The goings on in the country as well as across the world are marked by tough times to different degrees of dealing with them. The inter-country scenario is currently witnessing the top brass of one country challenging its counterpart in another country in respect of economic superiority as well as military might, drawing themselves to the doorsteps of starting wars. Mercifully, their war of words ceases for a while raising hopes of planet earth hosting people pursuing their activities in peace for a little while more. However, the middle east region is proving tough to the innocent and helpless citizens, getting battered, bruised and killed with no signs of the warring sides brokering happy days for all in the region. The intra-country scenario in different parts of the world, particularly across India, is marked by disenchantment for different sections of society for reasons as clear as daylight.

Clarion calls given by many public speakers, with the best of intent, to achieve an inclusive society have mostly remained platitudes even as the numbers of both haves and have-nots are rising resulting in a society that is anything but inclusive. That is the beginning of the story of the nation’s people facing tough times seeing some managing to stay afloat and the rest sinking.

The classical definition of democracy highlighting primacy of people has virtually been diluted, given the current disconnect between the ruling class and the citizens, different sections of whom are coming into the open to express their plight on many counts, particularly unemployment, corrupt administration, elected representatives of people showing no concern for people’s welfare, dealing with anti-society criminals with kid gloves as it were, apathetic staff in government departments giving tough times to citizens.

The foregoing narrative should not overshadow the resilience of the nation’s people in general and their track record in particular keeping the wheels of industry well-oiled and fields raising food crops towards mitigating the effects of tough times the nation’s people are facing. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the voluntary groups, including many in Mysuru, as living examples of tough people not wilting in tough times.