Sunday, December 31, 2000		Lead Article

Extraordinary vistas ahead
Hari Jaisingh

How different will be the much-awaited new millennium? Well, much depends on how and what we make of it. The challenge here is of evolving a new order that should bring about a qualitative change between today and tomorrow.

As it is the world is in the grip of manifold revolutions, discoveries and technologies which will open up new frontiers of knowledge and information. The futuristic arenas of gene therapy, biotechnology and outer space explorations could mark a qualitative difference in the life and attitudes tomorrow. The challenge here is whether we make robots of men or use artificial intelligence to guide people's distorted thinking and misplaced priorities. Indeed, the time has come to break the old barriers based on parochial thinking, narrow angularities and petty considerations of caste, creed, colour, religion and self-centred responses which pose the biggest threat to humanity.

In fact, the human future is threatened not so much by natural or supernatural forces as by human insensitivity and negative activity. In the new century, we have to come out of the war hysteria and shed all traces of colonial and neo-colonial thinking and practices. Life is too precious to be frittered away in petty matters. The new millennium demands a new vision and quicker responses to the ills afflicting large sections of humanity. This is possible if the concept of globalisation is given a human face as enshrined in the Indian philosophical framework of "Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (the whole earth is my family).

Globalisation and its new frontiers of technology, knowledge and information have to derive their sustenance from the time-tested value system based on love, compassion, mutual understanding and tolerance. The new instruments of science and technology must not be used for mutual annihilation. They have to be utilised for creating a new, just, equitable and fair global order. This is possible if we effectively tackle the converging trends of population growth, industrialisation, rising expectations, resource depletion and environmental damage.

The task ahead is particularly gigantic for India. First of all, we will have to renew the resolve and act speedily to uplift the quality of life of the poor, the downtrodden and the have-nots of society. The woes of the non-privileged sections must not be ignored like a cry in the wilderness. Helpless children and women have to be cared for and given full protection.

We have miles to go before we are able to catch up with the advanced countries. This job requires determined and coordinated efforts. Nothing is more shameful for the ancient civilisation of ours to find half of the population living below the poverty line without elementary facilities. This poses a big challenge to the well-placed Indians. On test is Indian democracy as well as the quality of governance. We have to be duty-bound. And fulfilling duty is a moral obligation.

The new millennium throws up new challenges. Many of us dream of India as a superpower. Dreams can be translated into reality provided we come out of the present mindset and give up hypocrisy and obstructionist attitudes. On the one hand, we are ridiculously tolerant of corruption, venality, immorality and inefficiency and, on the other, we tend to be intolerant when it comes to showing compassion and sensitivity towards the poor and those of other castes or faiths.

Double standard is no standard. It is necessary to confront all issues and problems which get hidden behind platitudes, homilies and sycophancy sharply and honestly. This is the only way to make our leaders responsible, responsive and accountable. Their tendency to seek solutions to please all generally ends up in pleasing none and thereby the problems remain and get further complicated.

The question here is not of Kaliyuga or Satyayuga. Every yug can be Satya Yug provided in the years ahead we practise what we preach and preach what we practise. What we are fast losing is our capacity to live and let live — an ancient philosophy that is as sound as it is simple. This is the time to punctuate our narrow, parochial obsessions with glimpses of the extraordinary vistas of the future.