BHOPAL-a reality we just cannot wish away

BHOPAL-a reality we just cannot wish away 2-3 December, 1984 in Bhopal, described variously as a disaster, tragedy, nightmare etc. as was the case in similar incidents in Mexico and Ethiopia is now a matter for academic and polemic discussions. One hears of 'relief', 'compensation', rehabilitation', also attached to this issue. Bhopals have been, still have and will occur in thousands of places all over the third world affecting millions of people if not on the same scale, with less or more intensity. The issue that is shied away from is what Bhopal incident exposed-the deliberate cover up denying the people's right to know of thins that affect them, the hollowness of the Indian state, the political parties, the many social organizations with claims to human concern, the various Institutional an national bodies. Bhopal not only exposed Union Carbide the character and interests of multinationals but the whole social system with its oppressive and anti-people social, economic, and political relationship. It has exposed the unwillingness of the so called aware people, the intellectuals and the professionals to take the Bhopal issue as a political issue rather than a tragedy of human errors. What is even more distressing is a total apathy of the health professionals with their tall claims of commitment to 'health for all' pompously declared day I and day out whenever and wherever they get a chance. Is it because that human lives especially of the poor, the oppressed are expendable at the alter of profits and of perverted notions of 'development'? is it the price people, especially the oppressed, have to pay for the development of developing nations? If people are not the central issue of our nation's progress, then should not this deliberate distortion be the main issue of concern? In a deliberate attempt to evade the issue, a whole lot of trash is being dished out to pinpoint the technical flaws an to fix the responsibility for the man made disaster. But the responsibility lies with each one of us, especially those who never tire themselves of staking their claims to commitment for the upliftment of our people (whatever that may mean). Complacency, unwillingness to take this as a political issue or in developing the mass consciousness on the fundamental issues or even in moving out from harmless or 'approved' ways of action to alternatives social system which alone will safeguard the people's interests and …