DO OUR POLITICIANS AND TOP OFFICIALS CONSIDER LIFE IS TRANSITORY ?
Recently I read the headline of an interview where the person interviewed; a politician had said "I am a pilgrim of progress". It brought to my mind that we who thought the earth and all around us belonged to us that our life was non transitory but eternal and that all that matters was the wealth we acquired, the ambitions we pursue and our tolerance of corruption, lack of accountability and responsibility . Yet we forget that we are all pilgrims on this earth and how long we will be so is not in our hands. We hear of young dynamic executive die suddenly of a heart attack, or in an unexpected accident, an infant dying of dengue, and woman dying at childbirth. . As the politician who was interviewed concluded we are all pilgrims of progress to Sansara.
Almost every religion speaks of the transitory nature of life and emphasizes that we are mere pilgrims traversing the world for a short time. It is strange that our so called erudite politicians and the bureaucrats at the higher levels of power forget it , The present level of corruption that exists in certain political and bureaucrat sections is unbelievable I wonder what they would think of the statement " I am a pilgrim of progress' .
How many of them are con- cerned about progress in their journey through life. While most of them allow confusion and chaos to occur in their Ministries from the Z score fiasco , to the import of contaminated diesel, the removal of indirect taxes on consumer essentials merely to hoodwink the public before the elections , in fact every possible gimmick is used to remain in power , and which Minister is willing to take any responsibility and say 'Mea culpa' when his Ministry does something that so badly affects the public. I guess they never consider them pilgrims on a journey of progress , for essentially the meaning of progress had evaded them.
As a politicians they should consider the progress of the country and its citizens. And as senior bureaucrats they must remember they are supposed to be the servants of the public who are in reality their pay masters. While the city of Colombo and it's outer circles are beautiful , with laid paths and cycle lanes and small jogging parks , but almost 50% of the people have no proper meals , no jobs worth speaking off graduates remain unemployed and their seems to be no hope for the marginalized who are yet in the same state .
In the outskirts of villages lack of the means of transport lead people yet to use pack bulls to carry their meager home garden products to the village pola. Where are the politicians who seek their vote and promise to build roads . School children wade through steams of water to reach their schools cause the promised bridges are yet to be built.
And as far as Education goes which has four Ministers varying the burden of education primary schools are being closed willy nilly which secondarily schools are to be established. How on earth do these four Ministers with their devious minds think that children from distant villagers could travel to these schools in these days when bus fares are high and travelling is difficult? Iam sure these Ministers certainly are not thinking of progress or that their mere pilgrims traversing this beautiful country for just awhile. As is said in Buddhism 'Transient are all compounded things, Subject to arise and vanish; having come into existence they pass away"
Politicians and senior bureaucrats must consider themselves as pilgrims of progress and realize that their responsibility is to bring about a quality life for the poor , the marginalized , the displaced and rejected. Create a vibrant economy and build a sustainable programme of development , Let them be the ideal pilgrims of progress rejuvenating this country to make it truly a wonder of Asia.
It is strange that our so called erudite politicians and the bureaucrats at the higher levels of power forget it ,The present level of corruption that exists in certain political and bureaucrat sections is unbelievable I wonder what they would think of the statement " I am a pilgrim of progress' .