When two elephants fight it is the grass that get trampled

Section-A Q4 When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled. Elephants in mythology and in general are considered to be symbolising wealth and majestic power. They indicate positive growth and prosperity. But when majestic creatures of positivity fight each other what suffers is the positivity they stand for affecting the ground of grass they stand on. The grass here can refer to the positivity, peace, accountability, dignity, transparency, humanity which suffers when two bigger powers stand against each other, making the destruction evasive and destructive of very grounding realities.

This principle applies on political, social, economic and cultural. Issues which we face today not just in India but also in the world. In a political sphere, on an international front the intense wars between USA and Iran, Israel and Palestine, Ukraine and Russia, for power and resources and strategic wars among the developed to conquer the world has at the end of the days suffered sovereignty, peace, basic mutual respect that every country and every human or a citizen is entitled to have. But in the contrary the consequence of such wars have been bloodshed, loss of forest, growing agony. At the domestic front, in India the engulfing disputes among and between the Judiciary and Executive like Judiciary considering the interference of executive in the appointment process and judicial overreach or activism to be unjust and the executive feeling that Judiciary is impacting the governance process through certain judgements, impacts constitutionalism, ideals of the preamble and the basic governance which the people must enjoy. The recent issue over the jurisdiction and powers on ED [Enforcement Directorate] where the Judiciary limited and questioned its functions to limit politicisation is a best example where at end of the day, transparency and fundamental rights of life and liberty of the citizens suffer. In an economic sphere, on the international front, the issues between the developed and the developing countries over grouping issues of the world like climate finance, trade feasibility and peaceful navigation and equitable trade are constantly being politicised and leading to unfair means of economic growth and development. The politicisation of UNSC over permanent membership for holding economic and political supremacy by the permanent members/developed countries. The WTO battle, the overarching discriminative practices like Carbon Border Tax by EU are impacting the livelihoods of common people. On the domestic front, increasing corruption over privatisation of resources and the battle between the Government and the private companies over control of resources. are at the end of the day impacting traditional industries. The corruption in PPP model of infrastructure, the inequitable development and economic growth of states are finally impacting the dignity and rights of common people. The recent water sharing disputes between states or among states for economic gains like Cauvery dispute, Narmada basin dispute are impacting the livelihood and the right to freedom of business of people leading to farmer suicides, land acquisition, loss of traditional industries, increasing poverty and so on.

In the social sphere at the international front the fights between racial of whites and blacks, the developed and developing countries over responsibility of climate change impacting all, the battle between sharing of data over sensitive scientific developments like vaccines for humanity impacts the liberty and Justice for people. The recent immigration policy of US and other European countries to call other immigrants are criminals and aliens impact the liberty, freedom and justice for individuals and organisation and more for livelihoods. On the domestic front the battle between economic development and environmental conservation like the recent Nicobar project in Andaman and Nicobar, the Azarvalli Judgement to allow mining are impacting the rights of tribal groups, and dignity and safety of people. In the cultural sphere, on the international front, the growth disagreements over religious issues like war between Israel and Palestine, Indonesia and Cambodia, the Shia states and Israel, Iran and the Sunni Persian states are finally impacting the unity, peace and dignity of people. On the domestic front, the ideological conflicts over religious ideas, the recent issues of claims on Hindu temples under mosques, seeking demolition and minority institutional rights and affects communal harmony and unity among people. These conflicts between ideologies, quest for power, economic dominance are like two elephants fighting with no end and finally the grass, that is the peace, harmony, unity, transparency, accountability and dignity being impacted.

Prioritising the principles of peace and harmony over destruction would lead to a better future for not just development but could save the world from the destruction caused when two powers like the elephants fight.