WORLD has never been this confusing, at least in the years that I had spent in it. Some leaders were always quirky, some situations truly messy, some disasters always waiting to happen. But never was everything this pronounced! The chaos is so into your face. I say the world is too jammed up. It looks just like the roads in my city - jammed. Everyone’s honking, wanting to pass, not letting others pass and consequently no one is going anywhere. Nothing seems to be making sense. Everyone is in a hurry yet no one is going anywhere! If you have seen traffic jams from close quarters (which, I am sure, no soul on earth could have missed) it serves as an example of how dexterous humans are in dishing out disasters. Well-trained in jumping guns, they have so often been jumping signals that a mishap becomes imminent. Everyone’s in a hurry to reach their destination and finds the others - who also are in a hurry, also to reach their destinations - as an impediment.

 

 

They must outrun the others, who also must outrun them. Since everyone is outrunning everyone else, there is no room for running. People deduce that they are at war and so with loud noises - their own and their vehicles - they seek to slaughter others who they conclude are, in their way. Some are causing the accidents and then carefully looking the other way. Some are prodding others to drive their way into the little space available. Some park themselves in spaces not meant for parking and then cry that their vehicle has been damaged while some others carefully maneuver their little cycle feeling guilty of riding knowing that the world has no space for them. Isn’t this the scenario of countries’ relations with one another these days? Too jammed, this world. So jammed that powers-that-be are giving no thought to allowing themselves and others a happy ride. So many parts of the world are in the grip of natural disasters. And world leaders are huddling up to discuss trade! (Trade is the most important thing now, you see). Natural disasters may be kind enough to gobble you at once, but making a living in this jammed society means inching towards death.

 

The living need food and jobs and thus have no way other than being part of the trade world, which presently is the most jammed place on earth. The President of a country wants to make his country great again. So, he is undoing all things that made that country great in the first place! According to him, the highway must have free space as long as his vehicle is moving at a great speed but once others have caught up, he wants restrictions so that his march is as smooth as before. So, from the cushiony comfort of being World’s No 1 economy, he is crying hoarse about being badly treated. He has proclaimed that tariffs be imposed on countries treating his country badly. He seems to have no idea at all about what ‘bad treatment’ is. You might remember a huge, heavy truck with wagons and 10 pairs of wheels making its way through a rather narrow road consuming most of the space while crying it has none! …and also, the feeling of being pushed aside as the pompous truck honks its way to claim all of the road! Wars are raging in different parts of the world. Everyone wants peace and is calling the other to hold their peace, much like everyone asking the other to let him pass in a traffic jam while not himself waiting for others to pass. An international body created as a watchdog to ensure the world is ruled by the ‘Rule of law’ is doggedly in its deep siesta. Much, I dare say, like our traffic departments, who have no clue how to treat hooligans.

 

At least they impose fines and punishments. But in international rule of law, might is the right. It is not about who is the safest driver but who has the biggest car. If caught in such a traffic mess, you have little options but to slowly make your way while keeping an eye on your surroundings. Old wisdom says, always watch your back, for, the noblest of men could be Brutus. Daggers from foes are expected but the wound hurts a lot more when given by a friend. In no time, this jammed world may find itself on a dead end and will have no option but to put their gears into a reverse mode. But by then, a smart driver will have already found a small lane from where to reach his destination faster. The Indian autowallahs offer wonderful examples on navigating such traffic. Theirs is not a huge, bulky truck but a very flexible vehicle which they can maneuver around. They know all the streets.

 

They respect all the small lanes. But their USP is that they do not get overwhelmed either by bulky trucks or swanky cars. They have a goal and a path and enjoy their journey. In the international traffic of the present day where rule of law is the victim of the mighty, a fair drive may be a tall ask but an able driver will find a way not just for himself but for others to follow. For the world, like the roads in India, is not just full of huge trucks and swanky cars but also of small bikes and cycles and those on foot. This is their world too. For them, someday, huge trucks and swanky cars will have to make way. n