In spite of all the education, growth and development, survival for the common man becoming challenging, by the day?

 

 

The growth and development, that has taken place in the last few decades, has ironically, resulted in sustainable erosion of our cultural ethos, values and principles, which socially and by heritage, aimed at ensuring, basic necessities of living, for one and all, across the board, comfortably-respectfully in alignment with universe, the nature: a mantra of simple living and high values! 

However, the progress that has been propagated over the decades, with all brilliant and seasoned minds, across the board -from top most institutions, corporate and bureaucracy, working probably overtime, has surprisingly, been such that even the essentials, facilitated by nature for free, to live and be healthy and happy in tune with universe such as: water, air and basic staple food, are now, for a cost, and gradually being ensured to be off reach, of the common man. Case in point is the much branded and marketed term 'organic', which was actually, the way of farming, originally and affordable, too. Or the business of buying filtered water now for drinking and now news about fresh air being marketed too!

In the earlier days, the approach was such that people across the board, were able to survive and live respectably, be it at any level of the pyramid; off-course, it is more in context to the 'common man', but today, many of the essentials are off the reach of the common man; and to the segment living below the poverty line, it is partly facilitated as subsidy-favour, if at all it is being facilitated! 

Data points, shared by many national and international organization working towards larger cause of the society such as poverty alleviation, climate change mitigation etc. voice the concern on the growing inequality and apathy towards nature-natural(&human) resources, globally. One such organization, Oxfam in its recent research reports and surveys states: “The world’s richest 1% have more than twice as much wealth as 6.9 billion people. The very top of the economic pyramid sees trillions of dollars of wealth in the hands of a very small group of people, predominantly men, whose fortune and power grow exponentially. Billionaires have now more wealth than the 4.6 billion people who make up 60 percent of the planet’s population. Meanwhile, around 735 million people are still living in extreme poverty. Many others are just one hospital bill or failed harvest away from slipping into it.” (Link: https://www.oxfam.org/en/5-shocking-facts-about-extreme-global-inequality-and-how-even-it) 

Is this really growth and development?  A question for all the ‘brilliant minds’, who sit in board rooms and corridors of power, and are idolized, thanks to the media!

Wonder, if anyone is really are bothered at all, with exceptions for sure? The ‘success and wealth generation’, it seems is the only mantra and its only as you zip in to a particular segment.

The last decade has been witness to the branding and going overboard with the newly coined term for business and that is- 'start-up'. Interestingly, all run for funding, with the balance sheets bleeding however, the Founders personal worth and valuation of the start-up rising, and media busy, carrying them as ‘new economy’ role models and success stories, coveted with all possible awards and recognition's, and yes majority of them, set up by ‘brilliant minds!

If we really have the spine to talk and face things squarely; today, it is more about a brokerage-commission business model, propagated and packaged well with technology, in the name of ‘work and doing business’

There is surely a percentage of start-ups - businesses that are working towards addressing core needs at the ground and investing in R&D or towards setting infrastructure base- manufacturing plants; but how many? and what is the kind of support for them on ground.

Reminded of an interesting advertisement line, wherein its highlighted that how today's start-up without owning or investing in any kind of infrastructure or resource is of 'Y' valuation, and founders personal net worth grew by Z times, and the company zeroed in X round of funding.  That is people who had invested some decades ago, in setting up infrastructure, manufacturing units etc., hotels, cars to be run as taxis, or the ones that are toiling on the ground producing grains etc. are fools because it’s all about the last mile connect – a better term for ‘middleman’ -the facilitator – the broker, to take away the cake and it too. 

The current news of the Pandora papers after the famous Panama (2016) and Paradise (2017) and Offsore Leaks (20313) bring to the fore, the inner workings of the ones sitting in AC rooms, the shadow economy or should one say financial world- a mirror to where and what is the real growth and development and progress!

Today’s technology development is increasingly more about playing on human psychology, turning every second person a digital addict, which is scarry and worrisome. In many ways, technology is today making ‘man’ a slave than being a tool in his/her hands. Its adversely impacting: health, creativity, interpersonal relationship. The social fabric is reflecting its after effects, wherein we see reports on growing concerns on the increased mental problems and communication -relationship challenges, across all age groups – the loneliness being felt. Undoubtedly, this is contrary to the basic premise and ethos of human species as social beings.  Again , the question is this what education, growth and development is all about ? 

Agriculture and farming, the core and one which is aligned to nature, systematically pushed to the line of being extinct.  Fortunately, it still holds ground for 60 to 65 percent of the population in India and worldwide too. In-spite of being steadily engineered towards slow poisoning with push to use chemical fertilizers , insecticides and pesticides, as premise for better yield; in reality it has over the period, damaged the soil and resulted in reducing the yield along with emergence of so many ailments, diseases to mankind, including harming the nature. The result being that today, farmers are on roads fighting for their legitimate  rights and to save farming-agriculture.

The silver lining is the emergence of ‘youth’- many who had left villages for greener pastures elsewhere after getting  degrees etc., returning to their villages and putting in their mind to agriculture, restoring natural bodies , the flora and fauna, that has been destroyed; doing amazingly inspiring and meaningful work such as setting up ponds and lakes for water retention, restoring farming which is driven with natural manures, resulting in higher yield, better income -bringing in betterment and improved quality of lives for many in the villages and towns without harm to nature and with a care that it’s not turned into an insane drive for minting money, wherein challenges of compromises come in.

However, there are many who sadly, are trying to make another metro in these quaint and natural places- money spinning ventures; cement jungles and the introduction of mindless commercialization, ensuring that life gets difficult for those who are living a simple carefree life in oneness with nature.

Isn’t education, growth and development, all about improving the quality of life in alignment with nature and more about values and meaning, than an insane race to amass wealth, power- materialistic pleasures and comforts which has no end!

Understandably, our education and learning's and attaining of coveted degrees ensures, that everything is packaged and marketed today for a price which makes it unaffordable for many. Not to miss the point that it’s all in plastic packings - harmful at the very first level both for consumption and for nature.    

Interestingly, plastic is said to be not good for nature and banned and we have an army of social activists voicing for the same and at the same time we have at the other end an army of business- the burgeoning e commerce and online shopping, where nothing works without plastic wrapping and packaging.

The en masse opening of Trusts and Foundations -social initiatives to save trees and forest and agriculture-farmers etc. and reduce carbon and plastic footprint seems very thoughtful, but then we have  all the 'enlightened minds', be it in the corridors of power or elsewhere, blindly propagating this online culture where one sees a mindless use of plastic and paper in the most insane way, ever witnessed on earth and likewise fuel, which is so recklessly being consumed with some businesses - 'start-ups', having this as its core as a concept and are being celebrated /funded  over  the ones who are getting on ground to revive agriculture /farming or manufacturing-production in the most genuine authentic way with a cooperative concept than just a technology platform for facilitation along with addressing issues of Climate Change mitigation.

There are surely many inspiring one’s on ground that are working but how many and what’s the ratio and what’s the level of recognition and support coming for them?  A case in point surely is Vihara Foundation! 

Many who grew with the 'common man' - 'middle-class’ values, are either lost or amassed so much wealth, success and power in the individual capacity, that it is now the 'neo rich upper class', having a completely different perspective to life, now.

The growth and development over the decades, reflects the kind of education and values gathered over the years, wherein it is all about how to manage and manipulate one and all, including universe-nature, what to talk about human-resource!

If one wishes to disagree, well the damage to nature, culture and values-the erosion of 'humanness' from beings, globally, should be good enough to put all counter arguments to rest. The last two years, have also been a good learning, provided we are ready to walk the talk and not once again get back to our mindless greed and ego drive! 

Recently came across an interesting observation by a young CEO of a company working on energy conservation and eco sustainability stating: most of the businesses- start-ups, that have come up in the recent times , all are based around desire and not need; technology being used accordingly and its hell lot of different when the vision is basis 'desire' and not 'need' - the essentials for survival and well-being of one and all.  

The other one from a villager: what kind of growth and success and development you people have done and talk about that now many of you are running towards villages, calm and green places after ruining nature and turning all into concrete jungles, in towns and cities with your money, power and degrees – please leave us and the nature - natural resources, whatever left and available with us. It’s still keeping us healthy and satisfied and happy in our limited means and we living with mutual love and respect.  Sad to see people coming from cities and towns and leaving so much garbage and plastic all around – no respect and value for nature nor for oneself! 

The last one by a young guy. who is working towards saving agriculture and farmers- the reason that no one will promote setting up of units and indigenous production of essentials, beyond a point because then the commission accruing, gets marred! 

Any amount of growth, education, progress, success and development etc. will be skewed until there is a quotient of larger purpose and meaning!

Time for spiritual renaissance in all areas!