A Responsible Citizen

It was scary, well past midnight. The street lamps stood tall and proud, but unlit. The roads were pitch black, rather 'tar' black. The only source of light was the headlights, mostly trucks, a few other cars and mine. Bangy is a safe city, safer rather, comparatively. I usually drive slow, but the darkness put me at unease, and anxious to get home. So, as I was ripping thru', slowing only at occasional speed breakers.

Barely a km from home, I saw the trucks, that I was following, change their lanes. I followed. Curious to know why, I rolled my window down, and to my utter dismay saw a man lying flat on his stomach - upper torso on the divider and lower blocking the road. I pulled up on the side, not certain if I should help. There were so many factors against me, the unearthly hour, the alien (local) language, the gender - a lady driver, seldom considered adept at driving, the conked off mobile phone. Besides, I wasn't aware if there was any hospital around, if any FIR was required for treatment, if I would need to wait for the cops, so-on and so-forth. In the meantime, I noticed how the other cars, even two-wheelers had sped past, slowing down their vehicles to notice, yet not noticing the noticeable. So, in the midst of dilemma, I decided not to be a responsible and heroic citizen, and pulled-up!

My heavy heart grew heavier as I drove back home, and I decided to take a safer route and inform the cops at '100' about the incident. Having done that in a bad mix of Kannada & English, the next thing I recall is a series of phone calls back from the cops asking me where did "I hit" the victim, how did "I hit" the victim, ordering me to wait where "I hit" the victim. And there I was trying to explain the cops that I didnt hit, I didnt run away, instead I called up to inform in time to save his life. But the more I tried to explain, the more foolish & helpless I felt!! I wished I had not tried being 'a responsible citizen', and left it to someone else, preferably a local guy, to report the incident, rather than be traumatized by this north-south divide.

And today, as we celebrate the 61st Independence Day, I cant help recall this incident and retrospect if we truly are independent. Are we liberated yet from the social shackles of regional discrimination, petty caste and religion concerns, status and class considerations?

- Namrta Batra