Published: 12:05 AM, 16 May 2026
Fading Relations: The Silent Collapse of Human Bonds
Intikhab Ahmed Panhwar
'Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.' Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78). Rousseau was right when he penned the above claim which prevails in the present. This quote revolves in many circles from politics to social life, however; it holds the same significance as it did a long ago
.
I cannot understand or I cannot even impose my understanding on others that what is happening with even the closest relations?
Be it blood or water- both have mitigated the distance of intimacy and love. If you look around, you may find selfishness, deceit, conceit and hypocrisy. Humility has bid adieu- it has become a thing of the past. People have lost feelings and behave like machines. Their callousness has made the creation of God as a statue who stands still and does nothing to soothe away the sorrows of others.
Everyday does not go unwatched when any daughter or a sister is killed in the name of honor, consequently humanity is dying. In the same way, brothers who used to be the shadow of sisters- tend to be opportunists and butchers who are waiting for their turns to make the most of. For brothers, wealth and property has become the first priority, ignoring the most beautiful childhood that was spent together. Every close one pretends to do something that seems to be fair, actually it is not.
As Shakespeare puts it, "There is method in his madness, it must not go unwatched." Hamlet.
Family is an institution which gives a sense of satisfaction and solace alike. Besides this, it also opens the doors of respect, cooperation and understanding for every member who is part of it. In contrast to all this, the doors are confined to avarice where smells of betrayal and disloyalty welcome the dears to be stabbed in the back.
There used to be the days when people were heard and responded swiftly-owing to this, everybody felt lighter and relaxed. However, loneliness and anxiety have replaced this. As a result, hollowness has cemented its foundation dragging every relationship to a loop where a clever way out is impossible.
It is equally important to comment that parents lose their autonomy over their children once they grow old, thus the plight of fear enters which does not move until it ends tragically.
What winds are swaying which chains everyone else who possesses a heart that offers hugs, motivation and support for any member who needs help in their hard times. Are we all going back to Kafka's Metamorphosis? where he argues the worth of humans depends on a person himself unless he earns or he is useful. In other words, relations can only survive if they work like machines.
If that be the case, then there would not be the concept of humanity. We, as a whole, are recognized on the basis of love, compassion and pro support feelings which make us distinct from others.
There is a storm which has already arrived with its hot dust of greed, hypocrisy and deceit and this has wrapped us all in deep grasp that we cannot get free, even if we want. Nobody is willing to see or visit anyone to listen and share something in exchange as it used to be in the near past. Otaq/ guestrooms were famous where everyone had liberty to speak their hearts, unfortunately, all those spaces of gathering are empty now. Leaving a gap of loneliness and desolation.
What about the grandmother, the "Amaa" who was surrounded by her children and the grandchildren too, is left alone at any corner of the home to spend her rest life, as if she were an extra or useless toy of the past.
As Shakespeare in "Seven ages of a man" describes a big message about life and our role in it-keeps changing according to the stage we are going through. The stage seven out of eight discusses
"His youthful hose, well sav'd, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound."
the extreme old age where a person is not able to do anything physically on his own, so he/she needs care. The old ones need care and dignity so that they may feel a sense of pride about the life they have spent in growing all those fruits which have ripen now. This world has to remain here; however what is remembered is one's goodness and nothing beyond. Before us there were people who came and played their part, but they did not carry anything except the love they spread in the form of father, brother, sister or friend. Their assets are lying here -either they are lost or squandered like water. We have blindfolded us with machines like attitude which chains us all in deep slumber and in continuing so, we have lost the closest ones. Shah Abdul Bhittai, pens it:
"O you sleep, wake up.
Indulging in excessive sleep is never healthy.
One cannot attain the union with Sovereign beloved,
through this ignorant act of sleep."
It is high time chains be broken, besides this, the wave of avarice and hatred be eliminated.
Intikhab Ahmed Panhwar is a Lecturer
of English, Department of Business A
dministration, Sukkur IBA University
Mirpurkhas Campus
