IS EXPECTATION OF WARLESS WORLD A PIPE DREAM ? – By N.S.Venkataraman
Conflicts and wars have been taking place over centuries of human existence, in spite of several religious scriptures, saints and scholars advocating peace and harmony. This scenario lead to suspicion that violent approach are in the mindset of humans, just like they are in the mindset of most animals. Just like every animal constantly trying to protect itself against attack and violence by humans and other animals, it appears that the humans have also been having the same instinct as that of the animals.
One cannot blame animals for their violent prone behaviour, since it is considered to be part of their natural instinct, as the animals are devoid of the sixth sense that humans are supposed to possess. However, such justification for violence by animals cannot be and should not be made applicable to humans, who are supposed to be “superior class” of God’s creations.
The struggle for peace has continued in the world for the last several centuries without success, even as the wars too have been happening.
Apart from several conflicts and wars that have been taking place from time immemorial , the biggest ones in the world history are the World War I and world War II. After the end of World War I, the importance of peace was not realised by the governments and then World War II happened. Millions of people fought and died during these wars.In the subsequent period , it has been seen that these wars have achieved nothing worthwhile and efforts of those who indulged themselves in the war process are futile exercise with the loss of valuable human lives.
After the end of World War II, valiant efforts were made to create a world peace forum christened as United Nations Organisation. But, this has not helped the cause of world peace in any significant way and the result has only been that there is a forum now for the representatives of various government to blame, argue and finally to pay lip service for world peace. It is widely recognised that UNO has now been reduced to a mere discussion forum or a debating club or both.
Several violent conflicts and wars have taken place since World War II and now the Ukraine Russia war and Hamas Israel war is the topic of the day. As usual, there are voices being heard calling for cessation of these two ongoing wars and again as usual, those involved in the war claim that these wars are being waged to avenge injustice and ultimately to ensure peace by subduing one party or the other. The justification for the wars “to end war” is an atrocious claim.
Several fruitless wars and consequent sufferings to the world community due to such wars have not made the governments across the world to realise that conflicts and wars really aid no one and victory or defeat are meaningless pursuits.
Behind all these conflicts and wars, there are leaders of governments in various countries who are all the time obsessed by the fear of being over powered due to possible war that may happen from near or far. At the present time, observations have been made that future wars in the world would be “drone wars”, which possibility have made every country in the world to ensure greater sophistication in the techniques of warfare. In other words, the results of technology are proving to be negative.
Historical events seem to indicate that wars can not be stopped in the world , given the fact that animal like violent prone attitude continue to prevail amongst humans too. The constant theory is that to stop the wars in the world, the struggle for peace has to be waged in the minds of men and women. This has not happened in the last several centuries and discerning observers think that it would be a pipe dream for anyone to believe that lasting peace without war would happen in the world at anytime in future, given the fact that the mind of humans remain unchanged
The ground reality is that while phenomenal material progress in the world has happened due to developments in science and technology, the mind of humans remain unreformed and there is no indication that it would become better at anytime. The peace advocates will continue to have their own place in the world talking and writing eloquently but their efforts are unlikely to have any impact at significant and measurable level on the ground, as the human mind appear to be incorrrigible
It is not progressive thought process to conclude that prospects for peace in the world is an utopian expectation. Historically, just as wars have been taking place, the cry for peace have also been heard continuously.This trend is likely to continue for ever. Hope for the world peace appears to be an eternal exercise.
