Quazi Saleh Mustanzir :
During my stay in the United States for three years, I came across a good number of people from different cultural backgrounds. I met them at classes, parties and other social gatherings. Even though I was surrounded by lots of people, I felt lonely all the while. I tried to get their company candidly and earnestly, but I always sensed something missing in our relationship. Later I figured out the missing thing is nothing but friendship, a glue of emotion, which amalgamates two souls.
The feeling of oneness of two souls gives us a motivation to live and decorate our world with radiant hue. The company of true friends keeps us from all sorts of disappointments, desolation, gloominess and hopelessness. An unadulterated friendship helps us ventilate our pent up agonies and pangs, and breathe fresh air of hope and optimism. The love and compassion, support and care in a true friendship resist us from breaking down out of remorse and disillusionment. In our days of despair and frustration we seek solace and strength from our friends. Friendship between two people benefits both mutually.
On the other hand, anxiety, depression and pessimism may grip a person living in solitude vehemently. He gradually develops a paranoia that takes a huge toll on his body and mind. At one point, overwhelmed with depression and melancholy he may attempt to commit even suicide.
Human beings are social and interactive by nature, and cannot live in isolation or solitude. From time immemorial, people are living on earth in different groups, clans, tribes or teams to fight against their common foes. The attitude of ‘we feel’ rather than ‘I feel’ injects the required vital force into them to survive all disasters, misfortunes and calamities befalling them. People may be divided into different groups in terms of religion, culture, politics, norms and customs. Sometimes, the idiosyncrasies of one group may stand in sharp contrast with the other. Ideological differences may often disturb the harmony in the relationship and put the world in chaos and anarchy. Violence may take the place of peace, and turn the world into a hell. On many occasions, disregard, hatred and enmity account for the factions and clashes among different state and non-state actors in the world. Greed, power and self-indulgence blind the conflicting groups and drive them to let their ego win over others. Thus the absence of friendship may pulverize the balance of power, and exacerbate the peace and prosperity of the world.
Friendship is spiritual. It does not bind two individuals into a legal obligation; rather they are always at their liberty. They are engaged in a non-formal relationship, and do their duties for each other out of love or affection. Nobody is compelled to come in aid to others.
Friendship may become a touchstone sometimes. A frustrated person may reach on the verge of ruining himself. In that situation the company of a good friend may instill in him the hope for life. His great company may alter his attitude altogether and convert him into a person full of confidence.
All the great men in the world won the hearts of millions just through friendship. They befriended their enemies with the influence of their ideologies. The prophets, preachers, statesmen, leaders etc. who immortalized themselves on earth shunned the path of hatred and enmity and took resort to friendship and fraternity for consolidating peace. The path of hatred and abhorrence, on the other hand, turns the earth into a hell. The rivalry and enmity among nations can never bring something good for us. It will always push us backward and throw millions of peace-loving people on earth into the hearth of plights and afflictions.
In fine, we can say that most of our problems on earth exist because of our selfishness. If we can rise above self-interest and develop a sense of friendship in us, we can change the world into a better place to live in for our future generations. Accentuating the need of friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals, the United Nations General Assembly in its 65th session in 2011 decided to observe 30th July as the ‘International Day of Friendship’ each year. Therefore, to deepen international friendship and fraternity, let us take a pledge to work for creating a world full of love, peace, mutual respect, camaraderie etc. and free from exploitation, hatred, terrorism, genocide, racism, xenophobia, inequality, tyranny, oppression, violence, ethnic cleansing etc. Long live friendship and long live mankind!
(Mr. Mustanzir is Deputy Secretary, Planning Commission. Email: [email protected])
