Shehla Masood (Right-to-Information activist) from Bhopal was murdered by a bullet in broad daylight outside her residence last week. The 2005 Right-to-Information Act allows Indian citizens to file requests for information to most government bodies. Shehla, 38, was an environmental and anti-corruption activist. She was my friend, my co-alumni, my fan page mate. When she first joined the high school fan page, we recognized each other right away, even though we had never met. She was fearless, forthright and formidable. I asked her if I could showcase her projects and she asked me to join her protest against corruption in India. She asked me to help her voice in Bhopal, for the anticorruption movement headed by Anna Hazare which is all over the international news today. I felt guilty. I did not live there anymore. I was not even a citizen. So I wrote to her saying I would do anything, make posters write letters …anything, but could not see myself telling people back home what to do. Seemed disingenuous. She thanked ME for encouraging her on!

 
            She was shot outside her home in her car. I could not believe it. This is not any ordinary city. This is Bhopal. The city where I finished my high school. The city of lakes. Where inclusivity is a byword. Hindus and Muslims study side by side in Christian schools. My best friend has been a catholic nun. The city that has gone through so much pain with the Union Carbide gas tragedy in 1984. Thinking about it gives me the chills and I stop myself from even speaking of that travesty.

           
              All I could think of was the beautiful Bhopal lake, now with my sister's blood and it did not look pretty anymore. Today it hit me close and I realized again, why humans should not and must not accept tyranny and oppression. Why the human spirit must rise against any form of terrorism. The police in Bhopal were trying to make it out to be a suicide which was intolerable. I could not even breathe until the Central Bureau of Investigation took on the case. Now.. there is some hope, even though the corridors of power are forever ridden with the very corruption Shehla stood up against. New evidence finds illegal Diamond mining project in Chhattarpur district, Madhya Pradesh by Rio Tinto and the political Mafiosi as one of her causes. Is it only me that sees danger in the very name? 

            Some of you may think.... not if I dont say anything or do anything. Not if I mind the lines that society has laid out for me and stay within boundaries.  I say nonsense! Lines were forever meant to be crossed by some so that others benefit. I agree that lines cannot be crossed by all and some lines need not and should not be crossed at all.... That is normal. But those who have the chutzpah to cross those lines and boundaries that must be crossed move societies forward. If this were not true we too would be bound by age old prejudices that other unfortunate societies around the world suffer. We stand on the shoulders of the brave and the fearless. If society does not support them.... who then is worthy of our support? Will the whistle blowers of the world be protected? Ever?

           The other point to think about is what we teach our next generation, what we leave for our children and grandchildren. If we teach them to be afraid and fearful of those who dare to crush our spirit. I say we teach them fearlessness. I say we teach them love. I say we teach them to stand up for themselves when and if they can. The world is looking for Muslim citizens who are engaged in society. There are many in India and she was one of the best and brightest.  They are not spared by the terrorists.          

          I ask all of you to join and help me and us move on with words that mean something. Not to lose sight of Shehla’s family, or Bhopal, or even India or anywhere in the world that there is injustice.  We all hope for the best and justice... We must remain vigilant and engaged in our today even as we preserve our shared history in this world and take it forward.

Sites discussing issue:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2361776.ece?homepage=true

http://letzchangedrulz-miracles.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html

http://letzchangedrulz-miracles.blogspot.com/2011/08/heart-aches-is-unimaginable.html#comments

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/slain-rti-activist-shehla-masoods-last-tweets/176137-3.html

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Anna-Hazares-supporter-and-RTI-activist-shot-dead-in-Bhopal/articleshow/9622139.cms

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/gallery/anna-hazare-suppoters-protest-in-bhopal/1/5338.html

http://in.news.yahoo.com/anti-corruption-crusader-killed-bhopal-091901261.html

 http://kafila.org/2011/08/16/statement-on-the-martyrdom-of-shehla-masood/

http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MP-BHO-shehla-murder-case-eyewitness-detained-bhopal-police-tight-lipped-2373901.html

http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/national/crime/5_18_6331474.html

http://www.omct.org/human-rights-defenders/urgent-interventions/india/2011/08/d21392/

http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/my-friend-shehla-fighter-last

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/08/22/whistleblowers-demand-greater-protection-after-masoods-death/?fb_ref=article_top&fb_source=profile_multiline

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&¬e_id=10150264960421463

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2011/08/protests-india

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/shehla-murder-1-lakh-reward-to-nab-murderers/180279-3.html

 Candles lit for Shehla Masood at the Fan Page of our Alma mater ...She  was one of our best and brightest. We hope for JUSTICE. Otherwise no one ...NO ONE is safe in Bhopal anymore!