dailyO
Politics

This 22-year-old's death shows why young and restless India fails

Advertisement
Nikhil Gupta
Nikhil GuptaFeb 10, 2016 | 19:46

This 22-year-old's death shows why young and restless India fails

Till 4am today, 22-year young Bala (name changed) was the guy next door. But now he is no more. The colony woke up today to his body being brought home after he and his three friends were out in his dad’s SUV that met with an accident on the DND Expressway in the wee hours.

Apparently, the group had visited the Auto Expo at Greater Noida last evening and were perhaps returning from an extended drive. But this was 4am! While the other three returned unscathed, he is gone forever.

Advertisement

My agony gets multiplied when I think about this budding youngster who lived right across the road. We both had been hitting the same gym and it seemed we shared dreams of a good and healthy life. I first heard about the accident at the gym. But this is not something that one would believe given the age and the familiarity. I returned emotionally dishevelled.

Reality struck when I saw Bala's father standing on the road with some acquaintances. I met the bereaved father, who was surrounded by people doing exactly the opposite of what they should have done: asking questions about Bala's death, how he died, where the police found the body, what about the post mortem, et al.

It's strange how we lose our sensitivity in earnest to follow courtesy. It showed how emotionally-detached they were to the agony of the father who was awaiting his son’s remains.

To cut the long narrative and misery short, there are many versions of how the accident took place besides the one shared by Bala's father, who confessed that his son was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident and was driving at an outrageous speed.

Advertisement

There were other speculations doing the rounds about drunk driving, given the age of the boys in the car. There was a crowd of "I know it all"... everyone perceiving the incident in their own way. I stood there rooted for some time and could only utter "take care" to Bala's father as I kept my hand on his shoulder. What else was there to say now!

Back home, I realised even my maid knew the boy, but only for his love for speeding. I must confess, whenever I saw Bala riding his dad's motorcycle or driving the SUV, I would notice the speeding and the way he would bask in the thumping roar of the bike.

Who failed Bala?

Amidst all the commotion and "speed killed the boy" kind of realisation, I found myself overwhelmed by introspection. What nipped this young life? Was it his friends or one of the friends who, perhaps, would have provoked him to drive rashly? 

Were they under the influence of alcohol? What gave these youngsters the confidence that they could cruise at whatever speed without caring for anything else, not even their own lives? Had they done it in the past and gone unnoticed?

Advertisement

Bala didn't wear a seat belt. Was this his first time or was it a habit that went unchecked? Even if they knew nothing about it, the parents of all the four youngsters allowed them to stay out for long. And if they did not approve of it, what gave these children the authority to sideline their parents' advice given they were using the family car?

With so many of us having observed the young man's rash driving, how had the parents failed to counsel him? How did they allow him to drive an SUV, carrying three of his peers, for an overnight trip? Who will stand to answer all these questions and even if all of them are answered, who makes up for the loss of a life? The whole system failed Bala.

This could very well remind us to revisit our basics with our own children and youngsters in the family. Can young lives be saved if all stayed true and responsible to their role - be it parents, peers, neighbours or relatives, even onlookers?

When it comes to relationships and parenting, we have to decide if a "dead body" leaves us helpless or if a "mindful life" keeps us motivated, to do our job right. Sometimes, too late is literally "too late"!

I am sure, like anyone else, Bala's parents would have saved a lot for him - be it dreams, money or plans. Could they have saved more advice for their precious son who loved to play with his life? The reasons for his death could be many, but Bala was one and now he is gone. Rest in Peace.

Last updated: February 10, 2016 | 19:47
IN THIS STORY
Please log in
I agree with DailyO's privacy policy