Death and devastation have Kerala into deep dungeons of despair. Hundreds have lost lives, thousands have lost homes, hopes and everything they held on dear. The pleas for help still echo in the air.
But all isn't lost yet. The kind-hearted men and women, across the state and everywhere else, went out of their way to be of some hope and help to those in distress. Those in relatively safer locations offered shelter to those who were less lucky, donations in kind and cash continue to pour in, young and old alike extended volunteering hands.
Calamity may not always attract kindness, or so it seems. While the state has been battling floods and landslides on one side, it was also forced to fight the callous few who spewed venom, a less than sympathetic 'national media' and the hostile lot who fabricated fake news.
There were the innocuous many who, with all good intentions, passed on the forwards they received on their WhatsApp groups and saw on Facebook walls of the pleas of people who needed rescue (but may already have been rescued) and of those willing to offer food and other materials (these may have already been collected). While these may have caused caused some confusion, there were the noxious few who spread messages that caused immense panic. Some of these rumours spread around include false reports of cracks on Mullaperiyar dam, reports of scarcity of fuel and imminent state-wide power outage. These 'news' forwards did their part to further panik.
Much more grievous were the hate messages spread around. While some some chest-thumping, puny brained Sanghitards (pardon my expression, you morons, but you earned it) asked people in Kerala to be grateful for the help "India" is offering and asked "mallus" to realise that Kerala needs to turn to "Indian Union" when tragedy befalls on it, others pinned the blame on the food habits of Keralites. Your love for beef caused it, they said.
There was a gentleman who borrowed from Proverbs 16:18 and blamed the pride of a band of people who “forgot their blessing” and invited the wrath of nature. “It rained and rained...till they fell to their knees and remembered that they were once blessed; and the sea said, it's time to learn to walk in the rain again,” he so painstakingly penned, when his fellow-humans were trying to be some help. Bravo, my friend, thanks for reminding us of our many flows at the time we really not needed it. I salute your sense of probity.
And then there was the ones who refuse to see the light beyond religions. While one man asked people to donate to organisations helping only Hindus, there were others who credited the deluge to Lord Ayyappa who were upset that the government and the liberal lot in the state were fighting for the rights of women to enter Sabarimala temple. Will there come a day when better sense prevail over your sordid souls? I am less than hopeful.
My friends and fellowmen in news rooms across the 'national media', you deigned to swoop on to the state only after the prime minister deemed it necessary to visit the flood-hit southern state. There were tribute to a deceased leader (he deserves it, I agree) and other trivial things and panel discussions on possibly everything under the north Indian Sun. The same newsrooms that dotted on every move of the rescue teams that were trying to rescue a coach and 12 kids of a football team who were trapped in Thai cave and had hoards of panelists chundering their expertise, had little time and resources to report the pleas of those trapped in their own homes and marooned in their own hometowns. Was the bravado of the fearless folks who waded adverse waters to rescue their friends, neighbours and strangers not worthy of a good 'bit' in your prime time?
Or may be our you find only our 'winks' amusing enough and not our worries.
And those few who realized that the state is in staring at a devastation of gigantic proportions decided to react with 'highly creative' cartoons and 'inventive' headlines (no, we are not the drowned country of any god). Was a bit of empathy too much to ask for?
We are a resilient lot. Despite all the hate, neglect and fabrications, we shall arise. For, this too shall pass.
