Finally, there is the complicated question of our relationship to this enormous misery. We were all a bit slow in recognising what a national calamity this has been. As more news has come in, public consciousness has risen from its slumber; and as always, there have been brave volunteers soldiering in the field against great odds. But the striking thing about our discourse is this. We often think of civil society as filling in for the failures of the state. It could be argued that in these cases the relationship is the opposite. As the credibility of the state erodes (literally), as its ability to stand in for public purpose diminishes and its ability to direct operations comes into question, civil society also falls into disarray. How does one constructively channel the reservoirs of sympathy and willingness to contribute on such occasions? Public willingness does not translate into public purpose without the mediating role of the state. In all likelihood, the systems that are in place will do some palliative relief work. But we will be discussing the same issues again, year after year as the same pictures of misery come in.

The writer is president, Centre for Policy Research, Delhi

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