The past one week had too much information to digest. There were things happening across ocean, which everyone had their opinion on, while things happening in our country too which supposedly impacted all of us directly. Demonetization of 500, 1000 notes have impacted us in some way or the other. Fortunately for me, I had some notes in 100s which I have been using since last week. Too me it was surprising to see people standing in queues outside bank to get their notes exchanged, I wondered why the hurry, there's still 45 days of time to exchange them and you still have credit/debit cards to make transaction, what is the emergency?
The past 4-5 days I was oblivious to the realities, the outside world, and the answer to the question - why are so many people lining up outside the bank each day, each hour. I was not reading news neither was I checking Facebook and Twitter. Then with an impromptu checking of Facebook, I was stuck with the bitter truth. The bolt like truth that had hit the common man and woman. Everywhere I was seeing people sharing videos of either of the following:
1) Senior citizens standing for hours under the sun,
2) Thousands of people lining outside the bank not sure of getting the cash on that day or not,
3) Police lathi charging on citizens because they were unable to control the crowd. Imagining you getting hit for asking your own money
4) Pregnant ladies fainting
5) Old age woman cursing the government for making her come out in the streets which she never liked
6) Middle aged man weeping uncontrollably because his kid was in operation theater and hospital was not accepting the demonetized notes any more
7) Common citizens having unending lists of complains, talking about either to go to work or go to bank to exchange their notes, rations have finished and what should he feed his family now with no cash left with him
It took me a while to realize that I had been in a cocoon. Even though I was fortunate enough, thousands and may be millions were not so across the country. Not everyone had cash in 100s like me, not everyone had credit/card with them, not everyone had super market in their towns or villages which will accept virtual money transactions and I was not ill nor in emergency to have to exchange with the new currency but now I can feel their pain.
I pray to Allah subhana wa ta'ala to ease their pain.
The past 4-5 days I was oblivious to the realities, the outside world, and the answer to the question - why are so many people lining up outside the bank each day, each hour. I was not reading news neither was I checking Facebook and Twitter. Then with an impromptu checking of Facebook, I was stuck with the bitter truth. The bolt like truth that had hit the common man and woman. Everywhere I was seeing people sharing videos of either of the following:
1) Senior citizens standing for hours under the sun,
2) Thousands of people lining outside the bank not sure of getting the cash on that day or not,
3) Police lathi charging on citizens because they were unable to control the crowd. Imagining you getting hit for asking your own money
4) Pregnant ladies fainting
5) Old age woman cursing the government for making her come out in the streets which she never liked
6) Middle aged man weeping uncontrollably because his kid was in operation theater and hospital was not accepting the demonetized notes any more
7) Common citizens having unending lists of complains, talking about either to go to work or go to bank to exchange their notes, rations have finished and what should he feed his family now with no cash left with him
It took me a while to realize that I had been in a cocoon. Even though I was fortunate enough, thousands and may be millions were not so across the country. Not everyone had cash in 100s like me, not everyone had credit/card with them, not everyone had super market in their towns or villages which will accept virtual money transactions and I was not ill nor in emergency to have to exchange with the new currency but now I can feel their pain.
I pray to Allah subhana wa ta'ala to ease their pain.
InnAllaha Ma’ As’sabireen
“Verily, Allah is with the patient”
