Kedi Haralu
The recent shooting at Euro International School at Gurgaon Haryana, has proved the fact that school shootings are not limited to the west but it has become a Universal threat. Now, for the students’ safety, Security Guards will have to frisk all students going into the School or College and metal detectors plus surveillance cameras will be the trend. It is such an unthinkable scenario, for it has even shaken a person (a hardcore) like myself. I was known for my mischievousness, indiscipline and rebelling against school authorities, where sometimes I would come drunk to the Class and would not allow the teachers to speak. I think at one stage, when I had been admitted to Christian Higher Secondary School at Dimapur, for one whole month teaching was hindered. In those days one always thought that to be admired and adored, one would have to go to the extremes, but now I realize the folly, but those days will always be remembered by friends and foes for a long time. Due to my indiscipline I was packed off to an Army School at Laitkor, upper Shillong, but instead of me changing I changed the school in a negative way. The worst was the time I had smuggled my fathers .22 Rifle to School, to shoot the stray dogs and have a Gala feast, but luckily the weapon was collected by a friend of my father, thus saving the day, for in my anger, I might use it on a fellow student. But the shooting at the Haryana School takes the cake.
School shootings were always looked at as an American Phenomenon, hence one never expected the same thing to happen in India. I have no love lost for the dead student for as the boys have claimed, that he was a major bully and a pain in the “ar ._ ._ .” and thus mentally torturing his school mates. What is scarier is the shooting was not an accident, but a well choreographed, well planned and cold killing. The question on every parents mind is, what drew them to the point where they were even willing to murder a fellow classmate. The interesting thing here is, how did they get hold of the firearm? From a careless father or uncle or had they bought the weapon in the black market? How do we know whther they were being honest when they stated to the Police that they got it off the father, of one of the convicted. Illegal gun makers are thriving, since getting a gun license needs to many red tape procedures, plus in a State like ours, it is better not to declare, for even though you are doing the right thing by being honest to the administration, information always leaks out at the other end. Intelligence networks of all the organizations be it underground or over-ground is so effective that it is hard to keep a secret for long. The irony here is that those who “think” that they are policing the society are themselves illegal and so are their weapons. The issue now is, can it happen even in our own hometown? That is simply a question which nobody can give an answer, for this was the same at the Metros, till this things took place.
Cases like cold blooded murder while in an intoxicated State, like the Jessica Lal case is acceptable, for even a sober person can go overboard in the State of utter disgust and hate and jealousy, like the Pramod Mahajan case. Anger blinds everything and it can make a person illogical that can lead to severe consequences, so, here again it is understandable, but who would have ever thought that it would happen in a School? Being a Christian dominated State, such things are very unlikely, for the fear of committing murder and going to Hell, but here again one never knows where this disease will hit next. Killing for a cause or for a bounty is understandable, but cold blooded murder is another thing. Now, India will have to pass certain gun acts in the constitution, so as to make it harder to get a weapon or it can also work the other way round, for regardless of how stringent gun laws maybe, the black market is not one bit affected, instead it is a boost to their income. Most weapons I have come across in Nagaland are country made t, thus illegally procured. That is the reason why I prefer the reliable “Qartoos” (shotgun) any day, for one does not miss the intended targets at close range. Regardless of how well trained, Commando trained person your foe may be, a Shotgun is a Shotgun. So, what is the perfect solution to this dilemma? None!
The only thing now is that we need better ethical and moral teachings, starting from a very young age, thus by the time the student is in the higher secondary, he or she has been well taught, in etiquette, ethics and morals, and also differentiate on what is wrong and what is right. Although this is not the perfect solution, it is a start. The shooting at Gurgaon’s High School has been an eye opener for law makers in the Country, therefore it is now in the hands of Politicians in the Country to think up of a deterrent, plus encourage certain trends so that the mind of a child can be diverted to healthy, wholesome environment. The ball is now in their court, and I will not be surprised if the Opposition Parties take up these issues in the Parliament so as to target the Ruling Government, putting them in a fix. Soniaji’s wisdom and patience will now be put to the test, fore the Prime Mister of India is just a “yes man” or “rubber seal.”
In conclusion, it is a good thing for such an incident to take place, that too in a State neighboring the Capital of India, for it will start numerous debates and discussions which will be fruitful for all of us living in a fast developing Country. If the incident had taken place somewhere else, like the North ast or far South, it would not have even made the headlines in the Local Dailies, let alone, the National dailies. It would have been classified as a savage behavior by savge individuals living in a Savage land, but happening at Gurgaon, the media will certainly have a field day, and if not careful they can blow it out of proportions. I guess now, it is time to watch and wait. Que, Sera, Sera?
