It seems that two prominent leaders of South Asian countries are channelling the spirit of the three wise monkeys. These modern-day guardians of silence seem to have taken Mahatma Gandhi’s teaching a tad too literally—or perhaps they’ve cleverly repurposed it to serve their interests. One may summarize their governance style as a master class in selective ignorance: seeing no evil, hearing no evil, and speaking no evil- the ideals of Buddhist teaching.
Mahatma Gandhi kept statues of three monkeys in his Ashram. One monkey kept his palms on his eyes, meaning we must not see evil things. The other monkey covered his mouth with his hands, meaning one should not speak evil. The third monkey covered his ears with his hands, meaning one must not hear evil and unfair words.
The same is the situation at present in Bangladesh. The Prime minister of Bangladesh does not see anything wrong going on in the country. He does not hear anything because his ears are closed. He does not speak anything because his mouth is covered with hands. It seems he follows the principles of three monkeys. The noble laureate seems to follow the three favourite monkeys of Mahatma Gandhi
The Prime Minister runs the show in silence. His nation has become a spectacle of social issues, economic turmoil, and political strife, yet he has perfected the art of looking the other way. The Prime minister does not see anything wrong going on in the country. He does not hear anything because his ears are closed. He does not speak anything because his mouth is covered with hands. It seems he follows the principles of three monkeys.
“What issues?” he might ask, palms covering his eyes like an overindulgent child caught with a cookie jar. If the chaos doesn’t make it into his line of sight, does it exist? After all, if he can’t see the protests, the dissent, or the cries for justice, he can rule as if everything is just peachy.
And there sits another Prime Minister of a giant nation, a paragon of virtue—at least in his narrative. He’s taking the concept of “don’t hear” to a new level. With every critique that arises, it appears he has donned a pair of soundproof headphones.
No doubt, as a peace-loving person, his government wishes to have peace in the region. Thus, no interference in the affairs of neighbours even when people are massacred.
Hence, the PM is also following the principles of the three monkeys. Don’t speak, don’t hear and don’t see.
The curious twist in this tale is the proposal that they should award the Nobel Peace Prize to the PM.
It’s a concept that sits comfortably in the realm of absurdity. Has the Nobel Committee found a new classification for peace? “The Peace of Ignorance”? One can imagine the committee’s deliberations- “They’ve ignored so much suffering. They must have brought peace by the sheer absence of acknowledgement.”
Perhaps next year, the noble committee may decide to award the Nobel Peace Prize.
While many might label this behaviour as a failure of leadership, the clever duo finds strength in their shared adherence to the principles of the three monkeys.
By refraining from action, they deftly avoid any backlash, criticism, or responsibility that might come with addressing the challenges their nations face. It’s as if they’ve established a symbiotic relationship where mutual ignorance solidifies their power. “I won’t see, you won’t hear,” they chant, and innocent people lose their lives without notice.
One cannot help but admire the cavalier audacity with which these politicians tread through the quagmire of their nations’ realities. Moreover, ensconcing themselves in a bubble of selective perception. Their governance approach offers a fascinating case study in crisis aversion—after all, the less you see, the less you have to respond to.
And in their minds, if they remain blissfully unresponsive, they might just sail into the annals of historical greatness, or at least the nominations for a dubious award.
With each passing day, the populace grows restless, their voices echoing against the walls erected by ignorance. As these politicians engage in their philosophical game of “hide and seek,” one can only hope that the proverbial monkeys will tire of their routine and eventually, someone will step forward to champion sight, sound, and truth.
In the end, true leadership requires more than just an adherence to eye-covering, ear-plugging, and mouth-sealing principles. It demands courage, accountability, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
But until then, let the monkeys take the spotlight, silently performing their act of apathy, while the world watches with a mix of incredulity and humour.
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