There are essentially two things without which any species would cease to exist—food and reproduction. But human beings are considered the pinnacle of creation. So, in addition to these two, humans also crave one more thing: to live in peace. As the renowned poet Shahid Qadri once wrote, “The lover will meet the beloved, yes—but peace? Never, never, never…”
Whether someone lives in a humble hut or a grand mansion, all desire peace. In other words, peace is a universal longing, shared by the rich and the poor alike. There’s another common thread that binds all humans—our origin and return are both from and to the Almighty.
We are, in essence, travelers in this world. Here for a fleeting moment, only to move on forever. Yet this brief span—say, a hundred years—feels like an eternity to us. And in this illusion of permanence, we long for peace.
Yes, we seek peace, but we are relentlessly chasing its shadow. Ironically, human civilization has evolved with the goal of creating peace and comfort. From the Indus Valley to the Egyptian, Sumerian, Persian, Babylonian, and Roman civilizations—all aimed to ease human life.
Thanks to science, we now live in a world abundant with comfort. Even a king in the 19th century could not enjoy the luxuries an average middle-class person has today—press a switch, and the room is cool or warm as needed.
Though medical science lags behind other fields, even deadly diseases no longer carry the same mortal fear; effective treatments now exist for both infectious and chronic illnesses.
When it comes to luxury and indulgence, we have gourmet food, travel to exotic locations at the drop of a hat—it all feels like magic. Almost anything is available with a wish. And yet… where is peace? Where has it gone? Will it ever return?
Rabindranath Tagore once wrote, “Open your eyes and just watch; peace is only felt with the heart.”
True peace is the combination of two elements—security and mental well-being. In English, it’s called “peace of mind,” a mental state of calmness or tranquility. It’s freedom from anxiety and worry. But to attain that in today’s world, one would seemingly have to retreat to a forest.
And even those forests—the serenity of that ancient world—are long gone. Around us is a battlefield of cold wars, proxy wars, and psychological wars. Due to geopolitical tensions, we are witnessing unrest and wars across various nations. As Kazi Nazrul Islam wrote in his poem “Kandari Hushiar” (Captain, Beware): “The helpless nation is drowning; it does not know how to swim.”
So what’s the solution? There’s an English phrase: “War for peace.” But Mahatma Gandhi echoed a different wisdom through his doctrine of nonviolence: “An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind.”
In that spirit, we are reminded of Ronald Reagan’s words: “Peace is not the absence of conflict; it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.” A complex idea, indeed. Just as Rabindranath Tagore said we must not tolerate injustice. In another poem, he wrote:
"Poisonous breaths are cast by cobras all around;
The gentle voice of peace echoes in vain…"
Is the gentle voice of peace truly an echo in vain? If so, has our pursuit of comfort—the very foundation of civilization—been misguided? Must humanity return to the beginning of civilization and start anew, on a better path? Or is there truly no way to find a life of peace and contentment?
