KINDNESS, COMPASSION AND INCLUSION -THE NEED OF THE HOUR
A recent issue of the TIME magazine had a special feature on Jacinda Ardern, the charismatic, effusive and above all pragmatic Prime Minister of New Zealand and how her approach and response to problems and handling of issues is laced with “strength and sanity.” Indeed, very tellingly, and aptly, the Authors of the feature observe that Ardern made a case “that kindness was a strength, compassion was actionable and inclusion was possible”. Apart from having the distinction of being only one of the two Heads of State( the other being the Late Benazir Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan) to have delivered a child while in office, her deft handling and pragmatic response to the Christchurch shootings sometime back has not only soothed calm nerves but also prevented inter-religion and inter-personal relations from decaying into mayhem.
While this piece is not necessarily meant to be an ode to Jacinda Ardern, what delves learning and emulating from her conduct is the need for kindness and compassion in our approach, leading to societal inclusion with the promise and ability to seamlessly integrate and carry together various, even diverse and disparate sections of society. The conclusion seems to be that such a process , would lead to a whole, the power and resilience of which is much more than the mere sum of its individual parts thereby aiding, abetting and accelerating social harmony and the growth process .
In a day and age when the global spectre of terrorism is rapidly expanding its outreach — where religious tensions are multiplying rapidly — where societal tensions (whether due to man-made or natural causes) are scaling Himalayan heights, the need for a kind and measured approach, backed by a fair degree of compassion with the ultimate aim of societal inclusion is of paramount importance and the need of the hour.
With the rapid growth of Nationalist Governments across the globe in recent times (of course, nationalism per-se cannot be argued against being the basis of the Nation State and modern day polity — what is dangerous and to be guarded against is their denigrating into extreme forms of chauvinistic jingoism) — the need for temperance and for a delicate equilibrium has never been felt more strongly than ever before.
In the context of the issue of majoritarian authoritarianism or minority overreach, the issue of arriving at a balance between majority and minority rights deserves a measured and extremely delicate handling. I might be treading on forbidden ground, but the need is to ensure fair treatment for everyone without being excessively majoritarian or appearing to be pandering to the minority — both for narrow, short-term, extremely myopic ends. Any such attempts are bound to lead to anarchy, as we have been witness to, umpteen times, in the recent, not so recent and even the historical past and as is also reflected in the present situation of living in a perennial fear of riots, terrorist attacks or even worse and where our thought processes have denigrated to strategic manipulation amidst a parochial mindset
It is in this background that the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern’s deft, purposive, thoughtful and prompt handling of the aftermath of the Christchurch shootings has brought into focus the need for our leadership and people who chart the discourse of society to exemplify kindness and compassion in their thoughts, deed and actions with the ultimate the objective of attaining societal inclusion.
PS. I may hasten to add that this piece is, MOST DEFINITELY, not directed at any particular political dispensation or group or even happenings in any geographical location or a reflection of my political leanings. It is just putting into words my thought process arising out of reading the article in TIME and expressing my admiration for the conduct, poise and purposive action exhibited by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
