Monday, May 02, 2011

Conscious compromise of social progress!

I recently came across a letter reported to have been written by American Indian chief in 1853. I do not authenticity of the letter or its contents but what is worth noting is that every words written there must resonate in our minds. 

There is no point lamenting, or getting into knee jerk reactions, when disasters like epidemics, floods and Tsunami strike. The fact I see is that we (mankind), as a race, have plundered earth and its resources for too long.

India was a land where nature was worshipped. Every facet of nature was worshipped attributing divine properties in it. Perhaps, the message was to learn to respect each other, every other being, and live together in harmony.

For instance, we worship snakes. But as we took more and more of their territories, we confined them to temples in human habitats. It was not too late when we started trespassing into these as well in the name of progress.

Where to is this progress? For whom is this progress?

When I read the letter of American Indian chief quoted earlier, I am reminded of story of sage Dadichi who sacrificed his life.