The Allahabad High Court, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, granted bail to Father Babu Francis, the Director of social work in Allahabad diocese and three others who were in judicial custody for nearly three months on December 18 under false accusation of conversion.

The arrest of Fr. Babu Francis, the Director of social work of Allahabad diocese and three other Catholics shook me to the roots. I painfully realised that truth is not necessary, nor do works done for welfare have any credit! We could do little apart from peaceful marches and fervent prayers! It saddened me greatly as I imagine how Fr. Babu might have accepted his plight. The illegal detention, the uncomfortable living conditions of the prison and the total devastation of all his dreams and plans! Three married men were also going through such an experience with their families. Of course, we are concerned, but then life goes on…! We forget … we get busy with our little worlds … WHO CARES?

December 10, 2023, marked the 75th anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. The Declaration says nobody should be arrested without an arrest warrant and kept in jail unless proven criminal. Innocence needs no proof; you must establish a person as a criminal to detain them in jail. But we know thousands of innocent people have been incarcerated for months and years …WHO CARES? 

On the morn of the day after the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where more than two hundred thousand people died within three minutes, hundreds of journalists had gathered at the White House to see the American President Truman because the world had witnessed the greatest catastrophe created by the humankind. Their first question was, “Mr President, did you have a good sleep in the night?” - because he had gone to bed only after he had received the confirmation: “Hiroshima and Nagasaki are in smoke; they are no longer on the map of the earth.” He said, “Yes, I slept more peacefully than ever because our experiment has succeeded. Now, we are the greatest power in the world.”

And we talk about Human Rights! The irony is that when the UN proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more) in Paris on December 10, 1948, the Soviet Union along with eight other communist countries were absent. America was present. The Declaration was adopted unanimously - all in Favor and nobody against. It was an American initiative to make this Declaration! But then, in reality, WHO CARES?

In India, fifty per cent of the people are living below the standards of nourishment established by the medical community, and twenty-five per cent of the people are starving or close to it. Fifty per cent of people in the slums eat only once a day - and when we say eat, don’t think of a banquet at the Taj. It means just bread, salt and a little chutney - that’s all. This is not enough. But then, WHO CARES?

If freedom of thought and expression is a human right, then no government should have anything against them. However, we know that fundamental rights are not being applied anywhere. Governments disarm the minorities and utilise religion-based narratives to instigate fanatics to crush and destroy them in every way. Their voices are suppressed, and oppositions are quashed … WHO CARES?

Indian General Elections 2024 are approaching. We are the world’s largest Democracy: Government by the people, of the people and for the people. India is constituted of over 140 crore people at present. Naturally, the question arises as to how this colossal body wields power? They have to delegate it to someone. What are the grounds for our choice? How do we choose? Are we capable of choosing the right people? Have we been trained and educated for a democratic life? 

The ignorant masses are exploited by things that would seem to be insignificant. For example, psychoanalysts claim that the only reason Nixon lost his election against Kennedy was that Kennedy looked better on television than Nixon. The reasons are arbitrary: someone speaks well, is a good orator or has a charismatic look – will that make them a good leader? Do we care about the criteria we employ? 

It’s time that WE CARE! We must make a stand so that the future is not accidental. We must consciously create a world where life can be a joy. That will be the most incredible creation possible. Ergo, we must emphasise not only the concept of democracy but also of meritocracy. 

Turning 18 does mean one is automatically provided with the faculty to vote, but does it mean they are provided with the capability of choosing the right person?

Each individual must become fully aware of the merits and demerits of a candidate. Let the experts in every field take up a special responsibility to cast the right vote. Let educationists of the country choose the person who can be the best education minister possible. For the finance minister, those in finance, those who know the complexities of economics, take charge. Let the best health minister be chosen by all the doctors, surgeons, medical experts, and scientists working in the medical field. 

Then we will have the cream of our genii leading us, and we can depend on them to make the life of all humanity more peaceful, more blissful, and more prosperous! In this way, we would secure an educated, refined, cultured and concerned government that will be holding tremendous power for five years in their hands: the power to build and not to destroy; the power to safeguard and not to harm; the power to protect and not to assault. 

Let’s keep the dream of a healthier, happier and harmonious world alive… always…