Hum saab hain Zimmedar- We all are responsible.

I can condone some kind of killings. But there are some, which warrant instant death penalty, and even add a Chinese torture as a deterrent to future killers.
I can never condone killing for profit. Like they say in the mafia movies, “it was nothing personal, just business”. I can understand personal, It could have been a Revenge (I can forgive a brother for avenging his sister’s rape or murder)but “Just Business?”. So are Mercenaries, our former don in the jail being one. I could even understand when suicide bomber bombs innocents, for he had also died for a cause. No, no cause is worth a human live as I have written here, but I understood. But I cannot understand somebody being killed for profit. How can these animals take a human life for profit. Yes I am talking about Manjunathan, and when I read Gaurav’s post I felt so helpless I felt like screaming! Manjunathan was Killed for profit, and the Killers must be brought to justice, and hopefully they will be, but will it change anything?

My only question is why did Manjunathan die? And die in vain. I am sure his death will not change anything and that he died in vain. He didn’t die a martyr, and yes the guilty might be charged, but business will go on. And everyone one of us will do what everyone else does, we will blame the system. We will blame the politicians. And I remember the first day at a camp at Panchgani. The volunteers at the camp who were to give us the training sang us a song. It said “Hum saab hain Zimmedar”(We all are responsible). Don’t we all blame everyone but ourselves? That day I decided that I will stop blaming others will do whatever little I can, but I am still in the process of learning. I just can’t resist a dig at the corrupt bureaucrats or the system. If one were to start blaming others, the list is endless.

But I say that we are to blame. We are as much to blame for the death of Manjunathan than the corrupt Politicains who took money to allot Pumps. And a number of other unsung heroes. We all know that someone who gives a bribe is as guilty as the one takes it. As long as there are people who are willing to pay the bribe, there will always be corruption? But we blame the system. Sigh! Aisa hi hota hein! But we are the system aren’t we? We bribe everyone and then turn to blame them. Why is the minister corrupt? Getting to become the minister was such a costly affair that he had to recoup his investments. And yet we blame him. Such ministers in order to recoup the money he had shelled out to voters sell oil pumps, and the oil pump owners who had to pay those extra bribe also have to recoup his investments. It wasn’t a fair business at the first place and unless he mixes kerosene, he will not be able to recoup his investments. I am not just blaming the voters; a 100 rupee note to a slum-dweller is a huge amount. But aren’t we also equally to blame if we didn’t speak out against the oil Adulterators. If it were everyone who were standing against the petrol dealers and not just Manju, would they have dared?

Gaurav mention in his blog that Manju Nathan had said, "the petrol dealers knew that no matter what happens, their licenses couldn't be cancelled". But, it is not the only reason, the main culprits are the customers who don’t speak out and keep going back despite knowing that they are being taken for a ride. In every city, there are pumps that adulterate and there are honest pumps, and everyone knows which pumps sell adulterated and which pumps sell unadulterated. But we never speak out.
The recently released flop movie by RGV, James had a dialogue I will never forget
Aren’t we to blame.
We jump the signal, and when we are caught, even before the policemen ask for anything, we start to negotiate,”bhaisaab, der ho raha hein, jaane do na. Please yeh rakh lijiye!!”
And we blame the police to be corrupt.

Today also we will not do anything. Just let it pass and maybe this time blame the media as well. By the it is again "WE" who are responsible what they write, and why they have sold out to advertisers. Are we willing to pay a premium for an Ad-free paper?

Can we do something?
Can we all do one post in solidarity? A word for Manju.
Maybe it will attract the media attention?
Let not Manju Die in vain!
Wherever you are Manju, rest in peace!

Read Gaurav’s post here, India Uncut's, Great Bong's, Desipundit's, Rashmi's, Neha's posts.
Sonia's Update here.

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My second update or second post here.
If you havn't then, please do sign the petition by visiting the blog Remembering Manjunath.