Time to Pause: Introspecting Towards Nature #covid-19

We are all in a race, a race to earn more name, fame, power, money, etc. to fulfill our futile desires, forgetting the price to be paid. We worked hard without caring for the earth and even sometimes ourselves. Some of us even don’t have time in our lives to see the beauty of nature and beauty within us. We think there are many things important in our life to ease our lifestyle and without those, it is difficult to survive. But the covid-19 lockdown shows us it is not necessary, there are only a few quintessential things in our life.  These things are food, clothes and shelter, which are provided by nature since the evolution of human beings. Rest is just our desires on which we can have  controls.

Fig.1 Global CO2 Emissions (Source: Wikimedia)

But unfortunately, the earth has suffered from our greed for the sake of human development. We have seen the development of industries, transportation, facilities, etc. at the cost of the environment. Surprisingly, as we see in the figure 1. of the global Carbon Dioxide emission pie chart, the impact of the covid-19 is mostly to those countries, which have more CO2 emission. Indeed, the covid-19 outbreak is not good for humankind but if we want to see the positive part of it, china’s sky got clear, Venice of Italy can see Dolphin around it, etc. Don’t take nature as granted; if it explodes it’s not in the control of any other power.

Many people talk about environmental protection, but still they can’t stop unnecessary exploitation of it. Swedish young climate activist Greta Thunberg tries to convince world leaders to act against it but still they are not able to make a strict plan. They thought it’s tough to bring down carbon emission in equilibrium with the economy of the world. But the covid-19 the outbreak has shown to us that it will be possible.  As individual effort is needed to contain virus and mitigate its effect; same individual effort to reduce carbon emission. Similarly, another learning from it to a world leader is that if we have to take a tough decision like we are doing lockdown at the cost of an economy’s growth slowdown we have to abide and stand together. As due to covid-19 all countries are facing the economy fall down, I think it won’t be so harsh as the fall is for all the countries of the world compare to the scenario where one country makes huge economic growth(due to high industries) and another less. Though we can’t compare covid-19 and climate change directly as one has immediate effect and another has a gradual effect, but we can have learning’s from it. If we fabricate such decisions in the future for the environment then also, we will be able to regain the synchrony which is on the verge of extinction. Learning from covid-19 outbreak, we need to take action for the environment individually as well as harmoniously to save our nature. It has given clues for us to understand its importance, but we were not. In the end, it has played its card and made us lock ourselves in the house and shown us the path. If still, we don’t care about our mother earth we will suffer more and more. So, take a pause, learn from it and plan our future.

 

 We don’t need a human development index rather we need a human happiness index. Let’s govern our desires and show our responsibility for future care. I have the hope that we will come out of this breakdown soon and move freely again to appreciate nature’s grace.

#Disclaimer: It is not the cover of the full story of covid-19 but just my understanding and learning from it

CONFUSED....

I am in the middle of a huge lake 

Looking at the sunshine being awake...

Trying to row a boat towards another shore

With no idea of how much more...

When I don't have guiding parameters 

And nor an idea of the lake diameter...

My mind starts getting uncertain fear

Because the shore looks totally unclear...

I think my mind come into a state of confusion 

Which may be just a certain illusion...

Because I have never experienced that situation...

The situation in which neither I can decide

Nor I can hide...

It's not that, I can't find the path

It is just I want to be confident

But not overconfident...

I don't know which path to take

Is it towards another shore of the lake

Or just another mistake...

I can't find specific guidelines

So can't define my dwelling deadline....

More I dwell, more I get confused

So I Just want to walk keep my eye down...

Believing the God will showdown...

Above all, happiness is the main goal of life

So I want to be happier on this journey to another shore

Till then I will continue to row more and more....

NEPAL EARTHQUAKE AND SAARC RELEVANCE

It has been more than a month since devastating Earthquake hit Nepal on April 25 and another powerful aftershock on May 12 which on total has taken around 8,617 life, made 16,808 injured and millions homeless. Victims of this massive earthquake still is in need of food, shelter and rehabilitation but yet SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC), SAARC Food Bank (SFB) and SAARC Development Fund have been as a mute spectator of situation. Failure of SAARC to respond in such critical situations of Nepal has put question to the relevance of SAARC for its member countries.

SDMC set in October 2006 still don’t have clue on how it should work at time of Natural disaster though it has mandate to serve 8 member countries of SAARC at the time of calamities.  SDMC has the Vision to be recognized as a vibrant Centre of Excellence for knowledge, research and capacity building on disaster management in South Asia by providing policy advice and facilitating capacity building, research, training, system development, expertise promotion and exchange of information for effective disaster risk mitigation. For it they need to develop a network of institutions to facilitate quick access and sharing of information, real time data and knowledge on disaster management to national focal points of member states. But absence of SDMC in this situation of Nepal for action immaculately explain that they have not yet made quick operational modus operandi for disaster management and impact reduction. Now the question arise that since 2006 what has it done and why it was not able to formulate procedures and clear obstacles though everyone know that SAARC countries are vulnerable of natural disasters.

Similarly, SAARC food bank (SFB) is another regional centre as regional food reserve which is made to work during food shortage and emergency.  SFB was endorsed in 12^th SAARC summit and agreement for it was signed by the Heads of States of SAARC countries in 14^th SAARC Summit held in New Delhi on April, 2007. SAARC Food Bank has 486,000 tons of reserved food grains in its stock which a member country can withdraw at the time of natural or man-made calamities and in situation when country is unable to cope with food demand by using its own national reserve. But the terms and conditions of operationalizing the reserves like prices, payment methods, guidelines, conditions of payment etc. are yet to be finalized. I think, whatever the cost would be, the price for humanitarian cause should be considered widely before finalizing it. More critically there is no clear view about the institutions involved in its distribution and the transportation mechanisms. Nepal being the chair of SAARC and victim of the disaster, and India being largest contributor to food reserve should initiate call for dealing and finalizing policy with the Food Bank in unanticipated food insecurity and catastrophic crisis of Nepal. Several SFB meeting has taken place where Formulation of working guidelines for ope-rationalization of it was discussed but its absence in ground shows only the verbal agreements were made.

Furthermore, SAARC Development Fund could release a certain amount of money to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund to help Nepal recover. But yet, they have not been able to show it’s footprint on this earthquake affected Nepal.

Although rescue and relief support has come to Nepal from all SAARC member states, except Afghanistan, none of them have come through the SAARC mechanism. "If everything done so far has been on a bilateral level, then what is the relevance of SAARC as a regional mechanism? Like other SAARC agreements, there is no timeframe, accountability clauses and independent mechanism to evaluate the implementation. There were questions across the subcontinent as to why these regional bodies remained dormant even when a large number of people faced problems during natural calamities and other ruinous contingencies.

As the SAARC region is considered highly vulnerable to various kinds of natural calamities, including earthquake, typhoon, flood and landslide so these bodies should be pro-active as disaster is situation where different things get block and sometimes even mind of the affected people. So predefined institutions, there responsibility and modus operandi should be finalised by the SAARC nations so that operation can be taken quick.  But the role of SAARC after the massive earthquake in Gujarat, India in 2001, Kashmir region of Pakistan in 2005 and other major natural calamities in the region has been nothing more than that of a mute observer.

In particular, the Nepal quake is a warning bell for SAARC to get its act together to set up an effective disaster-response mechanism which can minimise and mitigate impact in an already disaster-prone region. What is needed is a joint effort for long-term reconstruction plan for Nepal where resources could be pulled out from SAARC repository when required.

It is good time for SAARC communities to activate these bodies in situation like the crisis in Nepal today and let them gain exact real time practical experience which can add experience so that they can do quick and efficient response when required. The only way to test the effectiveness of this food bank is to promptly implement it in a real time situation like the crisis in Nepal. This will check the design, rules, guidelines and mechanism of its operationalization and will add advice to ease its process further. I think to mitigate the impact of the disaster all the majors should be taken by the SAARC as it falls among one of the most vulnerable areas of natural disasters in the world.

 I pray to god for the growth to come in Nepal. May the devastation of the old create fertile ground for the new, bright, and lively future ahead to suffered people.

WHAT WE NEED AS DEVELOPMENT

Development is not a topic just spoken by politician at the time of election, it is a topic which we talk for hours and hours in public. If I ask what development is to a youth, a woman, a business man, a spiritual guru, a physically disable, a marginalized people and others, it’s definition may be surprisingly different. Most of us have been misled by politicians definition stating shining sky scrapper, wide roads, bigger industries, business growth are things which shows development. But it’s not only those things,   development is   something more than it. It is unbiased law enforcement, non-corrupt systems which work without prejudice, creating of society where woman feels safe, proper education ,building ability in person to realize their true potential without fear, zero rate of crime and so on.

Development should ensure freedom from discrimination, freedom from fear of loss of identity and exclusion so that feeling of equality expands. Country is not only roads, buildings, business hub; it’s people, gender whose development is dependent on government policies and programs. Biased economic distribution only benefits few and increase gap which create bigoted environment. Most of the time growth remains concentrated on the center which cultivates feelings of inappropriate distribution of nation budget and makes the people of remote feel neglected. This create hostility towards centralized government and sometime it may create situation which makes raise of insurgent  which might take another decade to get solved.

Most of the donors extent there charity for development but please understand it is not the charity it is motivation, empowerment and encouragement which will develop human. There are thousands of enthusiastic peoples who want to get friendly environment for inception of their dream. People are in need to move from village to city and from city to foreign nation leaving behind their families because they have a dream, motivation and enthusiasm to do something but this personal demanding politics has let us down and people are compelled to move. Every leader of South Asian country talks about these matter but at the end it has been just a topic where they can flatter in every public speech.

We need development but not development only on infrastructure, we need development of freedom, development of intellectualism, development of equality, education, quality health care and safe environment for healthy peaceful leaving. It is not the GDP which shows how developed is nation but it is how happy the people of that nation is.

Aimless Walk

Neither I have a destination nor any clue

I’m just walking in the road

With the dilemma of life’s aim.

Sometimes I feel like I’m playing a game, a life game…..

Everyone says there should be a clear goal

A goal which has value to your life

A goal which has self-driven motivation

They say to find it we need to do introspection……

More I introspect, more I get confuse

So I just want to walk

A walk where I will only dwell on present

No worries of past and enjoying every moment….

I have a hope, someday I’m going to find my aim

An aim which will create meaning in my life

An aim for which every step will give me happiness

And that will be what I’m searching for my liveliness…….

I have been like a man

A man rowing a boat in the middle of a sea

With no definite direction

But with an anticipation to reach shore someday……..

So don’t ask me right now about my aim

One day I gonna find my aspiration

Till then let me have aimless walk

A walk with joy of seeing this beautiful world

A world where I grow, live and die….

WHEN THOUGHTS ROLLSSSSS.....

Learning From The Nature

Fascinating dawn, reddish-orange scattering light of the sun coming from the east horizon falling on my blinking eyes made me feel as it is captivating sunrise. I started dwelling and gradually resembling it with people’s life. As first sunshine gives fresh start of the day leaving all the old scraps, it encourages me for new inception by leaving behind all the past worries. Most of us have habit of carrying our past and letting it to control our present and eventually our future. In fact, remembering the pain is like hurting yourself again and again. We should make a habit where we will not let our past to ruin us. We should Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today And Hope For better Tomorrow. It will always be better if we think what we want to do, hold that thought firmly and make some plans of day while gazing at sunshine. During making a plan every work may be important but we should prioritize among it, and give jovial start.

As time passes an elegant sunshine gradually transferred to the harsh hot day till elevation of the sun was highest. Same can be observed in our lives as well, we start facing difficulties after commencement of the work and sometimes it reaches to intolerable extent, at that time we need to resist it with patience and work to solve it , I’m sure it will vanish soon. We have seen clouds floating, which hide the sun, but still the sun doesn’t change its path, it continues to move on its own. Similar can be seen at human life, it gets hit by obstacle but we should keep on moving. When travelling cloud hides the sun, we like it in summer because it reduces harsh sunlight but if it’s winter we wish a clear sky. It’s all about situation or circumstances that make people to see same things different way. It is same with our life, same thing is taken different way on different instance by different people, so don’t bother about others perception about you, just move on your plan. I remember a quote from Steve Jobs “Your time is Limited, So don’t Waste it Living someone else life”. We need to do introspection to get answers or way to find answer of every question.

As the day ends, sun dips towards the horizon giving a beautiful view of sunset where we see iridescent scattering of lights, silver lining on the clouds and so on. All these brings in me adoring expressions for the nature. However the day might be but the end is beautiful, sky full with red-orange light, peoples lighting the lamp, gazing at beauty of sunset. This give me feel of the peace and enrich satisfaction. Whatever was plan in the morning might has taken good shape, if not then remember a proverb “Everything is OK at the End if it is not OK , then it’s not the End”. With next sunshine we will have new start, new beginning with better steps towards goal.

Nature is source of every knowledge, just see it and gain it. At the end I only want to say live the moment like you have never lived. We shouldn’t be surviving but should be living, a life with joy, happiness and satisfaction.

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