Dhairyasheel Dayal

Many people find to go to war is strength and courage and sign of being a real man. I have different beliefs. The man who avoids war is also no less brave. Yes, in today’s condition of world, there are aggressors and defenders of land, community, country. But many people do not understand that today’s conditions, the choices to have boundaries and enemies is all human as well as political construct.

Some may say that there’s no other option and you don’t have any solution (so war is right). I might be considered an idiot, but I do believe in Tagore’s One World idea. There are people who will sit safely and have arranged for safety of their family during war. These are the people who ask others to go fight at the frontline and be vulnerable, lose appendages and die. And people fall to this idea because they want something to prove themselves in their lifetime.

There’s not much difference between stupidity and bravery. It is different to be afraid of wounds and death, and to not be manipulated by some ideology.

Once upon a time we had groups and tribes who fought amongst themselves. From that we built communities and societies, and then states and nations. If we can come this far, we can also go beyond and be one civilisation. One species - that’s what we are. If there’s any chance for mankind to explore our solar system and do it giving equal opportunity for survival of all humans, we need to be one civilisation first - human civilisation.

May be this idea appears very far and not visible at horizon, because may be we haven’t evolved till there thus far. May be there’s lot to learn for our species and improve in terms of morality.

It is our human tendency to make comparisons. Having seen two different worlds in two different countries, sometimes I see differences and maybe my brain does comparisons too.

Here, in the UK, I saw bus drivers getting down from their seats, going towards the other side door of the bus through which passengers embark, unfolding the platform and support that is meant for people with wheelchairs, and helping them get on the bus. ‘It is their duty’ some may say. But then shouldn’t it be the duty of bus drivers all over the world? In my country I have seen buses and even the system with such a platform, but it is never used. People probably don’t even know that buses should have them or if they exist at all. Life is difficult for disabled people in many parts of the world.

I was also surprised to see that they can adjust and heighten or lower the chassis of the bus to adjust with the adjoining curb or footpath.

Not only such systems on buses, but so many buildings here, and almost all new buildings are designed to be accessible to disabled people, such as those who have to use wheelchairs.

Imagine, so many buildings having this provision. Bus driver doesn’t question why waste time for one such passenger. It is not questioned about how few would use such an accessibility route, but it has to be there. It is a necessity.

This kind of inclusion and consideration is very much necessary in the world.

Wrongly, first buildings and structures are built, and then they think about how to adjust other things.