Anne Frank was just a child when she said “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” She had not yet experienced the ultimate refutation of her belief and, as grownups, we would rather she go on in her innocent trust.

I’m a grown up, but there is still a little bit of Anne Frank in me. In spite of all evidence to the contrary, I believe – or I would like to believe that I believe – in the goodness of human nature.

This week has been a formidable test.

Our staff member Manoj was hit by a speeding car five days ago. Manoj is a darling, but really – all our staff are. He is also poor, honest, cheerful and ever-ready. We are so lucky to know him.

The man who ran into him, on the other hand . . . well, I don’t want to judge, but it seems – to hear him tell it – that the accident happened to him and not to Manoj.

Every time I have spoken to him, he has been wallowing in his sense of his own misfortune: he is obsessed with the timing, with his bad luck, with the mess he has found himself in. But overlying all is the conviction that his life is not going to change as a result of this accident.

When we mentioned five lakhs as a reasonable sum to be paid (reasonable being an extremely fluid term), his response was incredulity and offense. Did we not realize that he had sisters he had to marry off? That he had car payments to make? A house to build?

It is as if it has simply not sunk in that his life has changed, that he will forever be responsible for the destruction of another man’s hopes and dreams and that while he cannot bring those hopes and dreams back, he can give up some of his own in reparation.

Reparation. Redemption. These are terms which do not seem to be in his vocabulary. He doesn’t understand that without reparation he will have no integrity and that his precious self – the one which owns a car and is planning on weddings for his sisters, a house and holidays in Singapore – will splinter and crack into a million little pieces.

Already, his friends are drawing away from him. He sent goondas (thugs) to meet with us and negotiate on his behalf. His true friends began to withdraw then. When he finally announced that five lakhs was out of the question, that he wouldn’t give a penny and we were free to file a formal case against him, they pulled up stakes.

He is on his own. He’s chosen the very short-term over the long life of conscience and integrity which he could have had. He doesn’t realize, of course, what that means. He has no integrity now; he is no longer whole. His “friends” are violent, mean, unhappy men who have no concept of right or wrong, evil or good. But he has chosen them and is counting on them to make it all turn out well.

What a shock he is in for.

He caused the accident, he is the one whose carelessness has destroyed Manoj’s future and yet he believes he doesn’t owe him or his family any more than he feels he is capable of giving.

And the irony?

Dozens of people who have never met Manoj and who never  will have donated thousands of rupees. I put out my appeal less than 24 hours ago and already we have collected 1.6 lakhs.

It gives you hope. To say nothing of joy and a strange desire to weep.

Maybe, in spite of everything, Anne Frank was right.

 

 

 

Showing 3 comments
  • Marcie McCarthy
    Reply

    Jo I have read about Manoj from a far, although I never feel very far away when I read your blogs. I have felt Manoj’s pain and his poor family along with your distress, sadness, anger and your comfort and faith in peoples good warm and positive response in such heart wrenchingly sad circumstances.
    You are an incredible person Jo with all the attributes of integrity, compassion love and kindness the culprate lacks. One could question why God would allow things like this to happen but then we must also thank God that there are incredibly special people like you and so many of the people you surround yourself with, family friends, aquaintances, some I felt so priveledged to have met, some I will never be fortunate enough to meet. Of course one of your many gifts is your wonderful way with words and your ability to reach people so they can feel your pain, compassion, happiness, sadness, anger through your words. Much love, many hugs and kisses Marcie.

    • Jo McGowan Chopra
      Reply

      Oh, Marcie! What beautiful things you say. Thank you so much! The best part of the Foundation is the incredible web of love and support it inspires. And it is all built on the work and devotion of people like Manoj. Because of him – and Paula and so many others, we’ve gotten to meet people like you. Thanks for your support and concern. Much love!

  • Liza Jabaley Johnson
    Reply

    Oh Jo–just now learning of this tragedy–donation should be on its way through the ether or however it goes–I trust it will! Please keep us posted and let us know if more is needed. Prayers ongoing–

    Liza

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