Comparison

“Shall I compare thee to summer’s day?” Asked Shakespeare, But did not stay for an answer! Thiruvalluvar compared timely help To human hands hastening To right a slipping dress. Bharati compared fear to death. Linguists compare languages Critics compare literatures and theories. Philosophers do have their comparisons. Chomsky claims his grammar to be An analogue of the native speaker’s mind. Management gurus compare systems To eliminate silos effect. Teachers relate their ideas to life By means of comparison. Christ’s parables, Aesop’s fables, Panchatantra tales— Are all comparisons, implicit or explicit. All this is possible because Comparison is a mental faculty. And the instances cited are all healthy comparisons And so far so good. But when someone rich compares themselves To the richer, then there is trouble. It is unhealthy and is bound to Breed jealousy or frustration; Would engender a rat-race syndrome; Robs one of the joy of living. But, unfortunately, our educational environment And the corporate ethos seem to put A premium on rat-races. Even a system like yoga, Which seeks to foster detachment, Or a spontaneous and leisurely Activity like poetry writing Is not spared nowadays: Pray, what is a Yoga competition Or a Poetry contest, if not a glorified rat race?! — Ram, R. V.