Some time back there was a program on Discovery Channel showing the social structure of insects like ants, bees and termites. It was no less than a revelation in terms of the facts they unveiled. These insects live in a close knit network and all sorts of jobs required in their daily lives are clearly chalked out and they all work for the common good of their colony. This is one of the best examples of harmony in God’s handiwork. This program came as a flash back instantly when the recent encounter between practitioners of different streams of treatment come to the forefront.

The conflict can be seen in the light of tolerance levels having come to the historical lows where one cannot even endure the mere presence of others apprehensive that their presence might undermine their importance. The argument put forth in these lines is presented without any bias towards any profession and must be conceptualized in a broader perspective.

Here the subject turns back to the bees that have a closely knit structure with every individual of the bee colony having been assigned a specific role that it dutifully adheres to without bothering about others’ assignments. Incredible but true!! Here it is to be seen as to how far advanced and enlightened the bees are as they live in true harmony. As a matter of fact we pathetically get transformed to balloons, ever expanding directly proportional to our insatiable egos where we try to expand as much as possible with a clear albeit camouflaged intent to squeeze those in our neighborhood. “Uneducated Literates” is the term that automatically props out from such a scenario and brands this mess in proper terms.

The lighter aspect of this conflict could be seen in a much broader term where if such counterarguments were to be adapted by other professions as well the scenario could be quite comic. The teachers of different subjects and languages would brand themselves as being the only genuine and downgrading others as a result. Instead of spreading enlightenment they would be sowing seeds of ignorance all around. Same would be the case with the students of such subjects wherein they would flaunt their ignorance much to the ill fate of the nation. Masons and carpenters would belittle each other by claiming as being the real builders. And of course what a comic scene would be if shopkeepers and businessmen fight pitched battles by calling each other names. And the last but not the least, the officers from different government departments would laugh at each other as not being able to earn more!!
 
Alas!! It is a pity that we are getting involved into petty battles of satisfying our insatiable egos. The biggest reason for such incidents is that we are devoid of any bigger and larger than life goals. As long as our aims remain to fill our ever expanding coffers the balloons that we have shaped ourselves into, would remain always unfilled completely and to the full eventually leading to our culmination by bursting ourselves out. It is the law of the nature that there is a limit to everything and unfortunately we have started to surpass all limits of morality in one way or the other. It should not surprise us if we are branded as a defunct nation in near future.
    
Analyzing the conflict between the professionals leads to the presumption that neither of them is satisfied with the environment. Their forays into each others’ domain is a clear indicator that they have not been able to perceive their noble professions in its true light notwithstanding the fact that they had been chosen to heal people and thus stand on the high pedestals at par with the angels. Contrary to this lofty nature of their jobs the only thing that concerns them while writing prescriptions is the commissions they are going to receive form the drug makers instead of the well being of the patient. This should not be taken as a generalization as this statement is not addressed to the nobler ones among them however the practitioners dealing in this manner must surely sink in shame.

Turning back to the bees it has been found that they work in a selfless manner which is the reason that they are blessed with honey that is a cure for countless ailments which can safely be presumed that everyone would agree with irrespective of their professions. Unlike us especially as a nation quite notorious for being efficient leg pullers these bees make it sure that they do not enter into any conflict with any of their counterparts. And the balloons that we have shaped ourselves into to expand with falsehood, pride and sheer ignorance would continue to gain girth till they burst out with a bang leaving behind nothing but shattered tatters of a gloated self.

(Muhammad Zahid is from Moominabad, Ashajipora Islamabad. Feedback at xahid77@gmail.com)

Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST