A comfortable distance…

Last night, PBA telecast a documentary shot in B’bay. It was a highly candid presentation shot in Kamathipura, the largest red-light area in the world, as claimed by the narrator Tim Robbins. The documentary feature had been cleverly shot because there were some really chilling scenes that no camera could have ever laid lens on unless hidden. The camera roamed from house to house, talking to different women. Some from Nepal, South India and other places. Each woman related her tale, shocking and scary. One of the interviewees was Jyoti, a lovely woman with large eyes and a dusky complexion. She was abducted at the age of seven, raped and beaten for several days and to this day, she still can’t get over the feeling of disgust that overcomes her when she meets a *client*. It was a highly graphic documentary and after a few minutes, I had to leave the room. It was too painful to watch.

I realise that over the years, I have been consciously or unconsciously putting a comfortable distance between myself and this painful issue. Last night, I felt awful about myself. I could no longer pretend that this was an issue I could do nothing about. I felt like my life was meaningless if I could not better anyone else’s living condition. Not that I have a solution to offer for this endemic problem… But if anyone has a solution, at least I can be a part of it. It is unbelievably unfair that a human being born on the same planet has to undergo such mental and physical trauma. I can’t get rid of that feeling of guilt which comes out of awareness combined with inaction. Of what use are my health, youth and creativity if I cannot make a difference to any other person’s existence? What have I made out of my gifts and blessings? What better way to express my gratitude to the Creator than give of myself entirely?