The Social Work Mania: Hypocrisy?

Before, when you were stuck at traffic jams, which are painfully plenty in Dhaka, you were always greeted by beggars, popcorn sellers, and magazine or books sellers.But now a days, the scenario is a tad bit different. Now, you will see hordes of teenagers dressed in ultra bright t shirt, which will make any fashion designer's face cringe, dispersed through out the intersections, with dead and wrinkled roses in hands, asking for donations for various noble causes.

When the social work mania(yes, people,in fact, are maniacs about it today) first started, it was a great step forward for all the irresponsible and socially unaware teenagers of Bangladesh, if I have to be more particular, the ENGLISH MEDIUM goers of Bangladesh.I, myself, jumped in the SOCIAL WORK bandwagon, and also thoroughly relished the extra ordinary experience, but got dislodged by the avalanche of life's demands.

But what I see now disgusts me. The true essence of social work has been defiled by the same irresponsible teenagers, who promised to change at first. The meaning of social work has radically changed, as less and less emphasis is put on 'work' than 'FB Profile Pic session' and 'hangout' among friends.

On my way to class, I descried groups of 'volunteers' jotting together, each with their fingers bent in different 'cool' shapes, taking group photos. On my way home, the same scene prevailed, but it was single photo session than a group one.

I'm pretty sure everyone has made fun or heard somebody making fun of private universities popping up like mushrooms, quoting a cliche, but the same is happening in social work groups. In the beginning, there were only a few of them, thus maintaining proper control, but right now, some times I wonder whether there are more groups than volunteers in Dhaka.

Moreover, some of the themes of social work is completely farcical! Let me give you some examples: teenagers urging grown ups to give income tax properly and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE 7 BILLIONTH PERSON on the world. Looking at the first one, teenagers urging fully matured adults to sign a petition saying 'I WILL GIVE TAX' makes no feasible sense at all! A freaking signature will not stop a tax evader evading from doing his duties. If he wants to evade tax, he will do it, whether a guy wearing a ridiculous fagged yellow t shirt makes him promise or not. Also, the majority of tax evaders of Bangladesh are the uber rich people, the high ranking corporate officials and the government officials themselves, beleaguering innocent middle class families on their way home from a cumbersome day at work is utterly stupid. And if you want to send a positive message, then do so in a meaningful way, like punishing the evaders indiscriminately.

Moving on, do I really need to talk about the second one? They are celebrating overpopulation for God's sake! What's next? The billionth person with HIV AIDS? Idiots.Furthermore, daily 25000 people die in Somalia(that's one in five seconds) among which 16000 are children due to starvation.Have we seen any 'workshop' or project regarding this? Open your eyes people.

The high ranking organizers of the groups are really enthusiastic and serious about helping others, but it's their subordinates who disappoint.The rate at which things are going, I'm eagerly waiting for the day when the pedestrian will say:" How much more are we going to donate?If you are doing such a fine thing for the society, why don't we see any substantive development on the streets? Just leave us alone!"

I know social work maniacs are going to bash me for this saying atleast they are trying and I'm just sitting behind a PC, but my dear friends, you are doing nothing actually.You are just PRETENDING OF CARING AND DOING SOMETHING.Period.