Standing at the ultimate peak of civilization today, while we sing hymns of progress, the walls around us seem to be growing increasingly toxic. The vibrant veil that the glitz of modernity has hung before our eyes hides a dark world just behind it. In that world, humanity sobs in agony while brutality celebrates incessantly. The nation we aspired to build with the intricate patterns of love is now marred by the dark clouds of corruption and the prominent scars of oppression.
The true mirror of a society is the safety and justice afforded to its people. But today, when one turns the pages of a newspaper or looks at a screen, only the reflection of degradation appears, forcing us to pause in dismay. The moralities we preach daily feel like nightmares in their practical form. It is a mockery to claim civilization where a woman’s dignity is treated as a commodity and where the grip of the miscreant remains fearless. When the screams of an innocent person bounce off walls of brick and stone and return unheard, we must realize that a massive crack has formed in our judicial structure. When truth is swallowed by the arrogance of power and a surreal utopia is constructed with the trade of lies, the foundation of the common man’s faith is shaken.
We live in a strange time where the victim must cower in the face of the criminal’s dominance. Corruption today is not merely a matter of personal greed; it has become an institutional disease. While one group plays with the blood-and-sweat-earned money of the masses to build mountains of wealth, the cries of hungry children heavy the air on the other side. This inequality is not just economic; it is our spiritual defeat.
The lack of integrity among those who govern or act as policymakers pushes society toward a deep abyss. It is not a lack of leadership, but a lack of qualified and ethical leadership that is our greatest crisis today. Blinded by self-interest, when a group of rulers remains busy feathering their own nests, the dreams of ordinary people are ground into the dust.
Even a glance at nature reveals the stark marks of our extreme negligence. In the name of development, as we poison the very air we breathe, we are planting a poisonous tree for future generations. The rivers around us are lifeless today, and the sky is shrouded in smog. This environmental degradation is also a major testament to our moral downfall. Our cruelty toward animals and the cries of helpless creatures manifest our inhumanity. There remains a great doubt: how can a person who can inflict pain on an animal without cause ever be kind to another human being? Our sensitivity is getting lost in the clutter of mechanization.
When a culture of impunity spreads its branches, society becomes a sanctuary for criminals. When the rule of law is confined only to the pages of books and finds no reflection in reality, criminal tendencies multiply. When people are misled in the name of fake laws and nominal trials, public trust in the state plummets to zero. Harassment and scandals have become daily companions of life. The web of deception is so intricately woven that we must think twice before taking every step. This oscillation of distrust is the biggest obstacle to forming a healthy society.
From the upper class to the lower class, a sense of instability prevails today. People have forgotten that mutual respect and love sustain a nation. Selfishness has consumed us to the point where we turn away even from the distress of our neighbors. This isolation is crippling us mentally. We are now busy only with our own gains, and social responsibility has become a mere word in the dictionary. If this situation does not change, we will eventually lose our very existence.
Education today is limited to certificates; true knowledge and ethics are on the verge of extinction. From teenage gangs to high-level white-collar criminals, everyone seeks to remain untouchable. This absolute dominance and the muscle power of the elite are striking at the very roots of our democracy. If we do not stand up today, the next generation will never forgive us.
This radical change is not possible through law or theoretical speeches alone. It requires individual awareness and a dormant moral awakening. It is the need of the hour to hate corruption from the heart and to socially boycott criminals. The practice of our values must begin within our own homes and families. Children must be taught honesty from an early age, and empathy must be awakened within them.
The responsibility of building a transparent and accountable social system lies on all our shoulders. If we can stiffen our spines and stand on the path of truth, only then will this faded land regain its lost radiance. The victory of truth is eternal and inevitable, and the house of cards built on lies must collapse one day. In expectation of that golden dawn, we must keep our collective struggle alive and dream of a humane world.
