]pI-hen hntcm[w

Cu hjs temI-sXm-gn-em-fn-Zn-\w. ssN\bnse GtXm {]tZ-iv Hcp

hnhmlw \S-p-p. tamXn-c-am--n\p tijw h[p hmMv jqbnMv BZyw sNbvXXv
knK-dv sse-sd-Spv hen-s-dn-bp-I-bm-bn-cp-p-h-t{X. cmPys hnhm-lm-\p-jvTm-\-fn Ah sNt-n-bn-cp-Xv hcs Np-p knK-d-n\v Acp-a-tbmsS Xo
]n-p-sIm-Sp-pI-bm-bn-cp-p. AXn\p ]I-c-amWv hmMv jqbnMv CWn sNbvX-Xv.
""Fsm-c-l-Xn'' Fp Bt{Iminbvpw apv Adn-bpI: AXv ssN\-bn
\S-m-Ip ]pXnb \nb-a-ns \mn-bm-bn-cp-p. 2011 tabv Hn-\v AhnsS s]mXp-e--fn ]pI-hen \ntcm-[np-sIm-p \nbaw \ne-hn hp.
hnhm-l--S-p-I-fn hcs Nps knK-d-n\v Xo sImfpn-sm-Sp-pXv \ap-n-S-bn BNm-c-a-s-nepw hnhm-l---ep-I-fn \nc-n-sh-bvm-dp hn`h--fn {][m-\-s Hcn-\-am-bn-cpp knK-d-v. nc-ambn hen-bvm Ft-tmep--h t]mepw hnhm-l---ep-I-fn Fp-tm s]sv ]pI-h-en-m-cmbn amdmdp-v. 1999 tIc-f-n s]mXp--e--fn ]pI-hen \ntcm-[n--tXmsS Ccw
An-chenmcpsS sImmWv BZy-ambn \nep-t]m-bXv Fp tXmp-p. tPmenbvn-d-p-tm _kv tmp hsc In Hcp knK-d-v In thWw Fv \n-ap--h-cmWv \ ae-bm-fn-I. Cu ioe-n\pw hnLm-X-ambn tIc-f-ssl-tmSXn hn[n. B hn[nbvp tijw tI-c-f-n kn-K-dv I-hSw aqn-sem-mbn Ipdp-sh-mWv IW-p-I ]d-bp--Xv.
knK-dv -h-en-bvp-Xv XnIpw am\y-ambn IW-m--sncpp \psS
\mn. apJs hc-ao-ibpw Xe-bnse Ipcp-hn-qSpw ae-bm-fms t{SUv ammbn-cp- Hcp Ime-ap-m-bn-cpp. Fmepw In ]cna-fw ]c-p knK-dv IqSn-bps-nte e-W-sam BWmhq. apXnp Fv ap--h-scbpw Xs--sbpw
t_m[y-s-Sp-m AXn\p Ign-n-cp-p. AXn\p _oUn t]mcm Xm\pw. "apdsv' F Nn{X-n tIi-hIpn sht-j-\n hon-se-p-tm kq{X-n
knK--dp hen-bvp-p-v. ImapIn Ippevan AXp Ip-]n-Snv Atm, _oUn
hen-bvm XpS-ntbm Fp tNmZn-bvp-tm Imap-I ]dbpp: ""Cu knK-dv
F kp-c-c-h-kvXp-hns\ \o _oUn Fp hnfnv A]-am-\n-bv-cp-Xv.'' (Cu kw`mj-W-sa-gp-Xnb Fw. Sn. hmkp-tZ-h \mb nc-ambn hen-bvp-Xv _oUn-bm-sWXv ]c-ky-amb cl-kyw.)
knK-dv bphm-v Hcp kp-c-hkvXp Xs-bm-bn-cp-p. ]m-n\nv
]pd-s-Sp-p-tm han-bvp aWw Imap-In-ampw C-am-bn-cp-p. _oUn henbvm XpS-ntbm Fv tIi-hIp-ntbmSv Ipp-evan tNmZn-bvp-Xv tZjytm-sS-b-. A]w ]cn-`-h-tmSpw AXn-tesd Bcm-[-\-tbm-Sp-am-Wv. Imap-Is
In\nv knK-dp hmn ImapIn Hp hen-p-t\m-p-Xpw Npav hiw sISpXpw Am-es ae-bmf kn\n-a-bnse Hcp ncw ImgvN-bm-bn-cp-p.
Ac-hns "Xv' F Nn{X-n Hcp cwK-ap-v. kv Ip-sIm-n-cnbvp ImWn-I-fpsS Hmtcm-cp--cp-tSbpw `mh-lmh Ah-c-dn-bmsX Hn-sb-Spn-cnbvpp. AXn Hcp ]{-p-h-b-p-Im-c kq{X-n _oUn henv ]pI
]pd-p-hn-Sp-Xp ImWmw. ImWn-I Adn-bm-sX-bm-bn-cpp B cwK- FSp--Xv.
hop-Im-sc ]n--Xns ktmjw Ahs apJp ImWmw. ]t jmPn-bpsS
Imad Xs ]n-Xv Ah Adn-bmsX t]mbn.
Ahs Ip-a-. Imc-W-h-m-cpsS apnshv knK-d-p- henbvm h.
apdp-n\pw s]mSn-h-enbvpw Hp-an-m ]Xn--amWv knK-d-n-\p--Xv. hen-p-sImn-cn-bvp-tm A_--n-se-m\pw Imc-W-h apn hp-s]-m knK-dv
hen-s-dn-bp-Ibpw ]pI ssIsIm-p-Xn ambvp-I-f-bp-Ibpw ]Xn-hp-v ]ecpw. ]etmgpw AXv Xn-n-e-dn-p-sIm-p Hcp Ifn-bmbn amdmdpsXv thsdmcyw. Ifn-bn ]e \nb-a-fpw _men-i-am-sW--dnp-sIm-p-Xs ]men-bvs-Sm-dp--tm.

-1-

BZy-ambn ]pI-h-en-bvp-Xv Hcp ]pfIw Xs-bm-Wv. As Ipn-_oUn

hen-bvp--Xmhpw an-hpw BZys A\p-`-hw. Fs A hnhm-l-n\p
app-Xs hen Dt]-n-n-cp-p. AXp-sImv Ipn-_oUn F km[yX Dm-bn.
]pIh-en-bn A]v^-\m-bn-cpp Fs Bcm-[-\m-]m-{Xw.
"]\m-a'-bm-bn-cpp
A]v^s {_mUv. Ccp-]-Xns ]mv Xs thWw. Xos-n-bvpw {_mUv
Dm-bn-cp-p.
knwl-ns Xe-bp-XpXs thWw. hmn-sm-p-h-cp-Xv
Fs Uyqn.
]Icw aqnqsS ]pI-hn-Sp-Xpw ]pI he-b--fmbn BImitbvv hnSp-Xpw ImWnpXcpw. ]t F{X-bm-bnpw Hcp ]pI-sb-Sp-m
A\p-h-Zn-n- Imc-W-h. AXn-s\ms Hcp Ime-apv Ipm Fm-bn-cpp adp-]-Sn.
F{X Ime-sap shmWv Imn-cn-bvpI? Hcp Znhkw Fm-hcpw Dd-nb
D-t\-cv Hmtmfpw Rm\pw ]mpw ]Xp-nbpw ]pc-bpsS ]n`m-K-p-t]mbn.
In ]{X-n-s Hcp Ij-Ww IcpXnbn-cp-p. ASp--f-bn\nv ssIh-i-s-Spnb Xos-n-bp-w. D-bq-Wn\pw sshIp-t-cs Imn-bvpan-S-bvp CS-th-f-bmbn-cp-p. A DW-cpw-apt Xosn ASp--f-bn Fn-bv-Ww. [rXn-bn ]{Xodv cmn apdn-p, Npcp-n, sImfp-n, hen-p. aqn-eqsS ]pI hnSm t\mn.
]pI am{X-a-, In-eqsS shhpw hp. cp-t]cpw Npa-p hiwsIp. C-s\bm-sW-n BWp C{X _pn-apn CXp hen-bvp--sX-n-\msWv Hmtm
tNmZnp. kmm knK-dp hen-bvp-tm C-s-\-bm-hn-spw AXn\v Hcp
{]tXyIkpJ-ap-m-hp-sapw Rm ]d-p. Imew Hv Hphcs.
]Ww sImSpv knKdp hmm-\p hl GXm-bmepw Am-ev Dm-bncp-n-. sImSpw-Zm-cn-{Zy-w sImSn-Ip-n-hm-gp Ime-at! tImtf-Pn-se-n-b-tmgpw
AXn\p amw hn-. Duc-I-p-\nv Xrqv _pIqen 20 ss]k. Xncn-pw.
BsI \m]Xp ss]k-bmWv t]m-n-ep-m-hp-I. AXn\nv knK-dv F kpc-h-kvXp-hn\v Fs\ ]Ww \on-shbvpw?
t_mws_-bn-sen sNdnb tPmen-sbm-s-bm-bn. henb Bfmbn F t_m[am-bn. C\n thW-sa-n Hcp knK-d-sms hen-bvmw Fmbn. Ipw IpSn-n-n-tm. kabw If-bm-\n Fv Bim-m- hn[np. s]s-m-bn-tm-s. CSs
In dpw hes In knK-dpw ]nSn-np. ssIhnd ImcWw cpw Xebvp
]nSn-n-. Fmepw Pohn-X-n Hcp ]S-hp-IqSn Ib-dn-btm F A`n-am\np.
CubnsS "ssSwkv Hm^v Cy-'bn \anX tZhn-Z-bm "tUmSv InUv an
UmUn' F Xe-s-n Hcp teJ\w Fgp-Xn-bn-cp-p. AXns XpSw Cs\:
Every morning, seven-year-old Anya Goyal wakes up, marches into her parent's bathroom,
picks up her father's pack of Benson & Hedges cigarettes, fills the box up with water, and
drops it in the dustbin with a flourish. It has become her daily ritual. And her father, an
otherwise stentorian Delhi businessman, just watches helplessly. He does not have the guts
CXp- hm-bn--tm F\nbvv Fs Iqp-Im-c
to protest. He knows she is right.

{]`m-I-cs Imcy-amWv Hm h-Xv. _n-dn -hon-tebvp \Sp-tm CSbvv

Ah \np. hgn-tbm-c-tbvp \on Hcp knK-cv sImfp-n-h-en-bvm XpS-n.
CXp s]mXp--e-am-Wtm Fv Rm Hmn-n--tm Gdn-h-m t]meokv ]nSnbvp-sa--t-bpp Fv Ah ]d-p. Fmepw kmcan-. hons-m ]n. knK-dp apgp-h Bkz-Zn-p-h-env \Sw XpS-cp-tm Ah ]dp: ""knKdv Hp kz-ambncpp hen-bvm tbmK-apmbn-n CXp-h-sc. Iptd-mew
A\mbn-cp-p. Ctm aIfmbn.''
Imc-W-h-m \sf _oUn hen-bvm A\p-h-Zn-bvm-Xn-cp-Xv \apv
izmk-tIm-impZw hcp-sap Icp-Xn-b-. ]t Cs Ipn-I A-s\-b-.
Ah Btcm-Kytp-dn-sms th-Xnq-Sp-X t_m[-ap--h-cm-Wv. \anX
tZhn-Z-bm ]d-bp-Xpw AXm-Wv. Btcm-Ky-n\p hnLm-X-am-b-sXpw D]-tbm-Knbvp-Xpw `n-bvp-Xpw Ipn-I Dt]-np Ignp. \ Ipn-Ip ]dp-sIm-Sp-t-Xv Ah Xncn-p-]-Tn-n-bvp-I-bm-Wv. \appw CX-dn-bm-n-sm-pa--. CS-h-am-k-n ag tImcn-sm-cnbp cmhnse ]pX-p-aq-Sn-bn-cpv Hcp _oUn
hen-bvp--Xns kpJw ]mhw Ipn-I-dn-bn-tm.

-2-

_oUn hen-bvp--Xns kpJw hmb-\-bn-eqsS Adn-b-W-sa-n cmP

Im-\m-Ss "lna-hms apI-n' F ]pkvXIw hmbn-bv-Ww. lnam-e-b-bm{X-bvn-S-bn tImSanepw tImcn-sm-cn-bp ag-bnepw \\phn-dv Ghpw ASpp Kpl-bn A`bw tXSn DW-nb DSp-p-I [cn-bvp-Xpw mnIv Ih-dn
`{Z-ambn kqn _oUnbpw Xos-nbpw ]pd-s-Spv hen-bvp-Xpw hmbn-m
_oUnhntcm-[n-Ifp-sS hmbntmepw sh-aq-dpw.
_oUnIfn cmPmhv tIc-f-n "ImPm' Xs-bm-bn-cp-p.
AXnse
Nn{Xhpw Hcp cmPm-hn-t-Xm-bn-cp-p-h-tm. A{X-tmfw Xs {]Nm-c-ap-m-bn-cp
"amwK-fq KtWiv _oUn' tIc-f-n\np sIp-sI-n-bXpw _Z-embn sXmgn-emfn
kJm- Xs "Znt\iv _oUn' XpS-n-b-Xp-sams Ncn-{X-am-Wv. (Zn-t\iv ]t
\-hw Bp-h-en-bv-Ww. hen-bvm Bsf \nWw FmWv hn. sI.
F. ]d-bm-dv.) sshImsX Znt\iv _oUnbvpw At[m-K-Xn-bmbn. Hcp Imev
hfsc {]nb-ap-m-bn-cp "Bn t^mtm _oUn' Ctm Xosc ImWm-\n-m-Xm-bn.
(_oUn hen-bvm XpS-p `m-hns\ `mcy XS-bm t]mhp-Xpw hen-bvpXv "Bn' BsWp Iv ktm-j-tmsS k-Xn-bvp--Xp-amb Hcp
Imq ]ckyw Am-ev [mcmfw Inp-v.)
tIc-f-n knK-d-ns ]cymbw "knk' (kn-t-gvkv) Bbn-cp-p. ""knkdv
hen-bvpI'' Ft ]d-bm-dp-p. In-ep-Xv "Nman-\m' BsW-n-epw. Nman\mdpw Am-ev -{]n-bap C-\-am-bn-cp-p. hne Ipd-bpw. hocyw IqSpIbpw sNpw.
"_Iven' F {_mUpw [mcm-f-ambn In-p-v. A-sXw \nd-p-sh Snv
Am-ev hmm Inn-bn-cp-p. henb hen-b-mv AXv Hcp Znh-k-tbvt
ImWq. A-c-m ]pd-n-dn \S-p-tm Ahp Nppw ]cnafw ]c-pw.
Bfp-I Ahv _lp-am-\-tmsS hgn-sbm-gn-psImSppw.
AXp ]v. Cv ]pI-h-en-msc \ \nIr--cmbmWv \mw ImWpI. tIcf-n ]pI-h-en-bvs-Xn-sc-bp t_m[-h-c-Whpw \nb-ahpw hfsc ^e-{]-Z-ambn- FpXs thWw Icp-Xm.
Ghpw henb DZm-l-cWw _p-I-fn-ep-m-bncp Nph-sc-gp-m-Wv. ""Ipw Xebpw ]pd-n-S-cp-Xv'', ""Zb-hmbn Nnd XcnI''
Fp XpSn ASp--Imew hsc _p-I-fn Fgp-Xn-sh-n-cp A\pim-k\--fn
""]pI-hen ]mSn'' Fp Ipdp kuayamtbm ""]pI-h-en-bv-cpXv'' Fv Ii-\amtbm Fgp-Xn-sh-bvm-dp-m-bn-cp-p. AXv Cubn-sS-bmbn ImWm-\n-. _n-encpv _oUnbpw knK-dpw Ctm Bcpw hen-bvp-Xpw ImWm-dn-. Cu hnj-bn-se-nepw \ ssN\-tb-m _lp-Zqcw apn-em-Wv.
ssN\-bnse \h-h[p hmMv jqbnMv Ieym-W--en shv knK-dv sse
hen-s-dn-p-sh-nepw cm{Xn InS--d-bn shv `m-hn\v knK-dv sImfp-n-smSp-n-p-m-hptam? s]p-fpw knK-dv hen-bvp cmPy-amWv ssN\. Hcp-]t
h[phpw hc\pw tNncpv knK-dv hen-n-cn-bvm-\pw km[y-Xbpv-. ImcWw
ssN\m-cm-Pyv CXv Pohn-X-hp-ambn A{Xta CgtNp \np-p. AXp-sImp-Xs ssN\ ]pI-henbvsXnsc \S-]-Snbvp Xocp-am-\n-Xv a\-n-m-a-\-tm-sSbm-W-t{X. 2003 P\o-h-bn IqSnb 181 cmPy- X-fpsS s]mXp--e--fn
]pI-hen \ntcm-[n-n-cp-p. Apw AXp \S-m-m ssN\ k-Xn-n-cp-n-.
Ctm \S-n-em-nb \nb-aamhs hfsc ab-ap--Xpam-Wv. in-I-sfmpw \ntin-n-n-.
ssN\-bmWv knK-d-n\v Ghpw henb hn]-Wn. C\n knK-dv I-\n-Iv
]pXnb hgn-I tXSn-tm-h-W-sap Xo-bm-bn. AXn\p \app amXr-I-I-fp-ap-v.
_oUnbvv {]nbw Ipd-bpp F-dnv Znt\iv _oUn--\n Am-dp-Ifpw tXmmepw apw Dm-Zn-n-bvm XpS-n-bn-cp-p. AXp ] ]nSn-n-s-n-epw.
]t Hcp Imcy-ap-v. _oUn-bpsS hn]Wn knK-d-n-t\mfw CSn-n-n-.
Btcm-Ky-n\v A{X lm\n-I-c-a F [mc-WbpXp -sIm-mImw. t]mcm--Xn\v
knK-d-ns\ t\mp-tm hne-p-d-hp-ap-v. AXp-sImv Znt\iv _oUn\n
IpdpImew IqSn ]nSn-p-\npw.

-3-

Cy Sp_mtm I-\ntbm?
Ah- Nn-d-m-cm-sWp Icp-Xntbm?
km-cns
t_m[-h-c-W-{i-a-.
sImw-tXmdpw
IqSn-qSn
hcp
FIvsskkv Xocp-h-I. t]mcm--Xn\v Btcm-Ky-t-p-dnv ]-t-m-fp-sams
thh-em-Xn-s-Sp Hcp P\-Xbpw. A[n-I-Imew ]nSnp \nm-\m-hn-sv sFSn-kn
a\-n-em-nbn-cp-p. tXm-mepw Am-dp-sam-p-ambn-cp-n-. BiohmZv Bbpw
awKZo]v AK_-nbpw k^o-Uv _nkv-p-Ifpw ImUn-am kzovkpw Sojp-Ifpw hnth tkmp-sam-s-bmbn Ahcpw AXyp-z-e-ambn I-hSw sshhn[y-h-cn-p. Ctm lnp-kvXm enh-dns Ccn hnp-h-c-thmsS Xe-bp-bn
\np-Ibm-W-h. \n knK-d-v henn-s-nepw Hcp {]iv\-hpan Fv Ah
Dds {]Jym]npIgn-p.
temIm-tcm-Ky-kw-L-S-\-bpsS Imiyw. ]pXp-X-e-ap-d-bpsS sshap-Jyw. sFSnkn-tb-tm-ep--h-cpsS ]nam-w. Atm knK-dv F kp-c-hkvXphn\v `qan-bn
Ipn-bp t]mhm C\n A[nIw Imew thn-h-cn FpXs Icp-XWw. BtemNnp t\mq, Ipfncp amp-Xn-\p-thn Hcp ]pI-sb-Sp-m Ipn-_oUn t]mepw
Inm-\n-m Hcp Imew!
Csmw ag Iptd-m-e-am-bp ]Xnhp sXnv Pq HmwXobXn Xssb-n. XpS-bmbn ag s]bvXv `qan-sbms XWp-ncn-bvpp. CsX-gp-Xp-tm
]pdv ag B-ep s]p-I-bm-Wv.
Agn-p-t]mb ]pXv Hp-IqSn apdp-n
Rm Fgp-tp. Hcp _oUn Inptam Bthm.

(A-aqn)

-4-