Being humane!

16 Jun Being humane!

“I don’t know what to do, I feel helpless!”  we may have heard this statement or the like, at times either from friends, family or acquaintances, these words maybe a cry for help and not a question that needs a philosophical answer about life and poetry. In my view, this is mostly the first sign of a troubled state of mind, when helplessness begins to creep in.

Bollywood actor, Sushant Singh Rajput’s sad and untimely death has opened up a plethora of questions around how ‘humane’ are the ways of humans. The responsible party here is allegedly Bollywood’s apathetic and selfish ways. Maybe we should introspect our own actions  and  life in general, how humane are we? How many times have we reached out to another to find out how they are doing, especially in times of financial crisis or despair. You may find people ready and willing to help out with funeral arrangements or handhold a grieving family. How many really stand out and support somebody who has lost his/her job or are going through a financial crisis. Our relationships are mostly governed by the economic or social status of people. The trend is to follow the resourceful and steer clear of people that are perceived as a ‘liability’! As humans we seem to be so engrossed in our own sense of need and desires that maybe we forget that there is more to life than the 4 squares around us. I agree it’s not always possible to dole out cash and support others financially, but just being there to help/support is not a terrible thing to do.

Humans are driven by passion, expectation and success, how you get there and what it takes to get there may be lost on many. ‘Real’ friends and associations are hard to find, when success avoids you ‘sympathizers’ are considered as ‘real’, but when you get up there you may find yourself lonelier, as the ones that may surround you acknowledge and accept your success and not ‘you’ as a person. This in my view is the bane of most cases of despair and loneliness in successful individuals. The lockdown may have opened up a lot of hidden fears and frustrations, as being isolated/alone takes away the cushioning effect and you feel emotionally naked. It has opened up an emotional deluge of ‘misgivings’, ‘inadequacies’, ‘self-doubt’ etc. in people who have a sense of unhappiness and feel LONELY and emotionally ISOLATED!

I am not a psychologist, hence can’t really comment on the differentiating factors between a state of despair, helplessness, depression or sadness. All I know is popping a pill or perpetually thinking ‘positive’ or believing that ‘ignoring it’ may NOT be the solution to this situation, instead ‘recognizing’ a problem exists maybe the starting point. ‘Asking’ or ‘giving’ help and support is what counts and matters as it costs nothing and may save a life.

The cliché survival of the fittest is bent out of shape, how about activating  ‘Live and Let Live‘, enabling each other to survive and cope, is and should be considered our ‘moral’ responsibility as  humans.