Comfortably Numb

Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at home?
Come on, now,
I hear you're feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain
Get you on your feet again.
Relax.
I'll need some information first.
Just the basic facts.
Can you show me where it hurts?

There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship, smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain you would not understand
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.

O.K.
Just a little pinprick.
There'll be no more aaaaaaaaah!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working, good.
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on it's time to go.

There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship, smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown,
The dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.

Most of you who have ever listened to the music of Pink Floyd, the cult band of the 60s/70s, know this number from The Wall. I have my own distinct memories of when I first listened to this ballad. Why do you say, I am bringing up this song today?

Last week, two more Indian cities fell victim to the terror that has been hounding the country for decades now. More people die, more fingers are pointed, the media screams with made-up pathos, we “tch tch tch” the victims for a day or two and then the blood is hosed away, the pieces of flesh and bones are picked, the bombed vehicles impounded and we all move on. Have you noticed that lately this “Moving On” is happening with more and more alacrity?
This is not how we were – we used to have a passion for fighting for our rights – we consistently endured and drove away external invasions for centuries - from Alexander to the Queen. Today, we cannot beat the demons within ourselves, today our passions are reduced to IPL, the capitalist way of living, fast cars and voting for IDOLS – you get my drift. Not that there is anything wrong in nurturing a passion for these things, but where is our fighting spirit when it comes to fighting for the basic needs that a Government should provide its population – clean water, electricity, food, and above all SAFETY for its hardworking citizens. We take to the streets to oppose the scantily clad cheerleaders, to protest against a painting, to protest against a bridge in the ocean, against a book or even a Rakhi Sawant - but when it comes to bringing our rulers to task for the lack of basic needs we look the other way. Where has that fire gone? Where has that spirit disappeared? Have we all become “Comfortably Numb”?

(More information about the song here)