The life of a shepherd is an endless tale of labour, struggle, and perseverance. From the first light of dawn until the stars pierce the velvet of night, he trudges across barren fields and treacherous mountains. The rocks cut his feet, the winds bite his skin, yet he presses on because the survival of his sheep and goats depends upon him. Over time, a strange intimacy develops between him and his flock. With a wave of his stick, the animals change direction; with a murmur of his voice, they halt. He breeds them, protects them, and sacrifices his comfort for theirs. His authority rests not upon cruelty but upon care, for the true shepherd knows that his worth lies in safeguarding the lives entrusted to him.

But some corrupt this image for darker designs. Some men fancy themselves shepherds of nations, but in truth, they are nothing more than deceivers. They imagine millions of human beings to be nothing but herds to be driven wherever they please. They confuse authority with ownership, leadership with domination. They take the noble staff of the shepherd and turn it into a rod of tyranny. Such is the tragedy we see across our border, where the cool breeze of peace is constantly turned into sparks of enmity.

India, instead of embracing the blessings of good neighbourly relations, often chooses to fan the fires of hatred. Its politics, time and again, reveals the same pattern; when........

© Naya Daur