I am D O –ing

The swarm of emails and join-this-forum requests that flooded my mail box after the recent Bombay attack was phenomenal. And I’m sure a lot of my friends can share the same story. All of them recommended joining such and such forum to be able to make a difference. So did the TV wallas, and wrapped them in pretty brand names. All throughout I was not able to ensure the end result of the actions of joining the forums and so on (though I did sign in for a few with compelling names)!

My dilemma was finally resolved when an old friend called saying he’s in the town. Since that call around a month back, I have met up with Anup thrice. And I’ve finally started to make the difference, albeit without joining any forum. He infected me with sort of a vulgar idea, naked of any analysis and support-seeking mechanism. If you see something going wrong around you, take note and write an email. THAT IS IT.

And within a month, it has started to show the signs of sure success.
1 The first set of emails went to Tata group and Neelkamal group because my car, which could have been laden with explosives, went unchecked and unnoticed in the basement parking of their Chroma and @ Home store building in Surat. Tatas haven’t replied yet, Neelkamal followed it up the same day and reverted.
2 Then mailed Pantaloon guys coz my wife (and I was) wasn’t checked with a metal detector at the entry gate of Big Bazaar Surat. Upon asking (by her) the whereabouts of the female guard, prompt came the reply that she was absent that day. the mail that was sent to their corporate email ID was responded to me in form of the phone call that the Surat store manager placed to me thanking me and assuring that the female guard will never by missing starting today.
3 The email sent to traffic department of Surat city reporting a particularly chaotic street hasn’t been responded or acted upon. The reminder will go out on Monday; and on every subsequent Monday till they do not act over it.
4 When I post this blog today, there’re 2 emails waiting in line to reach the mailboxes of 2 local schools whose buses didn’t show the brake lights working.

And now, like the friend of mine, I am also bent on spreading the virus. Whether or not you join any of the forums or do a silent march, whenever you see something going wrong around you, take note and reach out to the concerned authority. You will be amazed by the difference you can make by doing this.