road traffic and trains. Hartals were observed.

The National Commission for Women and several other organizations joined the chorus against the callousness of the railways and the government. Pictures of people with pent-up anger were flashed across the pages. The media certainly reflected the moods.

And it does whenever one such act of callousness happens. When an accident victim bleeds to death on a crowded street or someone gets murdered in full public view with petrified bystanders watching. Often it is fear of any consequences of involvement that keeps people away. More often it is indifference, insensitivity and gross selfishness.

The instinct of self preservation in man militates against making concessions for public good. The lasting gains of collective action and common good are too distant to prompt people to act unselfishly. Here it is a question of character. Unless education succeeds in instilling in people a proper sense of values, successful functioning of democracy would be difficult. The election of criminal elements to power, the growing corruption at all levels the growing drunkenness and drug addiction and insecurity in public places are matters of instilling of right values in people from a young age.

Education:
It can be argued that the educated are no more civic minded than the illiterate. This clearly is a reflection of the failure of education. Religious leaders have also a great role to play in imparting moral values and ethical living. Living in a community calls for restraints in the realm of self-interest. Unfortunately, religious leaders while dwelling on 'nirvana' and matters of the other world become very oblivious to the realities of this world. They do precious little by way of creating good citizens with character. Social evils which continue to grow along with a growing religiosity make a mockery of faith.

Not only individuals but also groups act in gross self interest. We are witness to political parties holding parliament to ransom and hijacking of vital national interests to promote petty partisan gains. The frequent scenes of chaos in the House are a telling commentary on where our democracy is heading.

Religiosity
Black marketers, profiteers, corporates have also learnt to gang up to promote self interest while people with conscience and character get sidelined. It has been so since long as testified by Edmund Burke who observed: ' All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'

The Christian call for 'crucifixion of self,' for 'loving thy neighbour'; 'for being the brother's keeper' 'to mind the things of others' and to 'love the enemy' and 'to serve the poor' are principles intended to make life in a community harmonious and happy. But the kind of religiosity we see around are more designed to promote group interests and superstitious rituals than for perfection of individuals.

Not long ago, former president APJ Abdul Kalam made a comparison on how Indians behaved here in their own land how the same people conducted themselves differently when they went abroad and lived in places like the United States or Singapore. Yes such countries are known to enforce rules and violation of regulations was attended by punishment and severe penalties. More than that, the people of those regions had a better civic sense inculcated into their cultures. Our religious and spiritual leaders who are becoming more and more popular and prosperous need to do much more to ensure harmonious growth of communities.