Communities, societies and nations come together and grow, fertilised by the largely unspoken benevolence of men of strong and, at times, exceptional strength of character and noble motivation. Whichever strand of life they opt to pick up, they tend to excel in extending universal benevolence and attracting their followers to their cause in a remarkable manner. Muslims are proud of the comprehensively qualitative and lasting change the holy Prophet (PBUH) brought to the lives of his followers. For Hindus, Ram and Sita are the epitome of superlative human virtues deserving unqualified reverence for thousands of years; so is Gautama Buddha. Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Sattar Edhi and numerous others like them across the globe are respected and emulated for their invaluable and selfless public service. It was not their power, armies or treasures that endeared them to people but their humanity, boundless benevolence and humility that worked magic on people’s hearts. If conquests, state power and money mattered, Attila, Xerxes, Alexander and Chengez would have been idolised. Instead, they are despised for the plunder, massacres and immense human sufferings they caused. Of all the sultans of Delhi it is Sher Shah Suri who is remembered with respect for his great public service works like the construction of the Grand Trunk Road, a countrywide network of protected motels for travellers and traders, the postal system and ingenious permanent land settlement record that is still the basis of official reference in India and Pakistan. Emperor Akbar, the great Mughal, finds fond reference across the entire religious spectrum in the subcontinent and beyond for his rule, not for his glorious court but for his inspired patronage of interfaith harmony and egalitarian, almost secular, state practices that went a long way to peacefully homogenise his multi-religious subjects; a truly crowning achievement. The British Indian railways, thousands of miles of irrigation canals and their admirable penchant for reducing all possible official interventions to rules and regulations so as to administer with justice amongst their Indian subjects, were great acts of genuine public service. With the advent of the 21st century, the parameters of statecraft and public dealing underwent a dramatic change. Globalisation, borderless communications and powerful but multifarious platforms for expression of opinion open to people have forced a paradigm shift in leadership style. While the Czars and Hapsburgs could not be copied in the 20th century, similarly, autocrats and military dictators are out of fashion in the current century. Public reaction to a leadership indiscretion or insensitivity has become swift and unstoppable these days. It can neither be wished away nor muzzled into silence and, therefore, in most countries such an outcry is being addressed in earnest. However, islands of indifference like North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, when suppressed, burst into uncontrolled violence making horrible examples of men like Qaddafi and Hosni Mubarak. Recollect how Bangladesh broke away because of our insensitivity. Those who refuse to learn from history relearn at their own dear cost along with the wrath of history as a craggy rock in their twig baskets. Devastating floods have become a frequent feature in Pakistan. This year was the third in the last four years, and it was not a flash one. Leaving that controversy alone, one has hardly seen any constructive response to Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s Flood Commission Report that followed the last floods. It contained commendable recommendations about how to prevent human and material losses due to the ravages of floods, besides other measures. The point to understand is that throwing out wads of money and flour sacks from helicopters, and photo sessions at the edges of flood damage exposes victims to indignity and moral injuries. One has to risk one’s life and ride a rocking boat in the raging floodwaters to those helplessly marooned on pylons, trees and rooftops to show real solidarity. Our wretched people cannot subsist on empty talk and vague undertakings. It may be prestigious to have broad motorways, a metro bus service and impressive flyovers in major cities but, unfortunately, their utility tends to be exclusive and does not sit well with the terrible lack of basic civic amenities and abject poverty of the vast majority of underprivileged people living in villages and the rural areas of our country. What is also to be understood is that this practice is causing a rapid migration from the rural to urban centres and might bring about yet another crisis linked to resultant shortage of food production in the rural areas and exploding crime rate in the cities. This massive internal relocation can seriously stress state resources and jeopardise our fragile social framework. It was and still is time to focus on real public service initiatives even though they may not be as glamorous or sensational. To begin with, a comprehensive review of flood protection needs must be undertaken to prevent loss of life and property due to future floods. Larger, stronger and well-sited flood protection embankments must be constructed as part of the national emergency. Had that been done, the ugly controversy of Bhivana bridge and Ramzan Sugar Mills would not have erupted, nor would millions of acres of crops along with thousands of villages have been swept into nothingness and hundreds of precious lives lost. We need to seriously set up a network of education, health, transportation and link roads, electricity and small food preservation industries in our rural areas. We need to relocate justice infrastructure closer to the villages and small market towns for speedy disposal of cases. Make the system efficient, their performance auditable and provide generous budget allocations. It is a matter of sensitivity and priorities at the political leadership level. There is always the ever-present oppression of the circumstances forcing their hand. The announcement of Rs 10 million for the family of a police constable killed in a traffic accident in Lahore just as the Punjab police’s ranks were increasingly refusing to crack down on protesters is understandable. A dutiful hero of sorts had to be created in a hurry. There are also the vivid images of a soldier trying to revive an infant rescued over the edge of his boat and troops swimming up to desperate men, women and children to save their lives from drowning. This time, the army and navy did not really wait to be called up. Realising the perils of the imminent flood they were already there poised to help fellow men as much as they could. There has also been the superlative sense of duty shown by late Naib Subedar Inab Gul who, along with his army rescue team, saved 22 lives but lost his own in the process near Sher Shah Embankment on September 14. A genuine act of heroism in which he died in the line of duty but one that has gone lamentably unsung. Few might know that many trees in the world are planted by squirrels that bury nuts and then forget where they hid them. Let us bury a few nuts of goodness and benevolence, and hope that seeds will take root and grow into tall shady trees where footsore, weather-beaten travellers might rest for a while and go their distant ways. Wolves are majestic and awesome but are feared and not revered. A conscious choice must be made whether to follow the noble example of a humble squirrel or that of the regal but savage wolf. Selfless public service is the key; decide how one wants to be remembered. The writer is a retired brigadier of the Pakistan army and can be reached at clay.potter@hotmail.com