If Not Schools, Where Are Our Children Safe? Asks Farhan Akhtar

The filmmaker-actor reacts to the horrific murder of a 7-year-old at a posh school in Gurugram.

Farhan Akhtar reacts to the murder of a 7-year old child at a posh school in Gurugram.

(Photo courtesy: Facebook/ filmyfilmy)

Like all of us, the murder of a 7-year old child at the posh Ryan International School in Gurugram has left filmmaker-actor-activist Farhan Akhtar shell-shocked.

“I am numbed. Words fail me. We speak about crime and then move on. This is the mistake that we make and this is what encourages crime. The lack of accountability and  sustained protest…. The most frightening thing is, that the monster who did this horrific deed to the child thought he would get away with something so ...so… inhuman,” says Farhan, badly shaken by the gruesome crime.

I can’t even begin to imagine what the child’s parents are going through. As parents we all have reason to feel very, very concerned. You say people like us are empowered and privileged and therefore relatively safe. I disagree with you. Because when my children go to school, their parents are  not with them. They are as vulnerable as any other child from any section of society.  It is therefore the school’s responsibility to ensure  their safety.

Farhar Akhtar, Actor-filmmaker

“ I think the school administration has failed  not just the child but also proved how damaged our system is,” says Farhan Akhtar, wondering how such potential criminals are employed to protect children.

“I mean, we are talking about the most vulnerable section of our society, the children. Had they cross-checked this  monster’s credentials  before employing him?” wonders Farhan.

Some  time  ago, one of the female employees from Farhan’s company, Pallavi Purkayastha, had been violated and killed by the watchman of her building whose credentials were unverified.

To save  some  money you employ dubious people to look after homes and schools. What could be  more careless and  irresponsible? We  immediately need to pass stricter laws against careless employment of unverified people. Because whether they are potential criminals or not is not written on their faces. How do we know that the watchman employed to protect our homes or the bus conductor employed to drive children to school is trustworthy?

Also read: Ryan School Murder: Police Want Trial of Accused Fast Tracked

He also feels that empowered sections of society do  not  exercise enough clout to stop these crimes.

Don’t just point fingers at actors. It could be any empowered/ privileged  individual or organisation. We all must join forces to make sure that no potential criminal feels he can get away a crime as heinous as the one committed by that bus conductor in Gurugram.

As  an actor, Farhan feels he can’t play anti-social characters. “May be  some years ago, when crime was not so brutal, barbaric… unthinking. Now… I doubt I will ever play a serial killer, rapist or a child molester just because it would challenge me as an actor. What about the much greater challenge that we face as a nation to protect our vulnerable sections? We who have a voice must think twice before using that voice.”