Why do some people deliberately shy away from security and comfort to think, speak and act for others' sake even at the cost of courting insecurity, poverty and unpopularity? What is that in the human body chemistry that propels people towards public causes at grave danger to themselves? How can one shun material wealth, comforts, social standing and security to chart unknown paths? How do their families react? Are they supportive or suffer the eccentricity?

Prakasam Pantulu had a monthly income of more than Rs,50,000 in thirties before he jumped into the freedom movement to die a pauper. Subhas Chandra Bose and Duggirala Gopalakrishnayya preferred freedom movement to coveted ICS. Recently personalities like Medha Patkar, Sandeep Pandey, take up causes at grave risk to their personal safety and welfare. There are ever so many people who have sacrificed budding careers, lucrative jobs, princely incomes, cushy lives to pursue causes in which they believe.

One such light of beacon that recently got extinguished is K. Balagopal. Without going into his differences with the establishment or those opposed to it, the causes he fought for were pro-poor, pro-justice and pro-nation. There can be no argument about the legitimacy of the causes though perceptions may differ on individual events or issues.

His untimely death is a loss to the spirit of justice, dissent and sacrifice. He will be forgotten - like many others before him - except by a few because Indian Heros have already been short-listed and there can be no additions for all times to come. Nothing will be named after him and no anniversaries.

That is the way he would have preferred. No use for routine mouthing of homilies. But as long as there is quest for saner solutions to problems, he will be thought of.

...ponder