Friday, March 28, 2014

A curious case of curiosity

They say curiosity killed the cat. They also say a cat has nine lives. So what they're basically suggesting is curiosity stopped the cat from having its tenth life. Truth be told, these thoughts highlight human curiosity more than feline. We are, by nature, dying to know more. But we don't die—and that's where the real problem lies—as nobody has died of thinking yet. People have died of eating and drinking (choking, someone?) but none because of using their brain cells a bit more than usual. As a consequence, we want to know what's going on even if it doesn't bother us in any way. Especially in a country like India where people are bound to stop on their way to check out who's fighting on the street. If not, then to check out why are people crowded, thus inadvertently adding to the crowd. The story of almost every street here. But things are slightly different in the 'handicap' compartment of a local train. [Yes, i've illegally traveled in them. But then, is it legal to be inhumanely stuffed into an overcrowded compartment when there's ample space in the adjoining one? Besides, as a matter of principle, i never took a seat even if it was empty.] I've noticed how none of those who commute in these reserved space ever care to check out whether the other person is disabled or not. Simply put, it doesn't matter to them whether somebody is misusing their privilege as long as they have enough for themselves. Compare that attitude with those who travel in the first class compartment where they privileged lot protect the hallowed dabba by remarking "Yeh special dabba hai" on mere discretion of somebody's appearance. If curiosity was indeed effective, there would have no cats around. Nor rude snobs.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I've only seen people fighting in the disabled compartments. In fact, the folks make sure the 'able' ones move out the next station. Same city, two different worlds