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Cheer amidst gloom
Amita Malik

THERE is so much happening in all corners of the world. Internationally, the big news was the great waiver in Vienna, which is said to have ended India’s nuclear isolation. This was followed by predictable cries of triumph from the government and of stern criticism from the Left. Then in the world of sport, which is a high priority in this column, world number one Rafael Nadal, having zoomed past Roger Federer, was stopped in his tracks by understated Andy Murray.

Then Sourav Ganguly was dropped from the Ranji Trophy with cries of ‘foul’ from his fans. Yes, even the Nano controversy, with Mamata, the West Bengal Chief Minister and the Tatas going round in circles, could not wipe out the images of the floods in Bihar, frequently referred to as ‘India’s shame’. But they say out of evil comes good. And we might add that out of disaster comes hope.

An elderly, poorly clad and humble Bihari, badly affected by the floods, gave a philosophical twist to what could have been a cry of despair. "My provisions had got wet in the floods. But I still managed to cook some food". Even more endearing and incredibly brave were the smiles of two young mothers who proudly held up their new-born daughters to announce: "We have named our daughters Kosi Kumari to remember that they were born in the middle of the floods and survived".

The human spirit is, indeed, difficult to suppress and we are surely cheered by its courage and daring. Even more than all this, when the authorities, as usual, seemed to be dragging their feet, was the way the poor villagers shared their food with those displaced from their homes and who were complete strangers. Acts of human kindness from the most humble people made us almost feel ashamed of sitting before a TV set to grasp the dimensions of the tragedy.

We also felt helpless that in our particular positions we were unable to do much in the sphere of immediate, direct help. We could only do things within our control, such as in the case of media people, reporting and analysing situations so that others in a better position to help could take the cue. It was, indeed, a heartening fact that Biharis in several parts of India and abroad had launched campaigns to collect money and products to help those hit by the calamity.

To more cheerful things, India’s victory at Vienna was celebrated with gusto on the small screen, with everyone beaming away and congratulations pouring in from abroad. There were some loud, clear and highly respected voices lending their full support. Former president Abdul Kalam’s calm and cheerful presence on the screen has always been found comforting. His hair have always been his most visible turning point. They were found unruly earlier but now one finds some discipline about them. However, his hair still give him that professorial look, which is a constant reminder that he, in his own words, prefers to be a teacher first and last. We welcome him that way.

Our former president will always remain one of the most lovable and loved public figures. He continues to retain the simplicity of his humble origins. In some ways, Jawaharlal Nehru, in his heyday, was one of the most popular politicians India has ever had, setting standards which have been hard to emulate. But in his own quiet way, Abdul Kalam has retained his popularity long after he laid down the highest office. All of us feel a tinge of affection whenever he appears on the small screen. Not many politicians get that kind of reaction. But is Abdul Kalam a politician? Certainly not in the accepted sense.