A former President the United States of America, making news of his extra-marital relations, as reported in the media even during the times he adorned the high post, was asked by a reporter about his foreign relations, either innocently or with some mischievous intent of tickling the VIP. Unfazed by the unexpected, maybe embarrassing, question, the VIP, without battling the eyelid, replied that he had none, for sake of readers who had the chance to come across the related report in dailies to infer that all the parties giving the pleasure of their company to the President were indigenous. In an aside, his incumbent successor in the high office, Donald Trump should feel gratified and also vindicated about his avowed policy of America for Americans only! However, the expression foreign relations between countries, not involving individuals’ personal side to relations, connotes a totally different meaning from relationships among members of society. This column dwells on the latter issue.

Husband-wife relationship, being the sheet anchor of peace and joy in the family, has just got fractured in the land, given the rising number of incidents breaking that relationship, as reported in the dailies, Mysuru region being no exception. The other relationships such as between (a) neighbours, b) siblings, c) teacher and taught, d) boss and subordinate, e) co-passsengers on a train journey, f) friends, g) lovers, h) people in long, seemingly unending queues, i) colleagues at workplaces and so on are currently witnessing unhealthy trends, particularly getting fragile.

Blessed are those who are party to enduring relationships with others, irrespective of their profile marked by umpteen factors such as age difference, economic disparity, limited vocabulary in the tongue of the other party, looks that are both alluring and otherwise, social status as revealed through one’s attire adrift from sartorial perfection, regional affiliation, educational background, food fads, diverse pursuits for livelihood and what have you. Those given to nit-picking with the nagging nature of focussing on details about others not conducive to sustain pleasant relationships have nobody to blame than themselves. Granted that we are living under steadily worsening stressful conditions leaving us tired, both mentally and physically, but can it be denied that these conditions are self-created both individually and collectively by contemporary society.

In the backdrop of currently happening down-trend in according importance to safeguarding inter-personal relationships of aforementioned myriad kinds, both within the four walls of homes and in public domain, one may appropriately recollect the advisory traced to ancient mentors namely “Let a person raise himself by himself (without pointing the accusing finger towards others).