No. Never. Never push an Elder back.

Shravan Kumar was arguably the ideal, devoted son. Perhaps, that’s why his story is told in the religious, mythical texts of the Ramayana. A person like Shravan is difficult to find in the real world. Those who’ve grown up Hindu, have undoubtedly heard Shravan Kumar’s trials and tribulations. A devoted son, of blind, hermit parents. Shantanu, his father and Malaya, his mother. Shravan spent his life caring for his parents. He shouldered the responsibility of the household and the comfort of his parents. Then, Shantanu and Malaya, as they got older and weaker, asked Shravan to fulfill their dream of visiting four places of pilgrimage across India. They wanted to pay homage to the Gods and Goddesses. So, not having a horse or a carriage, Shravan fashioned a long bamboo stick with baskets at both ends, popped his father in one basket and his mother in the other. He heaved the bamboo stick on his shoulder, with his parents in the baskets and started walking to these places of pilgrimage, presumably barefoot. Shravan, virtuous, dutiful, loyal son. I have heard this story from my mother, who I assume told me this story as an indication that I should be a virtuous, dutiful son like Shravan in her old age. And I’ve heard this story from the priest at the temple who preached to us to instill us with the right values of respecting our Elders. Although, in the priest’s version of the story, I am pretty sure Shravan got to wear wooden sandals on his feet.

Shravan’s story is easy to explain in relation to the responsibilities we all must shoulder as our own parents, grandparents or Elders we love, age. Some of us will have to care for our Elders. Some of us will shoulder this responsibility physically with our Elders closer to us. Some of us from afar. It’s easy to articulate what we should do for our own families. I’d argue that Shravan’s virtuosity could have been framed in a different light as well. If some stranger Elders had asked Shravan to take them on a pilgrimage, would Shravan have done that? Or would Shravan have politely declined? Or would Shravan have pushed these strangers away? Then, the question is how should we feel about Shravan, if he had pushed these stranger Elders away? If Shravan takes Elders on the pilgrimage, the Shravan is virtuous. If Shravan pushes them away, then in my books, he’s a villain. I know I’m being quick in judgement, but it’s simply about respect for Elders. You don’t push them away. Never. You simply do what you can to help them. You may not be able to carry them to pilgrimage, but you can try to help them to fulfill their dreams.

I’m furious. I am outraged. Tonight, on social media, I saw a video of police officers in Buffalo, NY violently pushing an Elder back. This 75-year old man fell backward, hit his head on the pavement and started bleeding from his ear. This Elder is hurt. The video is shocking and horrifying to watch. The officer shoves the Elder, he falls, and everyone keeps walking past the bleeding man. This is unconscionable. How can we accept this? How is this remotely okay? Where is our inner Shravan? Where are our values that take care of our Elders and protect them from harm?

Our Elders must be respected, and we must all stand against this injustice. I live in New York, and this is happening in my state. I will not stand for this. Please join me in a call to protect our Elders. Demand justice for this 75-year old. Write to our Governor, Andrew Cuomo, and denounce this shameful act. This should never happen, ever again, in any state in the United States, or for that matter anywhere in the world. This is simple, respect our Elders.

Respectfully,

Rahul Swali