Today I read two articles on the internet. The first pertained to my country-India, and the second to the world in general. I have shared the links to both these articles below.Both highlighted data from a recently published Oxfam survey on income disparities around the world.The first wrote about how the richest one percent in India had earned seventy three percent of total wealth in the last year. Three out of every four rupees of wealth!
The second article pointed out that the richest 42 people [and they’re mostly men] had the same wealth as the poorest 3.7 billion people. The enormity of these simple statistics refuses to sink in, even though Ive come across similar figures again and again, from Piketty to Harsh Mander.I cant believe that a handful of men can buy yachts and jets and islands, even governments, while billions scrounge around for their next meal.
As I sat there in informed disbelief, Yeat’s words came to mind:
“Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the second coming is at hand.”
Surely the lord of light will lash down from the sky. Surely the son of God will be reborn in glorious ceremony to punish the wicked and to lead the poor and the virtuous into the light. Will not he then shower wealth and joy on the masses, and rain down blows on the rich with whips of fire? Will he?
Indeed even for those of a less vengeful disposition, religious ideas of justice provide solace in this unequal world. We like to believe that God watches over us, or that our virtue will be rewarded in another world.
I work with children though. I see their bright and sparkling eyes shine up at me. I see the love and joy and hope and resilience in those who have suffered so much so young. It leads me to believe that the kingdom of heaven must be created on Earth. That the divine warrior lies within each and every one of us. How do we access this tremendous power and creativity inside us? More importantly, how do we change the world?
These are the questions I hope to explore through this blog and my soon to be launched video series on youtube. They are tough, vast weighty questions, requiring us to dive deep into ourselves, and at once to look firmly and clearly at the world.Yet we cannot avoid them, we cannot escape them. To do so would be a disservice to our children.
Links:
Truthforce 
Brilliantly written. And true.
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