We are into strange times. Contradictory things are moving in tandem. These are times of vulgar consumerism. These are times of brazen commercialisation. These are times of unabashed consumption. Snobbery is on the rise. But another trend is catching up. A trend that is not in tune with whatever is discernible. The trend of unreserved display of compassion and kindness. So we find that intentional acts of kindness and compassion are being institutionalised and marketed. Special days are observed to market age old values. Values that were passionately adhered to in the past are becoming a fashion. So we observe world kindness day and the like. Even as unnecessary private consumption driven by ego continues unchecked, we are finding that showcasing compassion and kindness also goes with a lot of noise, and is also ego driven. Sometimes for public consumption and sometimes for publicity. While the ancient Indian thought mentioned about ‘Gupt Daan’ or charity with humility and quietude, in the present days, there’s pomp and show. This is not to demean those acts of charity, or question the motive behind compassion. But certainly a gentle reminder that ego driven charity is not as impactful as passionate compassion. Wasteful consumption is antithetical to genuine compassion. A case in point is the kind of food wastage that goes in the elite restaurants which on close observation will seem reminiscent of the Roman kings of the yore, who ate, drank and made merry oftentimes biting more than they could chew. Food wastage in a party is something that can be bracketed as criminal because even by disciplined eating, a lot can be spared for the needy. Ironically, it is the same class that wastes food in the elite eateries that also loudly carries out those acts of compassion. Political correctness and social approval are highly sought after these days and have become key motivating forces driving human action. Without debating on whether this is good or bad, let us think of the essence of ethics which has become a subject matter of popular discourse these days. Goswami Tulsidas had very successfully pointed out that compassion is the essence of Dharma whereas Pride is the source of sin. But these days we find that even compassion is a by-product of pride. So even acts of compassion feed pride though they are mutually exclusive. Conscientious consumption and passionate compassion need to be a self-imposed code of conduct. The world still has enough for everybody’s need. But the problem is greed. Even one man’s greed can upset the apple cart. Where we do we go wrong? The answer is very simple. Just try to introspect, if whatever we want is actually needed. Next time when you go to have food in a restaurant that offers you whatever you can eat for a given price, assess you need first. How much of what can you eat? It is rather common place to see people order extra to get full value for what they have paid. Be a little reasonable and think of those who are still struggling to get a square meal a day. Perhaps you will save a lot of food wastage. Numbers of poverty reduction make difference to governments, not the governed. Despite all those data about GDP growth and rising economy poverty is still a problem the world needs to contend with.

Pathak is a professor of management, writer, and an acclaimed public speaker. He can be reached at ppathak.ism@gmail.com