Value of Human Life 

The tragedy that struck Mina, near the Islamic holy city of Mecca on 24th instant, adjoining the Pillars of Jamarat where the believers cast seven stones at the Devil left over 700 dead and over 1000 injured, some critically, was a disastrous calamity in a series of such man-made disasters over the last few years. 

A look at some of the images seriously disturbs you and you start wondering if this is indeed the will of God. Can we just take it in our stride and move on as if nothing has happened ? I seriously believe that this was an accident waiting to happen.

That two million faithful would assemble like in the past was no secret yet the authorities in Saudi Arabia, the Guardians of the faith, were caught napping. Can the rest of mankind ignore the severe lack of preparedness exhibited by the Saudis ? Just look at the way the dead bodies are piled up and the families of the deceased left to fend for themselves ? These images (courtest : Getty images) are rather gruesome and disturbing.

      

It makes me resigned to accept that there is no value of Human Life in our part of the world and that a white man's life is more precious than another. Had even a fraction of so many people died in a man-made disaster in US or in any OECD country, heads would have rolled but not so in a dictatorial regime like Saudi Arabia. They are the benefactors of the bounty they collect from the millions of believers every year who throng to perform once-in-a-lifetime mandated Hajj pilgrimage. And for what ? For such shoddy treatment of the very people who shower their hard-earned money on them ? 

Look at the picture above and you see dead bodies piled as if they were some garbage awaiting the municipal truck.

When we forget that those who died were somebody's children, parents, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters we are just ensuring that we meet with a similar fate.  God may be benevolent but He is not suffering from Amnesia. The Royalty in Saudi Arabia need to wake up fast and act as the real guardians of the Holy Mecca.

Salute this old war hero, now a warhorse for the less fortunate !!

One has been seeing the visuals of Gen Satbir Singh, a war hero and a veteran soldier who has been spearheading the OROP battle at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar despite his advancing years and failing health.

 

The victory on Sunday when the PM had to intervene and which resulted in the fast-to-death by three war heroes being lifted was just the latest feather in his cap. I salute you sir for your doggedness.

Gen Satbir Singh is the gentleman with the white beard and sporting a maroon turban in the picture above (pic courtesy The Indian Express)

 

That the veterans had to sit on a dharna (a peaceful agitation) speaks volumes about our apathy to the cause of the ex-servicemen who risk their limb and life so that we may sleep in peace. They are often poorly equipped and enjoy inadequate logistical support while in the fore-front of the nation's borders. Even after they die their families lead a life that is not really ideal. Not something that a grateful Nation owes its fallen soldiers.

 

To add insult to injury are some stupid politicians who say that when they enrolled they knew the fate that could befall any one of them. That a driver in the civilian world sometimes gets a higher salary / benefits while in service and later after superannuation as compared to the ex-servicemen speaks highly of our misplaced priorities. That a politician can call them 'Paid Chowkidars' (watchmen) speaks of the said politicians ignorance and nothing else.

 

A nation that does not honour its heroes is destined to meets its doom. I appeal to te PM not to engage the ex-servicemen in any negotiations and to grant all that he had promised. They ask for nothing more.

 

 

Back in action !!

Hey guys. Its been nearly 6 years since I wrote last, But now that I have come back in action, I promise to write a lot more regularly. Do share your thoughts, Remember there are no stupid ideas its only how we react to them that may be stupid.

The Snakeman is an avid photographer too !!

I have in this blog written about my chance encounter with Capt. Suresh Sharma and how I ended up befriending this avid nature enthusiast and keen photographer. I keep recieving by email On a regular basis, his latest photographs on subjects that are close to his heart. I save all his images and admire them from time to time at liesure, often wishing these images were mine. I am putting up selected images of the captain so that more and more people can be exposed to this great adventurer.

His full work can be seen on flickr.com and you can know more about him from his websites :

www.snakehiss.com or

www.snakecell.org

All images here are courtesy Capt Suresh Sharma and all copyrights are his.