An interview on the digital platform of the one of the esteemed Kashmiri media houses came across my view. This interview is worth watching. In it, a comprehensive discussion about different lifestyles was held. During the conversation, the interviewee dissected various aspects of the Kashmiri way of life and laid bare the truth before the public through a post-mortem. According to him, significant effects of changing priorities in different eras of Kashmir have been observed. Furthermore, we witnessed an unending stream of important points from this gentleman's mouth. It is impossible for me to write all the points here, and I also lack the capability to comprehend the points made by superior intellects and present them in my own words to the readers. My request to the readers is that they must watch this interview.

While pondering over this interview, I tried to contemplate the current economic system. Besides Thomas Piketty, I made full efforts to understand the points made by the great economists who write for esteemed newspapers like The Hindu and The Indian Express. Then, I reached the conclusion that a lava, hidden from the eyes, is forming not beneath the earth's surface but on its upper crust. The name of this lava is poverty. Poverty is such a lava that has been gaining heat for many years and has finally openly expressed its warmth. Nearly seventy percent of society's people are victims of this lava. When organizations like Oxfam have also clearly declared that wealth is accumulating in the hands of a specific few, then in such a scenario, it is no surprise that the poor are living like corpses. Some rich people of the world are sitting on the world's wealth, coiled like snakes. They snatch the morsels from the poor and make them beg for every grain. And even if they do provide a grain for them, that grain has crossed all limits of inflation. So, in such a situation, an increase in poverty is a certainty. Only rich people benefit from the large buildings. Colourful roads are never built for those suffering from poverty. Wealthy people pass over them comfortably without any trouble.
When I tried to get to the root of poverty, my limited understanding became an obstacle in my path, yet I was able to identify some reasons. The first reason is the flawed economic system. This system runs on the blood of the poor, but only the rich benefit. Under the guise of 'The Invisible Market Forces,' clothes are stripped from the bodies and bread from the mouths of the poor. And as a form of 'advocacy,' the snatched clothes and bread are sold back at high prices, and favours are boasted about. Most of the world's rich have become wealthy through oppression and injustice. Leafing through the pages of history makes it clear how, relying on manipulations and oppression, valuable resources of the poor were usurped, and they were clothed in poverty. If any conscious person scrutinizes the current economic system, he will clearly see how the poor are economically exploited. The second reason is a narrow outlook. An irrational thinking prevails here, which is distressing. I have heard many people say, 'What is there in this world?' One should be concerned about the Hereafter. The point is correct but incomplete. When a person lacks the means to quench the fire in his belly and also faces difficulties in performing religious duties, how can such a person talk about the goodness of the Hereafter? A person who lacks money consoles himself by saying, 'What is there in the wealth of the world,' but his heart beats only for money. Because of this hypocrisy, the roots of poverty in society deepen further. Had this person studied things in depth, he would have certainly concluded that wealth and money are everything in the long run. True success lies in extracting oneself from the entanglements of the world and devoting oneself to God's worship, despite having hoards of wealth and money. Ultimate success is to remain content with God's pleasure, despite an immense love for wealth. The third reason is the wastage of resources. In our part of the world, resources are lost in wars and other unnecessary activities. Trillions are spent on buying weapons. Scenarios of war are created, and along with people's life savings being looted, their future dreams are also shattered, and poverty clings to their souls.
It is a crucial need of the time to advocate for the poor. Even on a small scale, some treatment of the wounds is necessary. From Africa to various countries in Asia, the scourge of poverty has made life miserable for people. In this state of helplessness and powerlessness, where each coming day is snatching the crutches from the poor, the time has come to fill the wounds to some extent. Scorched souls and bodies riddled with wounds now need elixir. The laughter emanating from the mansions of the rich makes the souls of the poor tremble. After having a full stomach, it is impossible to understand the pain and suffering of the poor. If one thinks from the level of the poor, life is nothing but a burden. The poor should contemplate their condition. They should make full efforts to improve their state. There is a need to understand religion from a new perspective. Seeking guidance from authentic scholars to derive solutions for poverty from the Quran and Sunnah is also one of the important needs of the time. We all, according to our capacity, should be concerned about the poor. Surely, on the Day of Judgment, we will be questioned about the poor, and God forbid, we should not be disgraced there.

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