Lazarus at the Gate

Lazarus at the Gate
“Let’s perish the earth if there is no food for a single man…”
- Subramanya Bharati
Pleasant sunlight spread through the dew drenched green plants and give sweet warmth to every living beings. Eternal love birds sing their everlasting notes from mango grooves. Majestic human beings in all their youth and vigor work, eat, sing, dance, and lead joyfully their everlasting life. Almost every human being in the world love to realize the above mentioned life: a life with insatiating pleasure, overwhelming joy, everlasting peace, unbiased equality, unlimited liberty; a life without pains, sufferings, quarrels, bondages, diseases and of course death. Perhaps this is only man’s utopian vision but this is what all religions promise in the Kingdom of God or in Ramarajyam or in Heaven. And this is what at least some idealists and philanthropists try to achieve in this world to little success.

Liberty and equality are the two major needs of all human beings. But ironically the same two have been restricted to the social animals by their own breeds ever since the dawn of human civilization. Like Gautama I too have seen sufferings, deaths, bondages and economic imbalances in our world time and time again. But I can’t venture into finding out an absolute and permanent solution for that in this world.

When men were gatherers and hunters they were completely self sufficient and depending on nature. Slowly they started settling down, did farming, got surplus, started thinking, and made equipments. When population increased a situation raised where experts were needed for doing different supportive activities. As a result people were no longer self sufficient rather they exchanged goods and labour. Again population exploded in proportion to industrial revolution and vice versa, number of different trades increased, currency came into transaction: all these culminated in new economic systems. Kingdoms and governments and their policies played a vital role in determining the economic well being of a country and its citizens.

I have heard, read and seen kings, emperors, rulers, dictators, presidents and prime ministers, all failing in maintaining an economic balance in their countries. Latest to add to that list is the failure of globalization in giving economic equality and stability. One may argue that in a socialistic country economic equality can be maintained. It is absolutely true. But the darker side is that freedom is sacrificed at the altar of socialism. This is something like sacrificing one eye to protect the other.

In a democratic country of course people have enough liberty but unfortunately there are Lazaruses waiting at the gate of rich barons. Now in this globalized scenario it is more so. Some argue enormous accrual of wealth by a few business classes will ultimately benefit all the citizens. But will it take place and how long we have to wait for it to take place is a matter of wait and see.

In my knowledge among all these political set ups, policies and philosophies no one could give a permanent solution to economical inequality. It is true; today the most acceptable form of government is democracy where all enjoy enough freedom even to exploit others. Here the survival of the fittest is encouraged so much so the huge void between the rich and the poor is ever widening. Hence it is my absolute conviction that within the democratic set up what can create an economic equality is Christian socialism. Whatever is the philosophy of a government, capabilities and noble visions of a leader if individuals don’t change then the world won’t change for the best.

In Christian socialism there is no compulsion. Every individual is willing to share his surplus with his neibhour. This needs personal change of mind. This is what living love according to christinity or the teachings of any other religion in the world. And this should be one aspect of the modern concept of responsible living. If every economically blessed being is ready to extend a helping hand to his needy neibhour I am sure there won’t be poverty in this world if not economical inequality. This is a humble step forward in building the Kingdom of God or Ramarajyam or Heaven.

“THERE IS NO WEALTH BUT LIFE”. Life including all its powers of life, of joy, and of admiration. That country is the richest which nourishes the greatest number of noble and happy human beings…..”
- John Ruskin