Have we progressed at all?

Although humankind has witnessed great developments in the field of science and technology during the past few decades, the mindsets of people have clearly not. The developments with regards to information technology, space and nuclear science, robotics and automation are all astounding. Now, everyone is able to communicate with friends and family all around the world in an instant, in addition to following various live global events on television. With that in mind, such conditions could not have been anticipated a century back.

Despite these advancements, prejudice, enmity, violence and greed continues to haunt humanity, irrespective of continents. While science and technology has seen changes for the better, the battle for the future in the mind of men and women is yet to be won, however, as for now there doesn’t seem to any likelihood for it to be happening in the near future. Despite great scriptures and great thinkers like Mahatma Gandhi, the overall impact in improving the mindset of people appears to be practically insignificant.

A recent report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted the different negative traits in the mindset of human beings around the world. The status report was prepared by WHO after collecting data from 133 countries, covering 6.1 billion people and representing 88 per cent of the world’s population.

The report points out that around 437,000 murders were reported in the world in 2012, wherein about 60 per cent of these victims were males aged between 15 and 44 years, which is the most productive phase of life.

The report further reveals that over one third of the murdered women across the world were killed by their male partners, indicating that women face greater threat to their lives from their trusted ones.

In addition, the report revealed more startling facts that would disturb anyone who argues that the world civilisation has progressed. The report pointed out that 25 per cent of all adults have said that they have been physically abused as children, wherein one in five women reported that they had been sexually abused as children. Additionally, approximately one in every two homicides is committed with a firearm, and one in four with a sharp instrument such as a knife, although the mechanism of homicide varies markedly across regions.

Obviously, the ethical and moral forces around the world have not been able to assert themselves adequately to defeat the baser elements in the minds and hearts of human beings. This also indicates that material affluence is not a guarantee for a spiritual betterment and quality life.

- The reader is an Indian founder trustee of an NGO based in Chennai, India.