We The People

Wherever a mass problem or a wider issue exists, there is a need for a leader. Common people are too shy or too busy with their own everyday struggles. But, they can easily gather behind the one who appears to talk about their welfare and gives voice to their collective woes. A true leader will strive to solve their problem at the earliest. Indeed, he carries a clear vision of the intended solution. However, no sooner the problem is solved, the need for the leader also disappears. This is the catch.

Having accomplished the mission successfully, a true leader will move on to other things in life which may or may not give him similar mass recognition. But, many leaders cannot face such an end. Hence, they turn into either politicians or self-proclaimed leaders of aggressive organisations fighting for public cause through violence. Both know that their survival depend upon keeping the problem alive and the issue burning. No wonder then that so many issues in the world are still open even after many decades and many so-called leaders.

I refuse to believe that common people are interested in any kind of violence or prolonging any problem. No common man was happy at the killing of an eleven-day old baby by the mob recently in Srinagar. It is, therefore, entirely up to the common mass to recognise a true leader and reject the calls of so-called leaders with vested interests. It is now high time that ‘we the people’ stop becoming pawns in the hands of such self-proclaimed leaders. Failing this, common mass would remain condemned to the destiny of unending problems and continue to bring more misery upon itself.

Is Contentment still a virtue?

Throughout human civilization, it has been said that the key to happiness is ‘contentment’. And yet hardly anyone believes in this maxim today. Modern management schools go to the extent of preaching the virtue of having some stress called ‘good stress’ for progress. They argue if you are satisfied with what you already have then why to work for progress. Most of the current young generation agree. They feel that their present unhappiness is the fire that keeps them going. In the field of material pursuit, it appears logical too. But, is the progress all about amassing material wealth, earning name, fame, and power? If it were so, why did many of those who achieved all of this also died unsatisfied and unhappy? We need to properly understand certain laws of life.

There is a place and purpose for every atom in the universe. Everyone is born with some unique talent which must fully manifest itself in one’s lifetime. Those, whose unique talents flowered in their lifetime, lived a meaningful life and died with smiles on their lips. Material success for them was incidental not intentional. Contentment is not about what you have. It is about your mental attitude towards what you have. World is like a newspaper catering to everyone’s tastes. We should use the world’s resources like the newspaper readers who read only what interests them. No reader imitates the taste of other readers. Hence, all readers are content with what they read from the same newspaper. But, in life, we are often found imitating others, disregarding our own deepest interest and natural urges. This is how we lose our grip over contentment. We must realise that nature provides for all that we need at any given time to manifest our hidden unique talents. However, we build our list of complaints by focusing on what we need to imitate others. A complaining mind can never rest in peace and never perform a perfect action. An imperfect action can never guarantee success. Frustration and more complaints naturally result from such failures. We are ultimately caught-up in the vicious circle of chasing happiness through a restless mind. Contentment, therefore, is the greatest virtue for mankind. It is abundantly clear in the nature. Every flower is happily busy in spreading its own unique fragrance. Every bird is happily singing in its own unique tone.