‘Kashmir on the boil again’, is an all too familiar headline of late. But I object – not to the fact that Kashmir is boiling, but to the word ‘again’. For has Kashmir ever been cool, if you see what I mean? Even when other burning issues like say, IPL or CWG or a superhero’s latest release were boiling on the frontpages, Kashmir was simmering on the back burner. So what’s surprising beyond, maybe, knowing where in boiling Kashmir have new blisters arisen?
Or take Ayodhya. The media, has in the last two days, declared in all disappointment the failure of the Court-initiated ‘final’ talks for an out-of-court settlement ahead of the verdict next week. Well, then, what did we expect? That the Muslim litigants will apologise on behalf of Babur and hand over the place for a temple? Or for Lord Rama’s champions to beat a retreat in secular deference and let Babur’s occupation renew and continue? Or is it more likely that the Court will throw up its hands and pass the divine buck to a higher bench which too can only fall short of a solution? Really, Babur’s ghost and Rama’s exile look set for eternity!
Of course, my intent today is not to delve on the future of Kashmir or the fate of Rama but reflect on the utter futility of seeking solutions to problems, political or personal. Now, if by ‘solution’ we mean any end, then there is no issue. But if we are talking of a desired end or that familiar ‘amicable’ end, well, shadows are what we seem to be chasing. Indeed, with strife being a genetic implant in the human mind, problems can only have pauses, no solutions. And probably get solved in that respite, by default because one or more of the contestants is fatigued, simply forgets or just forgoes!
Organised communities from time immemorial have always relied on socio-legal arrangements to solve problems. Modern societies depend heavily on instruments like democracy, judiciary, armies and police and certain kinds of activisms like human rights to secure solutions. But the question of whether they have delivered or served the purpose can never have an affirmative answer, only a reserved counter query: ‘What’s the alternative?’ Has democracy really empowered the masses though we know it has certainly empowered dynasties? Rather, history tells us that many benevolent kings, of the ages past, that is, took better care of their subjects than do our elected rulers.
What about activism? Has human rights activism, for instance, achieved anything beyond making us aware of new rights that in turn can be violated and thus increasing our sense of persecution? And then we have the great mirage of peace talks.Have talks with Pak or Kashmir separatists solved terror and militancy? Rather it looks the regular terror strikes have actually ‘solved’ the peace-talks beyond salvage. Still a soft nation keeps the peace pipe smoking as an alibi for impotence or sheer laziness.
But the jury is out most on the judiciary which is the cornerstone of justice in the modern world and the ultimate aribiter of all things mortal. How many problems has the judiciary solved? Forget for a moment private litigation because whatever the judgement, someone is going to be aggrieved. What of public or national issues? Consider Cauvery. Unless the river dries up or is flooded, both being beyond human hubris, is there any way by which the water dispute can be ‘amicably’ settled? In fact, even long after the courts have delivered and many times at that, the ‘solution’ hangs in the air with no takers. Ditto with scores of public disputes.
Solutions are as elusive vis-a-vis individuals, families and other relationships. It is doubtful if anyone has solved an issue with spouse or a sibling, whatever the gender. You either suffer, succumb or learn to survive the other. But if you ask if the problem has vanished, well, trust some event or a mischievous relative to tip the balance and restore the sordid status quo! No doubt there are notions of right and wrong and fairplay at an individual level and even dharma at a loftier plane. Only that it is difficult, rather impossible, to concede that the party of the second part could be right. What is however certain is that in the fracas between two cats, it is the proverbial monkey that invariably profits. I read an article recently on how the solving of such personal, relationship problems has become a major industry with ‘solution providers’ and ‘counsellors’ making a fast buck. It is perennial business too because the people whose problems were supposedly solved actually keep coming back!
There may be exceptions, but solutions even if on hand are generally skin deep. ‘…herewith to the satisfaction of all parties concerned’ may make for good legalese on a document but is rarely really the case and in fact is often a launching pad for a fresh dispute. It is also possible that a problem gets solved by the advent of a bigger problem. Or may cease to exist on seeing the anguish of lesser mortals. Rather than seeking solutions, experience tells us that endurance, acceptance and even submission are the norm. This is not to suggest that one should abandon all efforts but to realise that solution does not follow those efforts as a natural linear result. On the contrary, there seems to be more than an element of truth in the dictum that left alone, problems will solve themselves. Enlightened seers and evolved souls prescribe this. Former PM PVN actually practised and perfected this as a practical political philosophy. That indifferent pout pulled more tricks than many words or deeds did!
All religions talk of some form of dissolution as the final solution for mankind. God knows what and when that deadline is. But I just ‘solved’ my problem for the week, though there is still next week and miles of weeks to go. Now, it is your problem whether to read it or not, before you sleep!
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