Searching for Malalas..!

I read with some amusement that an Indian actor who was in New York to attend the Global Citizen Festival, suddenly spotted Malala Yousafsai, the brave Pakistani girl who had won the Nobel Peace prize last year. The actor it is reported felt shy to approach Malala, but managed at last to get a photograph along with her.
But dear readers you don’t have to go to New York to find heroes!
They are all around us; it is just that either we don’t recognize them for their heroic deeds, or we turn away because we don’t want to get involved in their struggle for justice.
Last week I had written about the sad case of a chairman and secretary of a housing society who were being bullied by an ex municipal employee: A man who used his official powers to find details of different so called irregularities by a builder when he sold flats to innocent buyers, which information this gentleman used to criminally intimidate and blackmail the two upright office bearers who had taken legal action against him, when he encroached and allowed twenty four others to encroach. I have seen the encroachments, some of them even extending to the compound wall!
It took this column for letters of support to pour in from high placed officials and others who I am certain will put this man where he rightly belongs; behind bars!
But why do we need so much publicity before we spot heroes? Like the actor in New York, do we have to run after them only because of a Nobel Peace prize? The newspapers carried a picture, with Arjun Kapoor standing next to the brave Malala! But in the AGM that took place where the brave chairman and secretary tried to stop illegal encroachments, few people acknowledged their courage! What was the public waiting for? For the ex- chairman and ex- secretary to be assaulted? For false cases to be filed against them? Are we such cowards, that we cannot see a fight for justice and help?
Recognize heroic deeds around you: They may be small, many insignificant, some of them might make you ask; why do they want to get into trouble? But dear reader, it is that element of risk which these people take that saves lives later, that stops dastardly deeds later on, that saves you and me!
Support these heroes, and don’t search like our Bollywood hero for a Malala!

The Malala you search for might just be your neighbor,

Help him or her, as for justice they labour!

    [email protected]      

Searching for Malalas..!

I read with some amusement that an Indian actor who was in New York to attend the Global Citizen Festival, suddenly spotted Malala Yousafsai, the brave Pakistani girl who had won the Nobel Peace prize last year. The actor it is reported felt shy to approach Malala, but managed at last to get a photograph along with her. But dear readers you dont have to go to New York to find heroes! They are all around us; it is just that either we dont recognize them for their heroic deeds, or we turn away because we dont want to get involved in their struggle for justice. Last week I had written about the sad case of a chairman and secretary of a housing society who were being bullied by an ex municipal employee: A man who used his official powers to find details of different so called irregularities by a builder when he sold flats to innocent buyers, which information this gentleman used to criminally intimidate and blackmail the two upright office bearers who had taken legal action against him, when he encroached and allowed twenty four others to encroach. I have seen the encroachments, some of them even extending to the compound wall! It took this column for letters of support to pour in from high placed officials and others who I am certain will put this man where he rightly belongs; behind bars! But why do we need so much publicity before we spot heroes? Like the actor in New York, do we have to run after them only because of a Nobel Peace prize? The newspapers carried a picture, with Arjun Kapoor standing next to the brave Malala! But in the AGM that took place where the brave chairman and secretary tried to stop illegal encroachments, few people acknowledged their courage! What was the public waiting for? For the ex- chairman and ex- secretary to be assaulted? For false cases to be filed against them? Are we such cowards, that we cannot see a fight for justice and help? Recognize heroic deeds around you: They may be small, many insignificant, some of them might make you ask; why do they want to get into trouble? But dear reader, it is that element of risk which these people take that saves lives later, that stops dastardly deeds later on, that saves you and me! Support these heroes, and dont search like our Bollywood hero for a Malala! The Malala you search for might just be your neighbor, Help him or her, as for justice they labour! [email protected]