November 19 resonates for a day nine years
ago. In 2005, an honest and promising youngster, who was trying to live his
ideals, the ideals that are supposed to be followed universally, as parents
expect from their children, as is taught in all schools, as all the scriptures
scream to convey, was shot to death for following these universal principles of
human civilization.
The 27-year old IIM Lucknow MBA and Indian
Oil Corporation's 'Marketing Manager Grade A' was killed while carrying out his
duty honestly, living the ideals the way we all are supposed to do, the way the
oath given to ministers, legislators and bureaucrats expects - not compromising
on values of honesty and integrity while holding the office.
And that behaviour in office reflects the
conduct in personal life.
And the universal norms expect them to be
voluntary and not forced.
But he was living in a time when 'honesty is
equated with foolishness' and when 'honest people are fools' had become, for
long, valid themes for public discourses and when 'corruption had become a way
of life'. Corruption has, very much, become a way of life.
Yes, he was not alone. But humanity gets
such souls rarely, the commoners who stand up and speak up for what is right,
without fear, with an unflinching resolve. He was one among the rare breed of
leaders who continue to show us the light in spite of our betraying attitude;
they continue to put their lives in grave danger for the principles of humanity,
for the social ethos of human civilizations, that societies tend to undermine.
I caught somewhere an article on a college
debate on S. Manjunath titled 'Was
Manjunath idiotic or heroic?' with the team behind the biopic 'Manjunath'.
Its director Sandeep Verma here talks about his meeting with Manjunath's
parents in Karnataka. The observations on conversation he had with them is an
eye-opener on the social ethos today.
Here it goes:*
"I
met Manjunath’s family in Karnataka. I knew that Manjunath had come from a
humble background. I met his grief-stricken but proud parents. I could discern
that his mother was shocked that people were implying that Manjunath could have
exposed the scam in a different way. He could have been more patient, used
different methods, that he was stupid or naïve, and that is why he was killed.
People made them feel almost ashamed that they had a son who could not adjust
to a situation. While the students absorbed Verma’s statement, the director
looked angry as he stated, "This was really a barometer of how society
treats its heroes. It was a reflection of us. I was angry when I heard this.
Manjunath’s mother told me she does not want a single rupee from this movie.
She only wants me to show that her son was not stupid but courageous."""
People like Shanmugam Manjunath are the
reminders of what we have become, in the name of civilized societies of a
thriving democracy where a 'Goonda Godman'(Rampal, Hisar, Haryana) takes on a
state machinery and refuses to bow before the Constitution of the land.
What we have become reflects in her
mother's worries that people see his brave and honest son as 'stupid or naive',
as someone who could not 'adjust to the situation' when we need to live the
spirit with which he lived the ideals of personal and professional integrity.
People like Shanmugam Manjunath are the
guiding spirit for them who still believe in the universal values of humanity,
the human life and the societies should follow. For them, November 19 reflects
more on lives like S. Manjunath than the 'high and mighty' names like Indira
Gandhi whose birth anniversary also falls today.
Collage created from photographs sourced from
Internet resources
NOVEMBER 19 RESONATES FOR A DAY NINE YEARS AGO: SHANMUGAM MANJUNATH
*Was Manjunath idiotic or heroic? Mumbai college debates
http://www.mid-day.com/articles/was-manjunath-idiotic-or-heroic-mumbai-college-debates/15777168
