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“Indian relief plane lands in Pak” was the headline in one web portal. Though there are no inventions that could replace suffering out of human loss, but providing aid to the needy has, definitely, no alternative form of expressing humanity. During the time of natural calamities all parts of the world exhibit their intent of helpfulness – it is but Humanity: a necessary desire derived out of our being a human. As far as expressing our concerns of humanity, Indians are a step ahead, as it is the Land of compassionate souls. It has its concern, like no other, for the causes of compassion, peace, cultural harmony, and progressive international relationship. There is no wonder of such actions during normal times, but during crisis times, too, it always encouraged better relations and left no stone unturned to find lasting solutions to the existing predicaments through the means of peace.  

It has always been some noble citizens from this country, risking their lives lighten up the Wagah border during festivals. It is India, who has to start and started all dialogue processes of negotiation even when the other side considers us as enemies. During crisis hours like recent earth quake in the valley, militants cannot have a better example of their barbarism by killing Hindus. If we just refresh our memory of, not long ago, Kargil, Pakistan has refused to recognize to take back the dead bodies of their soldiers and it was benevolent Indian soldiers who performed the last rites for them. Instances of such are innumerable. It is strange to believe, but we offer flowers in return of bullets. Perhaps, ours is the only example of sort compared to the way Russia, Israel and others deal with terrorism of partition beliefs.  

However, it had not been our necessity but exercise of our choice. This is our uniqueness, our strength, our extreme desire to live within boundaries, and living with our small wishes. Legends say, the path of truth is always with laid with thorns. Still we tend to prefer the hard ways rather than repenting life resulted out of involvement in any conflict. Wittingly or unwittingly, our society has conditioned the members to set examples through the means of self sacrifice.  

Unfortunately, the political establishment of present times has brutally disrupted and corrupted the social perception of the major chunk of world intelligentsia and of the collective wisdom. But external compulsion has done little to deteriorate the mass desire to alter their allegiance to peace and harmony. Above all we are compassionate and enlivening this quality is unavoidable. Will our friends, at the other side of the border, understand our inherent sentiments? Will they reciprocate our intent? Will the world wake up to acknowledge our desire for peace and concern for our rights? 

“We are a nation of Bleeding hearts” says our External Affairs Minister recently. Everyone has the right to protect their home, so when envious neighbor's intent was suspicious, it was but natural to build strong boundaries of strength. Nuclear test last decade might have been a beginning, but constant compulsion through of political- economy means, world has succeeded in suppressing yet another great emerging nation with amazing defence & economic abilities. There are stringent rules but applicable to only peace loving citizens, and for others there is negotiation, dialogue, and talks. There could not have been a better example of our compassion culture, of course, apart from Kashmir, is Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). Last year all the public places were crowded just to have a look of the PWG cadres roaming around in the city, they were there on the invitation from the Government for negotiations. With repeated efforts for six decades by avoidable forces, our social-order is into unhealthy divisions and when that was not enough special provisions were imposed (not ‘made’) to certain sections at the cost of others. The British is still at large. Still aam admi is happy because they are compassionate. 

Can the election politics be stopped? Can the unrelated social divisions be broken to channelise resources to form one nation? Can we take lessons from even from China & Japan of recent years in nation building through the means of economic and defence power? Or else we have always the choice to be compassionate for everything and living with our Chotisi Asha with our never changing Jaane do (leave it) attitude. Whatsoever is our intent, our compassionate simply refuses to die. To quote off-quoted line of Dr Allama Iqbal “Kuch baat hai ki hasti mitati nahi hamari; sadiyon raha hai dushman; daure-jahan hamara” (There’s something in us that makes us indestructible; For centuries the time has been against us, though).

Srinibas Patnaik

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