In this age of feverish competition for drawing attention, courtesy of social sites, the buzz words are 'going viral'. Some would go to the extra length, even to the point of their own bodily harm for going viral. If the craziness at its extreme acts as a disincentive for the sober among the human species to turn their back to social sites, it is hardly surprising. But then there are instinctive reactions to incidents or situations, particularly involving exigencies, that stand out as acts only the finest and most compassionate souls are capable of.
Recently one such video clip went viral on social media because of the purity of heart involved in that heart-warming humanitarian act. In the clip, a little Chinese girl is seen desperately blowing her hair dryer to help warm up a freezing cat and crying all the while inconsolably. The cat lies motionless and she continues her desperate attempt for long two hours lest the little animal dies. Mercifully, her endeavour is rewarded with success. The cat survives.
No, she had no idea of any publicity of her little act of compassion. All she was concerned with was to save a life. So emotionally immersed the little girl from Hubei province, China was that tears welled up to flow freely of which she was little aware. But she was focused to her main task of blowing hot air onto the kitty's body little caring what was going all around. Her father shot the video clip and posted it to social sites. A poignant scene like this cannot but win millions of hearts. Compassion and humanism got expression at their best through the little girl's act of forging a bond with an animal life. To her, saving that life was the mission of her life at that very moment.
At a time artificial intelligence (AI) is marching unrelentingly to announce the supremacy of machine over man, mechanical power and automation over human energy and skill, fellow feeling, piety, charity, emotion and soft-heartedness are losing grounds. But yet there are hearts of gold that always melt whenever they come across someone of their own species or any other life in distress. In this part of the world now human dynamics is on a retrogressive journey where stony hearts are capable of limitless cruelty, hostility and taking life with or without the slightest provocation.
The rise of teen gangs has been one of the nightmarish developments in Bangladesh society. According to the Wikipedia, as many as 50 organised criminal gangs of teenagers were active until January 2024. Numerous other gangs were based in other areas, mostly in urban locations. Not only do they pose a serious threat to the social fabric of the country but also waste their formative age with the potential of ending up as criminals of the worst type or embracing a violent death prematurely.
What has happened to them or how active they are now can be a serious subject of study. This is because the avalanche of mass movement spearheaded by students drew into it not only their fellow learners but many of the anti-social elements who found in the anarchic situation a bonanza for carrying on with their criminal acts. Whether they are now being used by their influential patrons or not can indicate much of the current spree of killing the country is now witnessing.
If such elements are given space, society has little prospect of recovering from the high incidence of violence. The country needs young people like the Chinese girl whose exemplary compassion can illuminate many a life. Well, this country is not devoid of such caring souls who work silently because they consider their selfless help their life's mission. Early this year, a youth from Lalbagh, Dhaka breathed his last while rescuing a parrot entangled in electric wires in Keraniganj. How many people know about the voluntary organisation "RobinHood The Animal Rescuer"? The HSC-passed youth, a member of that organisation went there along with four or five of his co-rescuers but sudden electrocution at the time of rescue operation led to his death later in hospital.
There are other such stories of sacrifice. But the media do not highlight such stories as prominently as those deserve. In the country's north, there is a similar organisation dedicated to rescue wildlife, particularly a rare species of Himalayan vultures which drop on the ground out of tiredness and hunger. Members of the organisation rescue those birds, treat them, feed them before handing over to their senior members for treatment at veterinary hospitals. Similarly, youths and teenagers take the pains to fix earthen pots on trees so that birds can use those for nesting.
There are numerous small acts of love for animals in this country. In the same way when a child gives away all the savings from tiffin money in the earthen bank for flood victims, the act shows the purity and nobility of the soul. The amount of money is not important here. What matters most is the heart that wells up with love and compassion for others including any life in distress requiring help. Swami Vivekanda's doctrine that love for animal is as good as paying homage to God aptly carries the message for all.
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