SILENCE IS COMPLIANCE
Our society is going through a significant period of transformation. Behaviours that were once rare are now becoming more common, and actions that were previously considered wrong are increasingly being seen as acceptable. Lying, in particular, has become so prevalent in our daily lives that we have forgotten what the concept of truth even means. It has become such an integral part of our society that some people believe that unless they have told many lies, they have not done anything wrong. This trend is a major problem for our society. We rely on each other to function and thrive, and if we start deceiving others for our own benefit, then what is the point of living in a society at all? A society that consists of interdependent individuals who live in harmony and have equal rights will be meaningless if its members are constantly deceiving one another. People who lie to each other will never be able to live in harmony, and there will always be some level of mischief and disruption to relationships.
In order for an organization or community to achieve high goals, it is essential that the society it exists within has a desirable character. This means that society should be full of love, and should reject falsehood and fraud. Without upholding righteousness, these goals cannot be achieved. Unfortunately, we have become insincere and untrustworthy in our daily interactions. We have become numb to the impact of our actions. For example, we often disrupt traffic patterns by creating multiple lines instead of a single queue, which leads to delays in essential services like healthcare, education, and business. Patients in government hospitals may suffer from inadequate care and may be forced to purchase medications from private vendors rather than receiving them for free as intended. Testing equipment in public hospitals may be faulty, and it is rumoured that doctors in these hospitals have connections to private practitioners and owners of diagnostic labs. People may steal electricity, and engage in deceit and fraud in their dealings with others. We may pollute clean water sources, and allow cars to be washed on the side of the road, damaging the pavement. If someone objects to these actions, we may argue with them rather than acknowledge their concerns. Even high-ranking officers, politicians, religious heads and influential people may not speak out against wrongdoings. The authorities may turn a blind eye to illegal activities. We may become passive observers when we see people behaving disrespectfully towards women or getting into physical altercations on the street. We may see irregular activities taking place and do nothing about it as if it does not concern us.
Religious places could be turned into centres for teaching virtues and citizens’ rights, but our religious leaders rarely discuss issues such as keeping the environment clean or treating others with dignity and respect. There has been a proliferation of private educational institutions in our UT that make large profits every month, but we do not ask the proprietors and owners of these institutions if they have provided free education to even a small percentage of disadvantaged or orphaned students. Are we just going to abandon the poor and helpless in our community to their fate? By doing so, are we not sowing the seeds of class conflict based on economic status?
Unfortunately, our society has developed the habit of becoming passive observers. When we see something wrong happening, we remain silent. Instead of supporting the truth, we may choose to advocate for a relative, friend, or acquaintance, even if it means lying or committing fraud or supporting oppression. We may criticize leaders, governments, and government departments, but forget that we are part of this society and have equal responsibility for its actions. We may pretend to be innocent and blame others for our problems, rather than acknowledging our own role in creating and perpetuating them. It is time for us to reflect on this.
Our government could also work to create a culture of transparency and accountability, by being open and transparent in their own actions and decision-making processes. By taking these steps, local governments can play a vital role in creating a society that values truth and honesty and works towards the greater good of all its members.
