Creating the Future We Want

Manas Panda

The first time I reflected on the theme “Creating the Future we want”, I had a sudden realization how closely our today and tomorrow are interlinked. In the increasingly busy and complex life that we are leading, we may not pay much attention to our action, but undoubtedly the seed of a better future is sown on the hopeful grounds of our young imagination.

Maybe that’s why our learned sages always believed that it is our ability to think & our conscience that makes the Homo-sapiens into humans. Since time immemorial it is our ability to imagine and create a better that has marked the difficult but steady progress of the civilization.

In some ways the discovery of fire, the invention of wheel was all an attempt by our forefathers to make their lives a bit more comfortable, their future a bit more secure. Even today the invention of better medicines, safer means of transportation ,cleaner & greener energy are all a relentless Endeavour by mankind to make our “future secure & sustainable”. In fact all of us everyday of our lives are striving to make our future brighter-a better house, a bigger car, good school for our kids & healthcare for our parents.

And I will admit those were my dreams too. But sometimes a chance meeting with someone gives you the cause for a lifetime. Once I was travelling on train to Delhi (the capital of India), as it happens on long journey I started conversing with an old lady, soon we started sharing little nuggets of our life with one another, after some time I said how lucky she was to have lived so long and to have seen the world and experience the little joys that life bestows on the fortunate, suddenly I noticed her becoming very still and avoiding any eye contact. After what seemed like a long time, the lady started speaking. The lady was actually an innocent victim of the partition that took place between India and Pakistan that took place long time ago. But even today as she recalled her loss of family, of her home, of her dreams she was choked with emotion. I felt both small and hopeful when she refused to blame anyone country or people, when she said that what had happened was a blot for the entire humanity ,for the price whether paid by India and Pakistan was ultimately paid by humans.

While I know there are lots of things that are essential for a glorious future, to me nothing seems more important or necessary than peace. What good is all our material acquisition if all it takes is a war or a bomb to destroy everything that has been so painstakingly created? Therefore I want a “peaceful future”: A future where the regard for human lives is sacrosanct, where human lives and liberties are upheld. After that inspiring incident I have tried in my own small way to contribute to cause of peace. I have written to members of our parliament against the rising intolerance & some of them have graciously acknowledged it, I have also written letters to newspaper advocating the cause for peace & tolerance which they have very kindly published. I have also become a member of a secular peace forum that advocates increased interaction between India and Pakistan. My Initial reservation has now given way to making lifelong friends across our border. I have realized how similar we are and also how close we really can be .The thing I have realized is for peace to prevail the people must interact more, after all we do not fear the familiar. Isolation and alienation should not be allowed to be hurdles on the road to peace. Especially in the age of internet & social media, our friends are just a click away. Now I have friends of different countries bounded together by our love & respect for each other culture.

With more and more youth interacting online, the ability of social media to foster peace & amity cannot be emphasized enough, one only hopes than that one day the virtual bridges of friendship will also lead to opening up off our gates of goodwill on ground too. I have also decided to become a member of the local peace community that foster peace between different communities and I only wish more people would join them too. I know that my small individual efforts may not bring about any results (sometimes I do get disheartened & disillusioned) but I also know that if each one of us in our own small way tries to be ambassadors of peace, a better world is possible. Maybe someday the “doves will once again fly unchained & unharmed to a better future”.