How socially conscious are we?

Large Indian cities define the rich and poor rather starkly. Sleek sedans, good living, wining- dining- gaming-partying-working hard and being fiercely ambitious are some qualities that define The Upper Cities. Inhuman conditions where people live on the streets, undernourished, lack of hygiene and health, water deprived defines The Lower Cities. In many ways our large megapolis’s are representative of this great divide in our nation. The Upper City needs the Lower City to thrive and get richer, and the Lower City feeds off the Upper City to develop, grow and sustain itself.

While viewing the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace I learned about a place called Cochabamba in Bolivia. In 1999 the Bolivian government sold Cochabamba's water rights to Bechtel Corporation in San Fransisco, (USA). There was a massive uprising, and after much violence, including the loss of human life, the people succeeded in stopping the privatization of their water rights. This story brought a stark reality to me viz. there can be no social transformation without a personal transformation. People must join hands to make a difference.

Do you see a perceptible difference in our world today? Is the old mindset of apathy giving way to a rising sensitivity amongst people in our nation, our cities, our communities? Do we understand our social duties and responsibilities any better today?

The number of blogs have multiplied manifold in the online world, initiating new conversations and activism. A tv channel (the source of information and a vehicle that sways public sentiments) aired a 24 hour live megathon to awaken consciousness amongst its viewers to go solar and green! At an individual level some labour over beautifying their building block localities with green saplings and some work hard to keep the area clean. Some co-workers cycle to work, pool car to offices and some prefer to run in the gardens rather than use the tread mills! Some segregate wet and dry waste, composite waste, and recycle waste, while some others have started saying no to plastic bags and instead use cloth carry bags. Some prefer to conduct meetings over conference calls instead of flying miles and some march to candle light to mobilize opinions on issues!

There definitely is purpose to today’s social agenda. There is more sensitivity than the past. Apathy is slowly giving way to responsibility. There are definitely more questions being asked aloud!

An added weapon in this armoury, is the power of conversations generated by communications. Creative ideas lend movement and ferocity and energy to such mobilization. Communication provokes people to think, ask questions, wonder, be alert, be empathetic and above all be more sensitive to one’s role in society. Let’s use the power of communications and the right vehicles for dissemination, to guarantee a social revolution in India.