Deccan chronicle, 01 Jan 2010

DC GEN HYDERABAD FRIDAY 1, 37 i can JANUARY 2010 I CARE, THEREFORE I AM Cause EWECAREGoodbye hate ’CAUS HARISH IYER MADHURIMA CHATTERIEE e’ve evolved. We went from a ful venture, the Better Golconda chap- ter, has won them recognition. Maddy says, “Four of us from the team are now part of the administrative coun- time FOR CHANGE W generation of couch-potatoes cil manning Golconda and we are in talks about how T wallowing in apathy to arm-chair we can restructure and cordon off areas so that he whip and the gun ruled 2009. The whims and crusaders — waxing eloquent, debat- people cannot take any edibles apart from water the fancies of the fanatics were in full glee, there ing passionately, doing nothing. into the fort.” Why does he want to part of this was a sting of disbelief all around… the pain was But this year was different. The cause? “We want to prove that there is more to newfound and profound. Irreverent blame-throwing and young guns with a ‘go down, youngsters than just coffee shops, multiplex- the fear of imminent danger ruled the roost, a year so get dirty, get the job done’ es and pubs. We have more potential and callous that we bid good riddance with no regrets. This year, attitude took the nation by we can make a difference.” Terror continued its ominous trend in 2009. In a dead storm and their work The same passion motivates 20- end, ignorant of our present, how could we forecast a youngsters became their expres- year-old Kaizad Bhamgara, from future? When I say terror, do I mean the ultimate villain sion. Mumbai. With his friends, he decided to be Evolved past the formed Rise Up, in the wake — Kasab? Nahi, Nahi! Terror was omnipresent… in every cause, in every mind, every day. the change they old sitting around, moping and feel- of the 26/11 tragedy. “I was at Victoria Terminus when Which cause needed more focus? Whose pain needed immediate attention? Was it the damaged environment want to see. No ing victimised by everything from the attack happened and we lost a lot of friends during that misunderstood November for July? The women who were slapped in pubs like cattle by petty male more ‘waiting on ‘the system’ to ‘those politicians’, the tragedy, but when the December 3 rally failed to chauvinists? The emergence of the Maoist? The common thread in all of these was hate — refer the world to these young go- change anything, my friends the Mumbai Attack. As Mumbai was under siege in getters believe in and I realised that we had November 2008, we saluted commandos, we squealed change’ for them. being the change to do something to bring to and belched slogans, demanded action and compensa- they want to see. the forefront what actually tion for the families of the affected. Six months later, They took on Pooling in limited went wrong.” Now a move- when I requested people to join me in a thank-a-thon, resources, they ment which boasts of eight to remind the people who protected us and lost their causes, raised maxed their meager lakh young members from lives in the bargain, I went alone. My SMS was no means and came across the country, Rise Up SOS now. money, out on the streets to conducts four-five workshops Was I dejected? Yes. Did I stop? NO! I realised, I rea- make a difference, a week, on everything from dis- soned — we had moved on. We had not forgotten, but contributed time Youngistaan style. aster management, RTI aware- our responses had changed. Causes were piling up and ideas with From cleaning up after irresponsible cit- ness, importance of responsible vote casting to first aid training. demanding our attention. What was THE cause had become a cause? As I said earlier, we are a reactive enthusiasm. izens in laidback Hyderabad and Kaizad is confident about his role in society, “We have never nation not a proactive one — “Response to the stimuli” is what we demonstrate best. But am I resigned and From Generation protesting against the rampant male chau- been an anti-terrorism group which says ‘down with Kasab.’ We cynical? I can’t afford to be. I am happy that the inter- nal dialogue has begun. We are in an era of cause Me Me Me to vinism in Mangalore and Bengaluru, to want the nation to look at all that’s wrong within our society and gov- branding! Advertisers and activists need to use innova- tion to help keep their cause ‘Top-Of-The-Mind’, espe- Generation Give rousing the nation ernment. Most of our leaders are cially in this day and age, when our attention spans are from its stupor — incapable of making worthwhile deci- just higher than a goldfish’s. And when we take up a Back? It’s time. youngsters across the sions and yet we have elected them. cause, we need to remember that not all effects will be country expressed Things have to change.” tangible and measurable. themselves through Chandni Parekh, a 26-year-old social Let us not pull down people who work at keeping the their work. psychologist and sexuality educator is causes alive, in what ever way they can. The best way Maddy Reddy, a 27- making a difference by being an ‘ethical to put down a person who is working for a cause is to year-old Hyderabadi spammer’, “I connect people. I forward tell the person that he/she is wasting time and should entrepreneur and mem- mails, contacts and other information shift focus. Especially when it comes to environmental ber of the Better available to me online to others. I find and animal causes, people often say, “Why are you Hyderabad group founded NGOs for people in need and volunteers focusing on animals or saving mangrove forests when by his friend Sumanth, for organisations.” This journey which start- people are dying”. Well good question… Get up and do says, “We were tired of ed casually by forwarding mails she something about the causes you feel for rather than hearing people who never received to those she thought might need shamelessly and ignorantly berating others who are at threw their trash in a bin them, has now become a system of network- least working for causes they believe in. complain about how dirty ing, with Chandni acting as catalyst in the Let’s begin our new year with a promise to ourselves, the city was. So we decided centre. “It is not an earth shattering cause, but that we will not belittle any cause, whilst we follow to clean the city ourselves. I believe that the right information in the right our own. Also that we will not be violent in expression We pick different spots in hands can be powerful and useful. I believe that and disagreements, but benevolent in heart and deed. the city every Sunday and there are many causes which need to be pro- And remember all the year through — hate is a relation make them litter free.” moted and if I can help people network right, so too — but no one is worth it. The group’s most success- many causes can be fought for.” The writer is a social activist.

Deccan chronicle, 01 Jan 2010

by Harrish Iyer on Jan 04, 2010

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Deccan chronicle, 01 Jan 2010 — Document Transcript