Problems, problems, everywhere problems! All attempts seem to be futile, though our delegates diligently spend millions.

Dark blanket of winter evening enveloped the shivering island, lulled by freezing wind and waves, where the architects of our modern world assembled. After the sumptuous lunch and informal chit -chat, they perched on the comfy seats majestically set around the round table of the conference hall, bearing the golden letters ”Delegates Only”.

Politician (breaking the solemn stillness): No foes! No friends! We are one. In my political laboratory, I apply opportunism, the elder brother of pragmatism, as an antibiotic to cure the ills of mankind. Today politics is a profession, not an vocation.

Economist (being irked by his friend’s dishonest words): I know.  I know. Dangerous creatures of this world! Deceivers! Liars!  By giving false promises, you reach at the helm of human affairs. You are outwardly democratic, but inwardly autocratic.

Scientist (lifting his eyes from the science magazine): I am the maker of this modern mechanized world that trek from progress to progress and I have no time to beat about the bush.

Philosopher (disinterestedly): ‘Petty done, undone vast’. This world looks like a land of dreams, so various, so beautiful, so new, but it has no peace.  We always fight one another for what is not.

Economist (interrupting):  Stop it. ‘Easy to preach, but difficult to practice’. People have no time to stand and listen to your ideals while they struggle for their bread and butter. No science, no politics, no philosophy without money and power, the magician of all material pursuits. (Laughs loudly)  See the business journals; the pulse of this world is monitored by economic principles.

Politician (submissively): Don’t underestimate me. I am not unwise enough to understand the unholy ways of tomfooling the public. My friendship is essential for your existence. You know, the art of public speaking backed by money power, moulds politicians, the best actors.

Solemn stillness stood in the hall. Scientist, who had been lost in thoughts, suddenly got up and gravely walked up and down. All eyes followed him. As he neared the podium, he proudly exclaimed,

“Who is the savior of humanity? We are their benefactors. Examine the suitcases and vanity bags of our ladies and gentlemen; we can see a handsome collection of capsules, tablets and other medical gadgets. If you neglect medical science, this glittering modern civilization will be devoid of human beings.”

Politician (furiously got up): You are responsible for this unprecedented catastrophe. The advent of science and technology has diminished human labor as well as the resistance power of human body and the doll-like humans have fallen into the whirlpool of obesity, diabetics, blood pressure…….

Scientist (laughing loudly):  No. No…You are responsible for this disaster. I am quite innocent. We are coaxed by politicians and economists to satisfy the ever increasing wants of the people.

 “Your ego is the root cause of all these problems”

All eyes travelled far and wide to identify the speaker but nowhere could they find him. Being stunned by those mysterious words, they tried to resume their verbatim but they couldn’t. Everyone gazed at each other and murmured “No. No. I am not an egoist.”

“Go ego, go..; Go ego, go…” reverberated in their psyche and the prick of consciousness urged them to pack up and dash out of the star studded heavenly palace, perched on the sweat of the credulous mass.

Whenever they seek shelter in solitude, their subconscious mind used to remind them “Ego-free mind can change our attitude to a democratic way of life, lit with universal love and friendship in tune with the laws of nature. If anger is the sign of ignorance, ego is the other side of the same coin.”