Yet another example of the biased attitude of our media, and all of us, towards hyped and so called ‘masala’ news. It took less than a week’s time for Baba Ramdev to get attraction from all corners of the country (he also has good influence outside country) towards his fasting against black money kept in tax heaven countries. Not only government, media, socialistic and non-socialistic groups but even every common-man curiously watching every moment of his fasting mixed with his attractive speech. And finally it was yet another highly influencing personality in our country, Shri shri Ravi Shankar ji (I am sorry, I don’t know exactly how many shri to be prefixed), who came into picture and witnessed the breaking of Baba Ramdev’s fast along with media and other high profile personalities. This all was happening in the ICU ward of Himalaya Institutes of Medical Sciences, Dehradun. In the adjacent ward, there was an unrecognized and lesser known personality, struggling for life.

It was 12th Feb 2011 when 35 years old Swami Nigamananda, decided to go on fasting against the Utrakhand Government’s reluctance to shift stone crushers away from the bank of river Ganga, the spot for Kunbh mela. These crushers are not only polluting the river but posing life threat to millions drinking ganga water and to the complete ecology exists there. Nigamanand decided to go on ‘fasting till death’ unless government takes any step to curb Ganga river pollution. On May 2nd he went into coma and finally died on 15th June but didn’t consume a single drop of water.

I am no way entering into endless discussion of Baba Ramdev’s or other episodes, but what Swami Nigamananda has done, is the best example of non-violent war for the betterment of everyone. He didn’t fight against the corruption, money, region, religion or politics but for the life of millions. Unfortunately in amid of high drams news (first world cup, then IPL and then Baba Ramdev’s fasting), none of the national level news channel even thought to cover this news. And surprisingly Utrakhand government organized multiple press conferences to extent support for Baba Ramdev but didn’t even expressed regret for Nigamananda’s demise. And as usual, neither his life nor struggle, but his death which bought some attention. This era of electronic means of communication has made us so close to news, but took us so much away from the reality.

A great man who, in such early age, setup an example of what is non-violence mean but unfortunately unless we and our media recognize these efforts, these will result in such failures. Salute to Shri (I think he deserve more Shri than anyone else) Nigamananda ji.