�鶹��

Available for over a year

I recently watched a video on the severe impact of hunger in Tigray, Ethiopia, that deeply moved me. Since July last year, many people, especially children, women, and the elderly, have lost their lives. Officials are warning of an impending famine reminiscent of the crisis in the 1980s that led to the Live Aid Concert. As distressed villagers explained: "We are on the brink of death. Our cattle have perished. Our children are dying. Our youth have fled. There will be no next generation,". The dual impact of conflict and drought in Tigray underscores the urgent need for a political response and for international aid to alleviate the hunger and suffering of these communities. Starvation is not something that we’re often confronted with here in the UK, but children and adults going hungry remains a very real problem. Only last week, The Joseph Rowntree Foundation reported that during 2020 and 21, more than 1 in 5 people in the UK were in poverty – 14.4 million people. This included more than 4million children and 2 million pensioners. School teachers are reporting how the cost-of-living crisis in the UK has led to children going to school hungry and even fainting from hunger. Hunger and poverty have ravaged human societies through the ages and continues to do so. Guru Nanak likened the earth to a degh, a cooking pot, from which sustenance is received by all. He started the concept of langar, or community kitchen, so that no one went hungry. In 1595, the fifth Guru, Arjan Dev provided Langar and dug wells when Lahore was hit by widespread famine and disease. Sikhs were also requested to send their daswandh (a tenth of their earnings) to help in these efforts. The Emperor, Akhbar, visited the famine-struck city and Guru Arjan Dev told him: “The welfare and happiness of monarchs depends on cherishing their subjects and doing justice.” The Emperor was impressed by the selfless service and cancelled tax collection from the farmers. As we witness the dire impact of extreme poverty and famine on people, especially women and children, in Tigray and other war torn and poorer nations, we also see a famine in human action. A line in the Sikh prayer, called the Ardas, says "Daeg taeg fateh” - “Victory of the cauldron and sword." It signifies the obligation of a Sikh to provide food and protection, for the needy and oppressed, irrespective of race, religion or caste. Society is only strong when we recognise the interconnectedness of humanity and our shared responsibility to look after our most vulnerable. It is only then the dream of ending world hunger and poverty will become a reality.