The expression is one of contemplation. Hence, the term "ruminate" being used to denote meditation! The cow needs to chew on food and it is a natural act, devoid of any intellectual benefit. While for a human being, rumination can also be a natural act, and it seems for certain people in a certain country, quite like the answering the call of nature, and with the same lack of any serious difference for the mind or for society! We may think of our problems, but we do not really think with introspection.

All the problems in Bangladesh have correlation with this. Why is it that most politicians, technocrats,

and the great citizenry are in consent about the need to look ahead in planning for the future of the country and yet there is so much disorganisation and gridlock? Imagine the traffic problems we have. We have had seasoned politicians taking the helm in successive governments, able experts in the civil service, an able planning commission. We know the percentage of population growth, and the corresponding rise in vehicles to meet the demand for transportation.

Then why the gridlock? Why are the roads in the state they are in? Instead of a solution, we are left doing computations to see the loss of man-hours and productivity and the effect on GDP as a result of the traffic problems! Studies have been done, the bell has tolled. No one woke up. The story is the same in every sector of the society and economy and body politic.

All countries in the world have problems, big and small. There is not one society or country on earth that does not have murders, traffic jams, strikes, and social upheavals. But there is a planned and coordinated response in most countries when problems appear. There are even countries where problems are

anticipated and preventive measures taken. Your main resource is your intellect and drive and enterprise.

Singapore's founding father, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan

Yew, visited China recently. This great man, the architect of modern Singapore, noticed that the Chinese private sector is producing all the nascent wealth. The government just regulates or deregulates, based on the situation. He has issued new observations based on his China trip. Brilliant civil servants, who manage the economy with vision and hard work, drive the Singapore society. The government machinery controls the economy and supervises national development. This

needs to change, and the Chinese model of growth driven by the private sector needs to be adopted, states the former Singapore prime minister and father of the nation. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's visionary policies has moulded and shaped Singapore's destiny. His thoughts and dictations helps Singapore find the right path, and his people understand and act on his suggestions and admonishments.

I think the problem lies in our human resources, the great bevy of experts and laymen that make up the population of employable age. These human resources are just not used to being introspective, thinking of their role in society, and acting with responsibility and sincerity.

Serious rumination means you are being introspective, contemplating your own behaviour and self, looking into oneself, and presumably examining your vices and virtues. What comes next?

You wake up in a cold sweat, seeing your own failings in bold letters. Then you act! You act to make yourself safe from further mistakes, you apologise for your mistakes. And then look to make yourself more sincere. Next time, a well meaning lawman breaks down the door of some innocent man's house, we should expect that the lawman would apologise for the mistake, own up, and make us proud.

And we should expect the politicians, civil servants, and the great masses living in all corners to learn the to think of the greater good of the society and the country. The ability to think about one's mistakes, own up to them, and rectify the mistakes is a special talent. When will we learn this talent?

Ershad Khandker is a contributor to The Daily Star.