Sitaram thought, “It is enough, let’s get back to our own country and live a simple life.” He has seen the height of corporate world and spent a long time in advanced countries in various positions. He likes simplicity, although his work environment has all the luxuries in the world. He wanted his decision to be final and there would be no looking back. So he informed his colleagues and the Board of his decision and packed off to his motherland.
He was so excited about being back in his Country. Memories of his childhood, school, university and relatives kept his mind occupied during the flight. After many years of busy life, he could relax and the flash back of his own life was so exciting. He wanted to experience the life of a common man in the city where he lived before leaving the country.
First day….
Sitaram was so excited to go for a walk, go to his favorite hotel, temple and so on. In the morning, he set out for a walk. He was shocked to see that the road had no pavement. He had forgotten how to walk on the road in such a chaotic traffic, four wheelers and two wheelers were moving in all directions. In the name of widening the road, the corporation did not leave any space for pedestrians. Even if there was a narrow pavement, it was all occupied by petty shops and vendors or used as parking lot. Forty years ago he was playing on this street with other children of his age. Now it has become a busy road and not an inch of space left to walk. Somehow he managed to get an auto and went to the play ground where he used to go for a jog. When he went there, the security asked him, “What do you want sir?” Sitaram realized that the place looked different. He asked the security,” This used to be a play ground earlier. Can I go for a walk?” The security said,” No Sir, you have to be a member to use this facility. Even for walking you have to subscribe as a member.”
“Oh God, Is this my country? There is no place to walk on road. There is no public place left anywhere for a common man. Where will I go now to just take a walk?” thought Sitaram.
Second day…..
By now he understood that the best transport in the city is the bus. It is cheaper and safer than any other mode of transport. (If you go by car, there is no way you can return without a dent! If you take an auto you end up arguing with the auto driver) Sitaram wanted to make a donation to the school where he studied and so went there. When he reached there, he found heavy security arrangements at the gate of the school. No stranger was allowed to enter the school. Everybody was checked by special security personnel. Sitaram asked the man at the gate about what was happening. He came to know that a child was kidnapped in the area just the previous day and hence the panic. Sitaram thought it is better to return home than to enter the school at this time. Who would believe if he says that he came here to donate money?
Third day……
This was the temple he used to go to every morning. On Fridays his mother would give him flowers and coconuts to offer to the deities in the temple. With nostalgic feelings he approached the temple. When he went near the temple, he found a lot of police men there. The traffic was diverted and no vehicles were allowed to go near the temple. He got down and enquired the police on guard about the situation. He came to know that some VIP was visiting the temple and hence public were not allowed to enter until that evening. Sitaram saw the tall tower of the temple in front. His memory went to the days when he used to go round the ‘praharam’ (corridor) of the temple with his mother and sit there in peace for a few minutes.
“Oh Lord, where this world is heading?” thought Sitaram. He has just decided to get away from the materialistic life and returned to his country. Now he is shocked about the city life in his own country. Where will he go to live the life of a normal peaceful man just like the olden days?
He could not stop thinking about today’s world……..
· No man trusts the other. No one can enter any building without an ID card. The ID card around your neck is more important than you.
· If you go back to a company where you worked a few years ago as a visitor, you will be interrogated as if you are an unwanted person there.
· Travel in plane is becoming a hazard. Your bag and you are subjected to strict security check. No matter even if you are an honest, reliable, respectable person; who cares? You are an object of suspicion.
· Every apartment has security guard (whether he can provide security is a different matter!). There is also a board which says, “Visitor’s cars not allowed”.
· Law makers are law breakers. Even judges who are considered next to God are found corrupt. Every day there is news about scam, terror, cheating, kidnapping…………
· Indiscriminate industrialization with profit as the only goal is a threat to the globe itself. The green earth is turning into a dump yard. Every next generation is left with more pollution and garbage to tackle with.
We can go on talking about the mistrust, suspicion, disrespect prevalent in human society today. There is a big transformation taking place in human behavior with advent of technological developments. It is amazing to see the speed at which the world is changing. On one side we feel we are progressing with scientific advancement in all fields. We have so many gadgets replacing human labor. The internet, mobile phone and television have changed man to virtual world. Even the language is changing every day. We are not sure whether we will be able to even communicate with the next generation. On the other side human dignity, mutual respect and fundamental values are also being redefined. A self conscious man may feel that he is getting farther away from universal consciousness. Such a man may feel buried deeper and deeper in the gadgets designed by man. Man today is a prey to his own web. Man is changing in trying to change nature. Every child born will see a new kind of world with many new materials made by man. Will there be some time left to see and think about the other man, river, mountain and sky?
There is hope………
Sitaram finally decided to go to his native village. It was a great surprise to him there. He found his street the same. Children were playing as it used to be forty years ago. He went to the temple which remained the same without the crowd and VIPs. Thank God, it did not become so popular to attract VIP visitors. He could go there and sit for hours as he did in his childhood. He could get in to any house for a cup of tea. He could find women chatting in the afternoon leisurely before their children and husbands got back home. There was trust, love and compassion with people. Even unknown people talked to him as if he is one of their family members. The pond in the village had beautiful lily flowers as it used to be. He could find cows, goats and pets coexisting with human beings. Sitaram was happy. He could finally get to a place where a simple peaceful life of a man is possible.
Still in this world a few villages are left where people like Sitaram could find a simple life of a ‘man’ that he saw forty years ago. How long will this fast developing society allow these villages to live in peace and leave the world green? Long live the green world!
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