Life is a long journey from human being to being humane.

 

"Human beings" have been referred as the most evolved and the most intelligent of all the species , ever born on this planet (subject to human knowledge ) - by human beings themselves .And perhaps true as well, the human endeavor and the resulting development we see through human intelligence is far beyond the capabilities of any other creature. The monuments , the music, the dance forms, the textiles, the food cuisines ,the rockets, the skyscrapers- all of them are at par with excellence and are a proof how human beings have conquered nature and its vital force.

 But the question which comes to my mind is, other than faster evolution, what is the difference between a human being and an animal. This question is genuine given that both have equal needs subject to hunger, shelter, reproduction, social relations and ecosystems.

 If human beings have learnt to grow their own food, then so have been done by other species as well. In changing environments and growing competition they too have fared well. The way a lion only attacks a baby giraffe but never an adult one as they have kicks mighty enough to bring a lion down, shows how smartly he eliminated one food item from his menu.

 Animals too produce their off springs and surprisingly, in far more diverse and evolved ways than humans e.g. female birds choosing males to mate on the basis of their nest building skills!!!

 Animals too maintain their relation with other species and in similar interesting ways as done by a human being. Mutualism (bhai-bhateeja ...helping each other ) , Commensalism (sirf mera bhala ), Parisitism (aastin ka saanp ) are some of the ways in which animals maintain a balancing relation (in much similar ways as a human being do) with not only other animal species but their physical environment as well.

 So how are we different ....or does our differences somewhat confined only to our superior evolution only (even that looks like an illusion if look for similar examples in nature) but when thinking deeply, I realize there is a big difference between us and the jungle raj and this sole difference is what makes us different.

 All the activities which animals do are similar to that of human beings but the reason behind them doing those activities are purely for SURVIVAL PURPOSE. However, we as human beings does them inflicted by the vices of lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego.

Yes, animals do procure food however they never store it, neither do they keep or eat more than required and never do they eat what is not meant for them , on the other hand human beings not only produce, they can snatch it from other’s plate as well for their greed. The examples of black marketing of medicines, food etc even during pandemic, shows how greed has made this most evolved species the most helpless indeed.

 Yes, animals too reproduce, but they don’t have brothel houses. Never will a crow abduct a sparrow only for his sensual purposes. But the so called evolved species have failed even the animals in fulfilling their animal spirits. The reports of children getting raped, trafficked and sold, has what reduced all the human intellect to the level below that of an animal

 Yes, animals too protect themselves but not through iron domes, not by killing innocent species by bombing innocents who lives far away from their place just to expand their jungle raj. Whereas, humans have used their intelligence in developing weapons which today possess a threat to their own survival.

 Yes, animals too have communities and groups, they too socialize but they don’t have social inequalities the way human society has. They don’t make friends looking at each other’s nest. They don’t degrade on the basis of color, nor do they have caste systems.

 So true that evolution has made this similar species with similar needs superior to other animals, however this evolution has made as just human beings.

To be humane requires more than mere physical and mental evolution.

 It requires one to develop compassion. The feeling of thinking about others before their own self. It takes a human being lot of effort to win over his vice of greed. To help others in need the way mother Teresa did. It is this feeling which stops in creating a world of haves and have not’s.

 It requires a human being to be contend. It is what stops human beings from degrading their environment to such an extent where it becomes irreplaceable. It is this feeling which teaches a person to live in harmony with other beings. It is this contended self which don’t falls to depression and mental health issues.

 To be a humane self, it requires a human being to control his sensual pleasures. To look at others as fellow humans and not just bodies of flesh and bones. The way swami Vivekananda called a prostitute his mother and paid salutation to her.

 To be a humane self, it requires human beings to know themselves and not be in a constant hurry to compete and win. It requires them to gain true knowledge and develop wisdom first about themselves. It requires him to develop himself first as a human being, then developing space stations. The way Dr. APJ Abdul kalam did.

 To be humane requires a person to fulfill her duties with honesty and integrity, so that their can be a balance between all the segments. Where nobody steals somebody else’s cake.

 To be humane requires a human being to rise above their emotions of jealousy, apathy, anger, revenge, lie, selfishness, betrayal and lead a life where she identifies herself beyond a body and her ego. They way guru nanak dev ji, bhagat kabir ji, bhagat namdev ji did.

 However, this can be done only if he wins over the vices in himself by acquiring true wisdom and knowledge. It is then where his superior evolution can help him. It is then when he can use his evolution as a human being in a selfless and in a way dedicated to others.

 All the achievements I mentioned in beginning have been introduced by humans who through their hard work and wisdom have turned themselves into humane beings. It is then when a men creates marvels and wonders.

 Indeed, for a human being , life is a long journey where he rise above being human to being humane.