An incident recently dominated all Indian news media. The incident depicted a police officer, brutally attacked by some criminal, lying in a pool of blood and crying out for help while important ministers, their security personnel and other people standing as mute spectators. The police officer later died. This incident was captured on camera by some unknown journalist who happened to be there. This has kicked-off heated debate among intelligentsia. What was the moral duty of that journalist – saving the life or taking the picture?
There is no consensus on one answer. My take on this situation is that the unknown journalist was not thrilled to take those pictures. Perhaps he knew perfectly well that it was impossible for him alone to save this life. Indeed, he was filled with rage at the sight of such an ensemble of people simply watching him bleed to death. So, he did what he was trained to do. He captured this horrible sight on camera and shared it with the world. As a result, we are having this debate. Sensitivity of those present on the scene is now being questioned. The general apathy of the masses is being deeply felt. High sense of empathy with such victims is being invoked. Many of us, who watched these pictures, have resolved not to be mute spectators. The unknown journalist obviously failed in his moral duty to save this life. But, perhaps, he has managed to save many of the future lives under similar circumstances.
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