Various situations of birth, climate, culture, customs and beliefs, traditional practices define the various beginning conditions of all of us. It is really a wonder that we are able to communicate with each other, converse, exchange thoughts and share in feelings, become mutually sympathetic. Actually it would not have been surprising if it was all opaque amongst and between us. So much of difference of habits, dress, opinions and external situations! But we are meaningful to each other and it is happy that the modern science, technology and communications make us all necessary to each other.
We as various people are becoming more and more valuable, becoming values to be cherished. Becoming intensely aware of our existence as human beings make us more connected by resonating stances we have to take in regard to reality. In this interesting scenario, becoming intelligently aware of our past is part of our engagement with the present. It is enriching also of our future.
Perhaps there is much meaning in saying that poetry forms the religion of the future human person. Literature will be not simply a pastime, but an aesthetic discovery of one's own self. Philosophy is becoming a sophisticated way of expressing the agony of understanding the explosive data abounding all around. Thinking and interpreting are made more precise human functions by the emerging development of AI.
Any community in our world cannot afford to get disconnected from the total humanity, under any pretext of beliefs, traditions or old texts. A human being is compelled rather to assume the role of a world citizen. To do this existential necessity in an effective way and be an efficient global citizen, to become aware of literature (or poetry) and philosophy (or interpretative thinking) forms an important tool. In a much more abstract way we have to become yet again a tool-user, which role we started with at the dawn of civilization.
Srirangam Mohanarangan
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