Monday, June 16, 2025
Disparity in Death
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
16 June 2025
"Log Aansoo Bhi Bahate Hain Toh Ye Dekh Kar Ki Maut Ameer Ki Hui Ha Ya Ghareeb Ki; Aam Aadmi Ki Ya Kisi Mash-Hoor Shakhs Ki..."
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi
(Before crying and feeling sad for the deceased, people ensure the departed person's social and financial status in the society)
While every death is to be mourned equally, there remains a glaring disparity in almost all deaths. It may sound distasteful to many, but the fact is that death assumes importance (and also apathy) on the basis of the social status and standing of the deceased. Let me elaborate on it.
The whole country, nay the entire world, is shedding copious tears over the fliers who perished when a London-bound Air India aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. All the passengers, pilots and crew members will be handsomely compensated. In fact, they're already being compensated by the government, aviation sector and the Airlines. Because, they were flying and in India, lives of the fliers are far more important and valuable than those travelling by humdrum and rickety buses and trains.
Furthermore, in this case, it was a London-bound international flight and there was a former CM as well, flying on the same aircraft. So, all these 'elite' factors make it an 'affluent' mishap. All the ill-fated deceased must get national and international attention. No problem. But who cares for the ordinary passengers travelling by trains and buses?
Train accidents happen in India at regular intervals. Many people die in these accidents on wheels. India is a veritable third-world country when it comes to train accidents and disasters. People nonchalantly fall from the locals and die unlamented. Their families hardly get any compensation and even if they get, more often than not it's inadequate. Buses collide like kids' toys, instantaneously dispatching poor passengers to meet their Makers. In many instances, they don't even get preliminary medical attention. The reason is: They're hoi polloi; the great unwashed. Why should anyone care for them? The life of a poor and ordinary person has no value in India. While I'm sad for the passengers and other ill-fated people who died in the plane crash, I know, they'll be adequately compensated. Unhein Poochhne Wale Bahut Hain (they've many well-wishers and sympathisers).
But what about those people who regularly die in train and bus accidents in India? Shouldn't we spare a thought for them as well? Aren't they also humans?
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/disparity-death/d/135876
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