One should be proud of being a citizen of Kolkata, West Bengal. Kolkata, as we know, is often referred to as the ‘City of Joy’ or ‘Cultural Capital’ of India. There are songs that tell you how proud you should be if you are living in Kolkata.
But going by events that have occurred in the past few days, how can a person be confident in letting anyone know that they are a citizen of a state where inhumanity has reached a whole new level of atrocity? Where political discrimination is at its peak. A city that is slowly losing its values because the ministers, councillors, Chief Ministers and IS officers seem to have gone blind with power.
The thirst for money and power is so high that beating a junior doctor within an inch of his life is not a big issue to our government officials. But, a broken statue is given more importance. Making citizens feel like they are under a regime that will kill anyone in their way is a sign of Dictatorship, but many fail to understand this. If you are having a problem understanding what I am trying to say, please do study your history carefully.
It is often said that ‘power corrupts’ and I believe this is absolutely true. In my opinion, the Chief Minister of West Bengal has proven the statement in every way. Refusing to attend Central Government meetings and giving speeches that make the entire state of West Bengal look foolish on National TV is just embarrassing for everyone.
Democracy is a difficult foundation to build but that does not mean you get to use power arbitrarily. Inhumanity was at its peak when an angry mob rushed into the NRS Medical College and beat up the junior doctor in charge of a patient. Not only are we now unsafe at what was considered one of the safest places in West Bengal, but it is also dangerous to work at a place with a constant fear of death looming.
I would just like to let all of you know that as a student living in Kolkata for 18 years, I have seen how it is slowly turning into a city of doom.
So, my best advice would be, please do stand up for what is right and demand those rights. I support and agree with all the doctors one hundred percent. It’s time that we rightfully demand a true democracy.
We need to let them know. We need them to realise that this is not only holding back the youth from exercising what is right but it also creates an obstacle for those people who genuinely work hard to make the city a better place.
Only helping only one community in need does not make anyone a hero. You are supposed to treat everyone equally and with respect no matter what job they do. If you cannot respect that, then there is no point in having a government that gives false promises all the time.
Being ignorant will neither get you votes or support of any kind. You can keep on repeating the same pattern over an over again by causing chaos that will only tear apart your group of people. Others are just going to gang up against you.
But as they say, things do come to an end and I believe that sooner or later people are going to riot against the government if they keep behaving like this and act aloof all the time.