Governance does not end with rhetoric
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Gopal Sengupta
We have, indeed, come a long way. What we need to remember and acknowledge is that the real heroes behind our progress are the masses. Their collective contribution is, I am sure, more than that of the policymakers.
It is especially evident in times of crisis when the humanitarian spirit and resilience of the people in managing and successfully overcoming disasters and calamities are palpable. The government should salute the people and ensure that its promises benefit those at the grassroots. Undoubtedly, there has been satisfactory progress with the graph soaring high in areas such as communication and technology. But the graph on discipline, decorum, and decency in public life has nosedived over the years, which is a reflection of the deterioration of human values.
Hunger has not been eliminated, crimes against women are on the rise, and terrorism is spreading its tentacles. It is an irony that after about four decades of independence, we are told that the best is yet to come. More than poverty, what pains the people most is the gross indifference and insensitivity of the ruling classes and politicians to their needs. Governance does not end with rhetoric on occasions. We need strong political will and determination to achieve sustainable development. We should develop a strong sense of national purpose that involves respect for constitutionalism, tolerance of dissent, and cleaner politics.
The government is launching new schemes to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, increase rural employment and agricultural production; and we are determined to fight terrorism and communalism at any cost. The growth of Bangladesh as a vibrant and emerging South Asian state in 40 years is indeed spectacular. But it is also true that we have to travel a long and arduous distance before we achieve our goals of eradicating poverty, hunger, and unemployment.
To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. But if we act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.
(The writer can be reached at: gopal.sengupta@mail.mcgill.ca)
We have, indeed, come a long way. What we need to remember and acknowledge is that the real heroes behind our progress are the masses. Their collective contribution is, I am sure, more than that of the policymakers.
It is especially evident in times of crisis when the humanitarian spirit and resilience of the people in managing and successfully overcoming disasters and calamities are palpable. The government should salute the people and ensure that its promises benefit those at the grassroots. Undoubtedly, there has been satisfactory progress with the graph soaring high in areas such as communication and technology. But the graph on discipline, decorum, and decency in public life has nosedived over the years, which is a reflection of the deterioration of human values.
Hunger has not been eliminated, crimes against women are on the rise, and terrorism is spreading its tentacles. It is an irony that after about four decades of independence, we are told that the best is yet to come. More than poverty, what pains the people most is the gross indifference and insensitivity of the ruling classes and politicians to their needs. Governance does not end with rhetoric on occasions. We need strong political will and determination to achieve sustainable development. We should develop a strong sense of national purpose that involves respect for constitutionalism, tolerance of dissent, and cleaner politics.
The government is launching new schemes to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, increase rural employment and agricultural production; and we are determined to fight terrorism and communalism at any cost. The growth of Bangladesh as a vibrant and emerging South Asian state in 40 years is indeed spectacular. But it is also true that we have to travel a long and arduous distance before we achieve our goals of eradicating poverty, hunger, and unemployment.
To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. But if we act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.
(The writer can be reached at: gopal.sengupta@mail.mcgill.ca)