Community Developing

Back in good ol’ days, the villagers would gather around a fire in the winter on charpoys, with smoking sheesha and talk about their daily activities, issues, concerns, and discuss anything from local or international topics. They would talk about anywhere from where to get a good fodder for their calves to how the second world war is being conducted in Germany. Many of their internal feuds, problems and concerns would be resolved right at that place amicably. Also, many of their concerns were answered and they would leave that place with satisfaction.

Even though many circumstances have been changed since, however, the villages still try to gather around in the evenings to talk about different things. These evening gatherings serves more of an institution to learn and resolve complex issues. Second, these gatherings also provide a venue for these villagers to vent out any frustrations and irratants in their lives. No wonder the villagers have longer life span than city dwellers.

The issues which are discussed and talked about in these groups also help them to stem out any differences among them before the issues can become ‘real’ problems. 

One of the dillemas with living in the city is that city dwellers don’t find time to gather in the evenings. Time is a precious commidity in the city. Everybody is pretty occupied with various things. There are other gadgets which keep them busy too. Plus the city life is so much busier than the village, that even the weekends are  planned ahead. Therefore, the communities don’t find time to share and discuss any emerging news, updates, issues, concens and don’t get to learn anything different other than being pre-occupied with their lives. 

In my opinion, the communities should work out a plan to have common gatherings and make it essential for everybody to attend these meetings. These small meetings can serve as a foundation stone for a common stand on an issue. These meetings would also show that the communities care about each other. Their children would get a chance to know and grow up together. Their families would know who to turn to for help. And more importantly, the communities would benefit as the proverb goes, “two heads are better than one.”