DR JERNAIL SINGH ANAND
The present times can easily be described as the age of insensitivity. Insensitivity can be defined as a mental state in which men are not concerned with the wellbeing of others. When men think that only they matter, and their own survival, and for this, they do not mind bringing down the structures which support their very existence, it measures up to the state of insensitivity. If you receive a wound, you feel the pain. But, you do not feel the pain, rather feel joyful, when you inflict the pain on the other person. I think both these situations envelope the whole humanity today. We feel the pain that is inflicted on us. And nobody feels the pain which he inflicts on others, or when it is inflicted by outside agencies on people who exist outside us, our family. There is another higher state of insensitivity, when we feel the pain, but are so fear-stricken, that we do not at all cry. When we do not raise our voice for justice, it is also an insensitivity of a very high order. Such people are considered best specimens of disciplined citizenship. Silence is golden, and speech, silver. But when it acquires insensitivity, silence is a crime.
How insensitive we are towards nature? Towards animals, birds, beasts, and waters? We are not only criminally insensitive, but murderous also in our intentions. If we cause any wounds to the nature’s establishment unknowingly, it is excusable. But how can nature exempt us from the guilt of playing foul with our life systems? I call it not only insensitive, not only criminal, but suicidal also, which underlines, not our ignorance, but our foolishness. We are highly educated, highly sensitized citizens, so awakened and aware of our rights. But, we forget that the life that we are enjoying is the gift of nature. And a free gift at that. How sensitive we are in dealing with birds and beasts? Waters and winds? And even our kind earth?
Apart from this, when we take up our personal life, we lack sensitivity. How good we are to our parents? To the sick? To the needy? Is money not the ultimate value for us? Have we ever bothered to learn values which outlast our miserable existence? We have no faith in God. Does not matter. But it doth matter if we have no faith in human goodness. How we conduct ourselves? Are our dealings with others upright? We all spring from one or other religion, yet, how many people on this earth believe in the goodness and fairness that each religion preaches? Religion is for sale. Faith is for sale. Anything that cannot be sold, and converted into wealth, is like an argument which holds no water.
As human beings, we are in a tight spot. We are not human. We are not even beasts. Beasts have a far great Original Intelligence. We are after Knowledge, which brought about our expulsion from the Garden of Eden. We need Artificial Intelligence. Technically speaking, such aids are needed only if we are mentally retarded. And see what is the final outcome of the AI? We are emotionally drained, mentally retarded, and humanistically diminished. Our thinking apparatus has been captured by the video apps and we are watching non-stop nonsense on OTT. When will we interact with the humans outside our home? They are miserable. They need help. But, oh! How can I leave my mobile, my chat, my talk, my video games. We are robots, who have no sense of human joy and sorrow.
DRAINING OF THE HUMAN STUFF:
Sixties and seventies and even eighties present a world view which is entirely different from the world that emerged after the onslaught of the mobile and the IT. We can divide it between the Age of the BW TV and the Age of the IT. Now, we are transitioning into the Age of AI.
As we move forward, in a plasticated atmosphere, supported by technology, we are less in need of the people around. To go to the extreme, I can say, we do not need a wife for begetting kids. We do not like kids. We are so self-obsessed. We do not like any one impinging on our private empire. Yes, this is the word I was looking for. Private Empire. The Empire of the Internet. The Mobile. The Apple. Which is now expanding into AI. The support that we get from technology helps us physically, relieves us mentally, but drains us emotionally. If we want to talk to somebody, video and whatsapp may come to our help. But, if we want to embrace somebody, touch somebody, feel somebody, can these gadgets help? This is emotional starvation which is responsible for the draining of the human stuff from our lives.
EMOTIONAL DESERTIFICATION AT WORK:
Look at anyone. A teacher. He is obsessed with himself. He gives knowledge but like a gadget. He is overworked, underpaid, and treated like a slave of an overpowering digital system. Even when he is at home, WhatsApp does not let him sleep. Office hours have suddenly expanded from 8 hours to 18 hours. Doctors. Is this profession now considered noble by any standards? Religion, I have already said, has become a commodity. The less said the safer. Engineers. The practice of commissions and making illegal money is too ingrained that we have stopped feeling there is anything wrong in it. Every one sitting on any seat, indulges in bungling. Look at Revenue department work. Paying bribes is considered so natural. If somebody does not ask for a bribe, people will think he will not do your work. Public life is corrupted. Nobody is responsible for anything. If trains collide, human error is responsible, not the Minister. If there is violence in a state like Manipur, there is no word from the authority. Rather, we see the criminalizing scenes of communal divide. The fall of the language, and fall of the man from a discerning unit to a follower, a zombie – what is there to feel proud?
THE ONSET OF THE STONE AGE
There was The Age of Sensitivity, the sixties, seventies, eighties – when family was a strong unifying force, young men listened to their elders, men and women never wanted to live apart, and maintained the family, man’s salary was enough to educate three kids and still save for the daughter’s dowry. There was peace. There was prosperity. There was love. There was compassion. But, now we have entered the STONE AGE. The Age of Insensitivity. Self cannot be exalted beyond a point. From human welfare to sell-fare is a fast descent for any people.
I think if we further extend the metaphor of insensitivity, it can lead us to a shocking state of total mental and emotional inertia, spiritual coma, a stage which can be called clinical death. We are the dead who are moving to our self-dug graves. Lost in the mobile world. Lost to ourselves. Lost to our society. Unaware of what is happening to us.
Author:
Dr. Jernail Singh Anand is Founder President of The International Academy of Ethics, a think-tank of Poets, Philosophers, Thinkers, Scientists and Social Scientists. He is Professor Emeritus with the European Institute of the Roma Studies, Belgrade and Honorary Member of the Serbian Writers Association. Dr. Anand has authored 150 books which include 9 epics which are considered world classics. He has innovated the theory of Bio-text in critical theory. The Univ. of Neyshabur, Iran has conducted a Research Project on his Poetry comparing it with Iranian Poets, under Dr. Roghayeh Farsi. His works have been translated into 20 world languages. Contact: anandjs55@yahoo.com
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