How I resist to forget the day when I agreed to drop an elderly aunt of mine to the airport! I can swear that I had never encountered her before at my place nor had ever bumped into her during any family occasion but suddenly she was an important part of my family as told by my parents. Wait...NO, this was not the reason of the traces of that day being consolidated in my memory. The reason was something that was commonly witnessed by most of us in various forms. As we were heading towards the airport we happened to go past a small slum where I saw a drunken vagabond vehemently hitting and propelling his mate. The terrible sight disgusted me. A lump formed in my throat. I thought of going to the woman's rescue. But guess what? I chose to be oblivious to the deplorable condition of the lady. Why?... I am yet to find an answer to it. Was it because I dreaded the overweening drunkard? Or was it because I apparently had a long standing enmity with the poor lady? But the answer my conscience came up with was that it was the result of an unwritten rule by which everyone abides - I choose to call it 'THE PASSERBY'S RULE'.
'The rule instructs everyone to allow all the happenings in their surroundings and we in no way must intervene in it as it may harm our prestige, image and may lead to utter wastage of time'.
This rule has been etched into us deeply and has led to a leap in the number of ignorant people.
When injustice was done to thee,
I was there!
When a newborn girl was deprived of life,
I was there!
When a girl's modesty was stained,
I was there!
When a man in rags was maligned,
I was there!
When he seeked a morsel to exist,
I was there!
When he needed to be aided to the clinic,
I was there!
When corruption ate into my society,
I was there!
When the downtrodden was deprived of his rights,
I was there!
When a woman cried for her son/daughter,
I was there!
When a farmer ended his life,
I was there!
But what did I do?
I chose to ignore!
I already had my problems,
And didn't intend to invite more.
I voluntarily choose,
To abide by,
And will continue doing so,
The rule of the passerby!
- Simran Vijan
'The rule instructs everyone to allow all the happenings in their surroundings and we in no way must intervene in it as it may harm our prestige, image and may lead to utter wastage of time'.
This rule has been etched into us deeply and has led to a leap in the number of ignorant people.
When injustice was done to thee,
I was there!
When a newborn girl was deprived of life,
I was there!
When a girl's modesty was stained,
I was there!
When a man in rags was maligned,
I was there!
When he seeked a morsel to exist,
I was there!
When he needed to be aided to the clinic,
I was there!
When corruption ate into my society,
I was there!
When the downtrodden was deprived of his rights,
I was there!
When a woman cried for her son/daughter,
I was there!
When a farmer ended his life,
I was there!
But what did I do?
I chose to ignore!
I already had my problems,
And didn't intend to invite more.
I voluntarily choose,
To abide by,
And will continue doing so,
The rule of the passerby!
- Simran Vijan