Apathy

The last few days have forced me to wonder about the value of life in our country.
We lost 200 people to an air crash, we lost another 150 people to a train accident and another 50 people to a bus accident. I am not even counting the "normal" deaths which occur on a daily basis without making it to the national TV.
Why do we have such apathy towards the value of human life? The air crash probably could have been avoided, the train accident definitely could have been avoided and probably same is the case for the bus accident. However, why is it that these incidents do happen and happen on a regular basis?
It is amazing to see how an unnatural death in most of the other countries is seen really like that - unnatural while we don't even miss a beat and carry on our daily business as if nothing has happened. We are so used to disasters. I am sure it cannot be because we have too many people. I hope the logic of surplus is not being applied to people because each individual life is an irreparable loss.
Could it be because of our disregard for basic safety norms?
Could it be because of our dilapidated and archaic infrastructure?
Could it be because of our belief in the "chalta hai" attitude?
Could it be because of our disregard for rules?
Could it be because of lack of rules?
Could it be because we don't know how to protest decently in a country where nonviolence was unveiled as a powerful weapon?
What?
How many more need to perish for us to raise these questions and find some answers...

Reflective...

Everyone knows, appreciates and possibly understands the realities of human life - the birth of a life is inevitably followed by the end of the life but once in a while these realities touch each one of us when we least expect them...today was one such day.

My daily dose of emails had an email from a colleague informing me that he is not going to be in office as he had just become the proud father of a "prinz". For good measure he had the pix of the new born attached. :-)

There was another email from another colleague informing me that he is not going to be in office as over the weekend his father passed away. :-(

Since then have been in a reflective mood..