23 Years of my life, I have been living in an illusion, that my life is or has been full of struggles, experience and learning. Today, exactly after 23 years 10 months and 4 days, the glass shattered with one stroke of self-realization. For most of us, Life consists simply of eating and surviving. Traveling, working, jobs, careers are just means. But there are exceptions.
October 20, 2011, a regular day for most of us, did not prove to be regular for Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandes and their friends. For the people who do not like to watch news and read newspapers, 7 friends went to Amboli Kitchen and Bar for dinner and to watch cricket match on big screen. Keenan Santos, Reuben Fernandes, Avinash Bali, Benjamin Fernandes, Priyanka Fernandes, Shobhita and one more girl were present in the group. After dinner, they all exited the restaurant for a stroll. Out they encountered a group of "Drunk Assholes" later identified as Jitendar Rana, Sunil Both, Satish Durgaj and Deepak Piswal who started making comments about the girls in the group. Well I will call them assholes (I don't really care how you judge me by my language) in the rest of the article for ease. The boys (Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandes and others) in the group confronted the assholes, slapped them and sent them away. Soon, the assholes, with their cronies returned, this time armed with sickles, knives, bamboos, stumps and other weapons, and started brutally assaulting the guys in the group. Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandes retaliated and were "Mercilessly", repeatedly stabbed, not to forget the at least 50 other bystanders (Another group of bigger Assholes) witnessing the act of brutality, Like a stone, Unmoving and Unmoved. Keenan died 20-25 mins after getting admitted in the hospital and Reuben on Oct 31, 2011.
As I write, I feel like crying. Cry not out of grief or sadness, but Shame. Innocent lives lost, but the example they have set, has put me down, deep down in shame. How selfish I have been, limiting myself to 'Me', 'My Family', 'My career', 'My Friends', 'My Life'. I am sure Keenan and Reuben will get justice. There are, I am sure some witnesses who will testify. But what were they thinking during the time they witnessed the reprehensible crime, Shamelessly and Cowardly.
Here I do not intent only to bring this case in light, where as we all know there are, for sure many such cases of brutality. We are contended in our safe zones, living in an illusion that we are safe. The feeling of 'Responsibility', 'Ownership' has taken a back-seat and we, the people of a Great Nation, don't like to look back. Keenan and Reuben, were not killed by those 'Assholes', but by Mumbai, by the country, the system, By "US". Dig That!!!. I don't know how many will feel the same way, but I feel the guilt, the shame, for not doing what I am supposed to do. "You think a lot!” my family and friends say. "What if, that was your son, Ma, or my brother, who is away from home, Alone?” We, as a nation talk about Unity, Progress, Growth, Strength, where as the only thing I see right now is a Nation, hung up, between Past and Future, Poor and Rich, Power and Weakness, not able to decide, Anything.
"I lost my son and I wish, I say, I have another two sons and I wish them also to be brave and to never bow down in front of this", Keenan's father Valerian Santos said.
"People stood there watching...did nothing", said Priyanka Fernandes, Keenan Santos's girlfriend.
There sinks my heart, by just thinking about, what the family and friends are going through.
To the Family, friends and all related to Keenan and Reuben: "Sir/Ma'am, I, with all my heart, am very sorry. I ask for forgiveness, on behalf of The system, The Government and the Bigger group of Shameless Assholes who were present that day, the bystanders witnessing everything, yet, with their Hollow Conscience, did nothing. I Promise you, that you have another son, as you wished, ready to do whatever it takes, to do the right thing. Thank you, for the brave hearts you gave to this Nation. We are all Very proud of them and You."
With a gut-wrenching and mixed feeling of Self-realization, Anger, Sadness, I end up here.
God Bless you all, and may he gives us Wisdom, strength, to wake our Long-sleeping Conscience, to make this World a better place to live in.
