Things change, usually loosing their value and price in an ever appreciating world.Most of what we have today is not as useful or important to us tomorrow. We want an exchange or a bin for them. New and better ones fast replace old and not so efficient. But there always have been,to this theory of timebound value erosion, a few antiquotes. Old casked bottles of merlot or Chiraz,Single Malts, King George's first Mintout, Philatellists's Delights and many more. Thanks heaven they exist. These things let you cherish the good side of life.
But we do not realise that there is a problem here. A grave one at that. All these materialised moments of past have travelled into present not on their own. These have been preserved, bartered at times, sold may be and then owned by an individual or many of them.They have not ridden into our times on their own charters. For they never had wings or paddles. They have been brought down to us. Held, labelled and transferred through layers of time and stretches of lands. Every change of circumstance and ownership that they saw increased their value. And with this enhancement came their posession. By a few only, Who had been blessed either by legacy, luck, bequeath or a level of cunning that could not be matched even in wilds. Not for all. Classified - restricted access or affordability. Hallmark of greatness or exclusivity so overpowering that it eludes common man and his common sense. As much as they still remained a delight, they were just owner's delight. So what does this world gain from all these good things which exist. Not for a second I doubt their goodness. For they are really wonderful in their own and special way. But how and where does this goodness seem to work for everyone? I fail to see that.
Even if it stopped at that, one could care less. But it was nurturing an evil in its arm. An evil of greed, want, vandalism and all those feelings which were ill. Not humane. These priceless beauties had evolved over the ages. And in its course they had acquired countless lovers and counted few owners. They brought upon themselves and their lovers a feeling of belonging to just a few. Once seeded, they slept under a cover. Silent, waiting for another age to come by and another transfer to happen. But they left their lovers seething and owners frowning. Lovers thought that it had to be shared. The whole bounty. It belonged to them also. Owners thought it was only theirs. Between these lovers and owners there erupted a battle. War of sorts. The silent evil was waiting on a chance like this since an age. Lurking around sniffing out any opportunity to disrupt this abode of peace. And precisely that started happening. All these things kept on growing, taking on dimensions and numbers. We started valuing land, water, woods, air and what not. The list of posessions was ever growing and spiralling out of control. The things we desired never ended. Lovers were always more than the owners and owners always thought they have not had enough. The tug ensued. Owners holding on to all they had and lovers pulling onto all that owners had. Evil was finally breathing happy. It came out in open. It had ben nurtured in the very hearts of these owners and lovers. It was happy with this concept of ownership and inequitability. Lovers tried to be unwary or seductive sometimes. They thought of luring or engaging. But when they failed they turned. From seductive to seditious. They became insurgent and mounted a charge to snatch. Battles were drawn and fought. Evil was the free attendent to this whole drama. It would clean it all after every battle. Just to ensure that past woes and subverse is forgotten and it could drink on the frsh spill of venom. So continued the ageless and timeless mutiny, clash for rights, demand for ownerships,greed for more, disregard for parity. All in the meanwhile these priceless and immortal beauties looked on and wondered - " Are we really worth all this?".
Why have we stopped thinking? Could we borrow some brain from these non living things or animals. Why do not they have so many wants? Even if they want, their desires have been need based all through. Is this the price we are paying for our brain and evolution? From neanderthals to homo sapiens then to supermen. At each stage , we have made it worse than it was earlier. How is a cross different from a green quartered moon and star or a saffron perch? How is one 786 different from another 108? What could we not make with iron or wood which we make with a tusk? We really know the answers. Not a single affirmative. But it is getting harder for us by the day. We cant kick out the evil we have nurtured since unwhen. It wants its spill and we are giving it plenty. Around the globe. Hope we awaken early before it is spilling flood. And then if it does flood, there will not be a Noah. He is long dead.
2 comments:
What distinguishes humans from other species is the fact that we give in to greed and hence hoard- wealth,(wo)men, fame. This primal need of self before others is also the cause for every creative expression of man. So as The Matrix quote goes - The system is at fault and hence our enemy. But what do you do when you part of that very system and are not only innured to it but also dependent on it?
-Krishna
You try to rationalise. or you try to draw limits. May be you try to do something else. But you start trying. Krishna, frankly speaking i dont know what you do. But You try and you might end up knowing what to do.
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