A devastating earthquake struck Nepal on Saturday registering 7.9 on the Richter scale, leaving more than 3200 dead so far. India has stepped up and offered all the aid possible to Nepal. Sadly, what should be seen as India’s duty has now developed into the self-serving #ThankYouPM hashtag on Twitter.
Why should we be thanking the PM? Yes, help was dispatched within hours of the disaster but shouldn’t that be our humanitarian duty to do so?
Yes, the government of India has so far done a stellar job in evacuating our citizens and providing Nepal with relief and aid, but the government is supposed to do a good job. Yes, they deserve a pat on the back but wouldn’t a better hashtag be #ThankYouIndianAidWorkers or #ThankYouIndianAirForce or even #ThankYouWorld.
The PM, however, was extremely modest on Twitter and noted that it is our culture that teaches us “Seva Parmo Dharma” or “It is our highest duty to serve others.” He also added that we should instead thank youngsters who are mobilising aid to Nepal, volunteers, doctors, NDRF teams and aid workers who are on the ground working hard to return normalcy to Nepal.
To all those saying #ThankYouPM- appreciate the sentiment…real thanks should be to our great culture, which teaches us 'Seva Parmo Dharma'.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2015
To all those saying #ThankYouPM- appreciate the sentiment…real thanks should be to our great culture, which teaches us 'Seva Parmo Dharma'.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2015
We must thank our armed forces, NDRF teams, doctors & all those volunteers who are overcoming every obstacle to restore normalcy in Nepal.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2015
We owe a big thanks to the enthusiastic youngsters who are mobilising contributions for relief work be it cash, resources & medicines etc.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2015
Mention must be made of the media. They are bravely covering the disaster from the ground. Thanks!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2015
The immense co-operation between Centre & the States is a major asset in times like these. A big thanks to all State Governments.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2015
And above all, we salute the resilience of our sisters & brothers in Nepal & parts of India, for their courage in the face of disaster.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2015