This Papaya plant in our garden, the youngest of all such plants in our garden, came up on its own from the seeds probably dropped by birds who might have fed on papaya fruit brought here from elsewhere. This tree is in front of the entrance to the property where our cottage is located. I watch this plant on several occasion each day day while going out and coming in. Since it started flowering about three months back, it has fruits all along its stem, which would ripen shortly.
We would soon eat these fruits, all though we did not labour to plant or even nurture it as we would do normally to other plants. The seed would have come from a fruit from another tree in another garden nearby or far away. This tree would not have come up from seeds in our garden as no other papaya tree in our garden has a purple coloured leaf stems.
Anna and I would eat the fruits of this tree remembering its history and the gift it to us!
During the last 72 hours since there has been an engagement between India and Pakistan in the international border of the two countries with tier fighter jets of the air forces, all the reference in the media has been about Pakistanies and Indians as two distinct nationalities engaged in a war prone situation! The Indian press speaks of 'inflicting injury' to Pakistan by 'decimating' one of its terrorists camps and the Pakistani press highlights how Indian air force crossed the international border against all conventions without any reference to the harbouring of terrorists in its soil. The dialogue taking place is one of justification, defending actions and posturing to inflict further injury if there is another provocation !
Just because both Indians and Pakistanis belong to two different nationalities do we cease to be humans!
What ought to be a language between humans!
To me, humans have a common origin, journey and destiny, no matter what nationalities we belong to.
As a medical professional, I use the stethoscope manufactured in the United states of America, a camera manufactured in Japan to take clinical photographs, a phone made in China, an audiometer manufactured in Holland, a skin caliber made in England... the list is long! I run the car with the fuel coming from the middle east countries.
We as humans are giving ourselves to benefit others. Although there is a commercial benefit behind all these, there is also a humanitarian instinct which make all of us to do something for the benefit of others.
We are not just 'nationals' of one country but collaborators in the family of humanity!
The territorial definitions and nationalistic orientation are inherent to our culture. However even in the context of rogue beahviour, nations do not become enemies of each other if we are committed to the common sacred values as humans in the family of humanity!
I hear the language of the 'rights to defend or attack' spoken by both Indian and Pakistani politicians.
I wish, we would hear more of language of forbearance, confession, regards and openness to co-habit as nations in the south-asian territory!
The wrongs we do to each other can only make us go down the lane of enmity and anger!
The good we do to each other, however small it might be, could turn us to see each other as companions and pilgrims on earth.
I wish, the political views the leaders express would be flavoured by better ethical perspectives and generous trans-national and cross generational outlook!
The pages of history is full of records of wars, racial hate, colossal human loss and misery. In between these horrible experiences of humanity there are some sane messages, actions, symbols and self-giving examples to make us reflect on how we can do good!
When Nelson Mandela became the first president of the new South Africa, he knew the intense hate and emotional distance between the people after years of racial discrimination. He got Archbishop Desmond Tutu to establish a Truth and Reconciliation commission that initiated the process of public confession and apology which restored the nation to a level of healing relationships. In the recent political history of nations two outstanding examples of restoring humanity to its original status happened: the reunification and East and west Germany and the coming into being of a new South Africa.
I confess that the political orientation in India has reached a new low currently, where imposing an ideology on others has taken precedence over pursing the vision of togetherness or inclusiveness.
I wonder whether political leadership in india is seeking to promote partisan ideologies or human and humanitarian values!
The papaya tree in our garden whose photo is in the blog reminds me, that I am given more than what I have laboured for!
If so, while it is still possible, what good can I do to others whom I know to be in need and whom I do not know !
It is a testing time for politicians in India, as to whether they would be known for their personal pursuit of success or service to others in a self-giving calling!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment