I’m sure you felt a sense of sadness after reading the story that I penned yesterday.
Many wrote to me expressing their disappointment that our world had reached such a state. So I decided that it would be helpful for all of us if we delved deeper into yesterday’s joggers park episode because the incident could happen anywhere, in any city and to any group of people.
It doesn’t have to be a park, it could be your own colony where you live. So let’s dive in, shall we?
What did we see in the attitude of the people in the park? Indifference and apathy, right?
Indifference and apathy can have far-reaching consequences, and let’s look at some of them:
Erosion of empathy: When we become indifferent to the struggles of others, we risk losing our capacity for empathy. I am sure many in the park were diabetic but could not empathise with the poor woman.
Disconnection from humanity: Apathy can lead to a sense of disconnection from our shared human experience.
Increased suffering: When we fail to act with compassion, those in need may suffer more, and social problems can exacerbate.
So it is important that we develop compassion because compassion is essential for building strong, harmonious communities. It fosters empathy and understanding: Compassion helps us see things from others' perspectives. Compassion encourages kindness and generosity: Compassionate individuals are more likely to act with kindness and generosity.
It promotes social cohesion: Compassion can bridge gaps between people, fostering a sense of community and social connection.
For the most part it is not too late and we all can start rekindling compassion and here are some ways to do it:
Practice active listening: Engage with others, listen to their stories, and show genuine interest, especially your maids, drivers or support staff.
Volunteer and help others: Engage in acts of service, which can help foster empathy and compassion.
Cultivate mindfulness and self-reflection: Regularly reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and strive to become more aware of the needs of others. Let us not be one of the people in the park who stopped our walk for a few minutes to let the body pass, instead let us be people who through our compassion will save the lives of those who have no one to go to.
Someone also pointed out that such incidents could be because of the great caste divide in our country! The sweeper in our colony once told the other members when I was the chairman, that Bob sir was a friend of his.
The members who heard it reported it to me, and asked me to admonish him, but I told them I was happy he felt that way.
Let’s all be happy to cross that caste divide! Start practising all this now, before you wonder why a dead woman wore brand new walking shoes when she was being taking to her funeral pyre..!
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and author. He blogs at www.bobsbanter.com and can be reached at bobsbanter@gmail.com
