Reflections
Tomorrows…
My sojourns on this two-point-one-mile path consist of occasional quick runs, which now have wound down mostly to leisure strolls. The track curls around a lake and is surrounded by lush foliage and tall trees, the blend creates a sense of deep forest. Above, the sunrays touch the green canopy creating a composition of light and shade of a variant hue of tender green. This trail and I have shared with others many smiles, greetings; and then again we have also seen many nature-lovers, bird-watchers, fish-catchers, dog-walkers, young and old joggers, critical-thinkers, problem-solvers, of whom few have persisted over the years while others graduated out of their habits! Most importantly, I have seen the felling of old trees and planting of new ones along this path. It had provoked serious dissension among the reserved campus community who loved to preserve the old. But today it is a true joy to see the young sprouts standing side by side with the misanthropic woods. As I walk this trail I bring silent conversations with me. It leads to observations, sometimes solutions, mostly more questions, and occasionally a sense of peace. Today the conversation is the carry-over discussion I had with A about the instance of a deliberative assembly where the young journalists in attendance were instructed to refrain from asking 'sensitive' questions to the visiting high profile foreign dignitary; questions that could have given new insights into foreign relations, would have allowed for a pause in explaining international foreign policies. My sensibilities revolted at this brash censorship. A's writing on such flawed malice for public read made me reflect on the saying, 'the act of witness is very important', no matter in what form it comes. Indeed, 'the pen can be mightier than the sword.' As a nation, time and again we have failed our young generation in owning their sense of citizenship. We have failed to remind them of their right to freedom of speech on civic issues. We have failed to teach them that collective accountability is the key to a healthy nation. The foundation of self-rule cultural-personality of a democratic nation is founded on those critical minds that are unafraid to ask questions, unafraid to assess the power of their right to inquiry that have potentials of paving the way to change, unafraid to embrace their rights that come with responsibilities. The transparency of political 'deeds' claimed by our current leaders is debasingly trite and no more than lip-service. They, the role-models of the next generation, create the vicious cycle of silencing acts that do not allow for breaking away from the precedent. After forty-plus years of independence, founded on millions of deaths, how much more are we to be humiliated by those who deal with the affairs of our nation? As I continue the discourse with my absent friend I begin to notice more intently the lively new saplings. For me today's walk, the felt warm breeze, the burgeoning sprouts breathed life in the judicious statement of King's, 'Our lives begin to end the day. . . we become silent about things that matter.' During my peregrination towards home I contemplated on the conviction of words written some ninety years ago: …Weary of struggles I, the great rebel, Shall rest in quiet only when I find The sky and air free of the grievous cry of the oppressed Only when the battle fields are cleared of bloody sabres Shall I, weary of struggles, rest in quiet…(Kazi Nazrul Islam) Indeed, a calling for the tomorrows of our nation!
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