Day 38 – Q 1.Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. Elucidate.
1. Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. Elucidate.
प्रेम और करुणा आवश्यकताएं हैं, विलासिता नहीं। उनके बिना मानवता जीवित नहीं रह सकती। स्पष्ट करें।
Introduction:
“Necessities”, “comforts”, and “luxuries”, are concepts whose meanings are dependent on the manner that human beings define “needs.” Based on the definition of needs, necessities refer to the basic needs human beings require to survive. In this sense, “necessities” are non-negotiable, where its deprivation could lead to detrimental effects on human beings.” Luxuries”, on the other hand, are neither absolute in that its satisfaction or dissatisfaction does not affect man’s immediate survival, nor construed in that it does not make the satisfaction of basic needs easier to attain.
Body
The key difference between love and compassion is that the love is a deep feeling of affection and attachment towards someone whereas compassion is a sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
Significance of love and compassion
- Part of daily life: Compassion relates fundamentally to how we as human beings relate to one another when it comes to questions of happiness and suffering. Example: Helping a person who is deprived of food and clothing
- Foundation for all human relations: Can keep yourself, help you protect other people, and boost others and one’s self confidence. Example: Children feel secure and confident with the elements of love and compassion.
- Increases efficiency: Professional and personal life will be balanced by the nourishment of love and compassion. Example: Cognitive skills help in work.
- Non religious: Whether we are religious or not, as long as we have compassion towards others and conduct ourselves with restraint out of a sense of responsibility, there is no doubt we will be happy. Example: Mother Theresa opened a hospice for leprosy in Calcutta which was opened to all irrespective of religions.
- Ethical view: Ethical principles and values, however, can neither be bought through economic means nor legislated and enforced through policy and laws. Example: Compassion on transgender.
- To avoid extreme decisions: In the name of love and compassion it avoids hasty decisions and it nudges tolerance for the situation. Example: With love and compassion honour killing can be avoided.
- For the welfare of all: Many NGOs are actively working for the elevation of underprivileged people. Example: GOONJ which undertakes disaster relief, humanitarian aid and community development in parts of 23 states across India.
- For animals: The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Example: Rescuing stray dogs.
Examples in civil services
- Krishna Teja the Sub-Collector of Kuttanad in Alappuzha district of Kerala, organized ‘operation kuttanad’ that saved the lives of nearly 2.5 lakh people (and 12000 cattle) during the catastrophic floods.
- Greater Hyderabad Muncipal Corporation announced the introduction of the ‘Feed The Need’ (open fridge concept), helps the needy in the city, calling it ‘revolutionary’ for its community-building messages around sharing good food with the needy.
Conclusion
Ultimately it is touching the field of love and compassion from which we were birthed that is the source of happiness. All else is a reflection, an imitation or worse an idol. The true drivers that make us human are not money and acquisition of wealth—they are love and compassion.
