For the greater good

Dear Editor,

Should I stay quite because the association which represents the community will come into bad light in front of the general public or speak up because a bunch of people have taken advantage of this silence to feed on their vested interest without any consideration or its repercussion? There seems to be an uncomfortable moment for the members of the KHAS community past week when reports started pouring out that the newly provided KHAS Bhawan in the heart of the Capital is being used by the “Joint Action Council" (JAC) where they have been holding meetings. The simple and most understandable explanation was that JAC was allowed to use the premises because that time they solely stood for common cause, where identity of citizens across communities were at stake due to certain observation made during the Supreme Court judgement.

If it is so, then this cordial relation about sharing office space and ideas with JAC should have been automatically ceased by evening of February 8th. Instead, as if the party has ended too soon, JAC comes with multiple pending demands, a non-political council with the front row almost filled with people who have miserably failed in electoral politics in the past and others who think that they are long due for a seat in the legislative assembly. For an association like KHAS which has a reputation of being too clever for its own good, enough sense should have prevailed at that very time regarding any further involvement with the JAC. Were you not get concerned why your guests are still loitering around your house long after the party has ended? If they were not, then there is seriously something wrong with KHAS.

It somehow looks like a place exclusively for so called intellectuals who are always eager to prove themselves, where gossip is found in abundance. As if they are topping sitting on top of the creamy layer, with the only problem being below there is no cream. We are still recovering from the onslaught that was forced on us, where we were systematically bullied and stigmatized which started around three decades back. Now as we stand on a level field, while others have sensed the opportunity and started galloping, we are still looking for greener field. With majority of community members especially in rural areas still struggling to set proper foot on the ground it is high time for KHAS to shift the focus entirely on providing guidance, opportunity and support to these people who are suffering the most, rather than getting themself entangled on their own game of wits, power and for some; money.

KHAS boast of amazing number of individuals who have excelled in their respected profession in all known fields and yet seems to fail so badly to give at least something back to the community through combined effort. Unfortunately, so obvious it has become that community members have stopped hoping, further distancing themselves from the association and its affairs without realizing they have left their rights behind, which is being frequently used and abused by those who sees KHAS as a readymade database of the community who will incline to whatever they do according to their use. Silence is no more an option now because the immediate concern is not what good KHAS can do for the welfare of the community, but how to avoid it going vagabond creating adverse impact on community as a whole due to vested interest of some. Participation and monitoring of the affairs of KHAS should be at the optimal by the members, so should be the accountability if there are any other misadventure kept in line for the future. 

Your's etc,

AVISEK SHARMA,

General Secretary,

S.K.M. (Social Media)