The security of a country lies, in fact, not in the armed state of readiness for defence or war but in friendliness, love, peace and co-operation with others. By Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj
According to the annual Global Terrorism Index that was released just days after the horrific terrorist attacks at multiple locations in Paris that killed hundreds of innocent people there has been over a nine-fold increase in the number of deaths from terrorism, rising from 3,329 in 2000 to 32,658 in 2014. Isn’t it scaryIJ Where will it all stopIJ Is there still more to come IJ The havoc caused by the Paris attacks in November 2015, shook not only the French capital and its northern suburb, Saint - Denis, but the psychological tremors, caused by these atttacks, reached every nook and corner of the country. Everyone said that this was the handiwork of the extremists or agents of the countries, who, because of ill will and deep feelings of hatred, wish to destabilise some countries politically, shatter their economy, plunge their people into panic and widen the gulf of suspicion and hatred among different religious communities.
Although various investigative and intelligence agencies have been working on whatever traces the crime has left behind it, it would not be wrong or without merit to look at the event from some other parameter which is, usually, outside the perspective of the investigative agencies or intelligence bureaus or the politicians. This kind of look at the event is not intended to replace the efforts of the official agencies nor to lessen the importance and urgency in any way but it is meant to help mankind find a final solution to the problem of security, even though it would require a longer period and different kinds of skills than the governments worldwide usually and routinely employ.
It’s a usual practice to increase vigilance, tighten overall security and deploy more police or para-military forces at sensitive points after occurrence of such events. In other words, security is always linked to employment of police, military or para-military forces. But if we survey the history of even one century, we would find that the security of a country lies, in fact, not in the armed state of readiness for defence or war but in friendliness, love, peace and co-operation with others. We should understand very clearly that our real enemies are not some countries, communities, or men and women, but, suspicion, fear, hatred and violence, and these enemies that lie in the minds of men cannot be eliminated by military weapons. History is a witness that, in the 20th and 21st centuries, inspite of military forces, there have been as many as 264+ wars which have been more and more costly than before. So, unless and until the UN and such other world bodies take up vigorously the task of moral literacy and value-education so as to eradicate the lust for power and territory and hatred, jealousy and enmity between neighbours, there cannot be any true security.
While measures in the prevalent sense of the word “security” are necessary and must be taken, there should also be long-term measures to promote friendliness and co-operation, for hatred and enmity are the real culprits. So let us all come together and make a resolve that we will defeat hatred with mass feelings of love, empathy and cooperation.