Just three recurring events seem to be bringing the nation’s masses together in a passing show of solidarity that vanishes into thin air no sooner than the events fold up. Holding back the welling sad feeling, one has to include the occasions of last rites for near and dear one departing, some of them leaving behind their dependants in dire circumstances, particularly in nuclear families as different from now-out-of-favour joint family culture. The list of festivals bringing together the devout following different faiths in celebration mode across the country is a long one, thanks to the manner of observing them in accordance with the still-holding traditions and customs as a rich legacy. In a different class are occasions of mass gathering of the country’s Diaspora as the audience of the public speakers of political parties seeking the favour of votes from the nation’s electorate. The feature of hiring the members of the audience doesn’t need elaboration.

By hind sight and a peek into the chequered history of the country covering several centuries, one is prompted to infer that if only the land’s hundreds of rulers who presided over governance of a culturally and economically rich country had not wrecked each other, the aliens who entered the beleaguered territory and stayed to have centuries of sway over the indigenous masses might never had a chance to do all the damage.

The after-effects of the divide ’n’ rule strategy by the two successive alien ruling forces in the country, spreading their respective faiths through coercive conversion doesn’t seem to be witnessing a down slide, given the attitude of people following different faiths and creeds towards each other marked by hatred, suspicion, undeserved rights and privileges, money and muscle power, narrow aspirations, cult culture and uncivil ways of life. The dailies are informing the people every day about the sway self-appointed nets are having on the masses that are just passive witness to the indecorous war of words among the vote-seekers with no holds barred focussed on annexing seats of power and authority only to wreck the nation further.

The section in the population pursuing their callings and trades, adhering to discipline and purpose, not affected by the disturbing goings on are the only hope for the country’s masses not to slide further in to the zone of mess. But how long the good wins over the evil is anybody’s guess.