Raising Sensitivities

They come from diverse backgrounds. One comes with a character forged with unrighteousness and honesty combined with courage,while the other comes along with wisdom of the ancient worlds that he portrays in a simple easy to read style for readers. But for social activist and ex-IPS officer Kiran Bedi,and author Pavan Choudary coming together to write a book that spoke about how people lacked the civil sense and the basic etiquette and habits to behave with one another was a thought that arouse out of a very unique idea-trying to compile a guideline for Indians for the upcoming Common Wealth Games. Broom and Groom was thus born out of an idea that started out on the lines of the already debated games.

“Both Pavan and I along with our publisher Anu were brainstorming on ideas about writing a book about the guidelines for the CWG when we hit up with the idea of writing a book that would in general be a reflection of the way our general society functions. The whole point of the book was to showcase to ourselves how we are,” says Bedi who has co-authored the book. Dealing mainly with the fact that Indians are mostly looked upon as a nation that harbours a lot of intelligent people who do not give a lot of thought to hygiene and social etiquette,the book aims at showing people in a very tongue and cheek manner the amount of hypocrisy and small mindedness that people in general exhibit.

“It could be something as simple as taking a call on one’s mobile when one is out with someone or in a group which is very uncivilised and annoying,” says Choudary,adding,“One of the most important things that struck us when we started writing the book was the fact that while Europe arose to a modern world after the dark ages in the last four centuries,we as Indians took a step back. Another important thing that happened in the western world was the fact that governments out there laid equal emphasis on education,infrastructure and laws to implement certain issues like health and hygiene firmly,governments in India never did these things.”

However both Bedi and Choudary feel that awareness and sensitivity are two tools that can actually help better these issues that have plagued the country ever since independence. “The appalling quality of life here combined with the fact that we as Indians hate anyone calling us dirty were also reasons that we thought needed to be addressed,” adds Choudary. The book also has a forward written by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. “Writing this book in many ways was a necessity. While we all know that lack of severe penalties for misbehaviour in personal and professional lives of people have made them callous in their attitude. I am hoping that the book will in its own small way bring about a civil renaissance in the minds of the people,” says Bedi.