Audacity for hope

Dr Fahim Chand | Monday September 9, 2024 09:43

From the prehistoric swamps of the Mesozoic era to today’s rivers and marshlands, crocodiles have thrived for over 200 million years.

Evolving from small, agile reptiles to the formidable predators we see today, they have adapted with armor-like skin, powerful jaws, and stealthy hunting techniques. Surviving mass extinctions that wiped out the dinosaurs, their evolution showcases a blend of resilience and lethality.

Crocodiles’ ability to regulate body temperature and endure long periods without food reflects their primal intelligence. As the ultimate survivors, they embody nature’s relentless drive to adapt and endure, a living tribute to the ancient world’s enduring legacy. My eyes swept over the unfolding panorama before me.

The cool morning air was invigorating as Shakawe greeted the dawn with its finest display. The gentle symphony of waves sparked a surge of dopamine, washing away all of life’s stresses.

Animated chatter provided a lively percussion to nature’s opera. The boat glided smoothly across the vast, breathtaking Okavango River, while curious fish eagles patrolled the skies above. Birds in unimaginable colors flitted about, each immersed in their mysterious morning rituals, as the day stretched and yawned into being. I felt a profound calm, exhilaration, and joy as I shared the boat with my beloved family.

My late brother Iqbal, ever watchful, scanned the horizon and pointed out elusive wildlife only he could spot. His wife, Waheeda, along with Shabana and my boys, Ayaan and Azeem, eagerly absorbed the intoxicating African atmosphere. As I gazed at the riverbanks, I counted twelve crocodiles, each spaced a meter apart, silently watching the unfolding scene.

Not a muscle twitched as these ancient predators stood guard. As our boat drifted past, they suddenly sprang to life, each one wriggling powerfully and silently into the mighty river. Within moments, all signs of the predatory sentinels vanished. With the river calm once more, I shuddered, imagining the silent dangers lurking just beneath our boat.

As I entered the building, anticipation coursed through me, my heartbeat quickening with excitement. Nearing the end of a long-planned quest, my pulse raced, every second stretching taut with the chase for the elusive prize. My racing heart clashed with the calm, serene surroundings. A delicate fragrance filled the air, conjuring visions of sailboats gliding across a tranquil ocean under a sunset sky. And then, finally, it appeared. My hand reached out, fingertips grazing its soft surface, a sensation as smooth as a baby’s skin, sending another surge of dopamine rushing through me. My eyes imbibed its vibrant hue—the baby blue soothing my gaze, a smile spreading across my face. There it was: the emblem of style and class, the mark of intelligence and effort, the symbol that meant you’d made it—or at least, made it as a high school student.

The iconic logo bore the outline of nature’s fearless predator, the crocodile. I had finally saved enough for my first Lacoste polo shirt, designed by the famed arbiter of style, French Davis Cup player René Lacoste. I had toiled relentlessly at my part-time job, driven by the dream of making an aspirational purchase.

While money might not buy happiness, it certainly buys nice things—a fact evident in the way the ultra-rich live. Take Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, whose net worth currently sits at a staggering $191 billion. In 2023, he bought a $500 million yacht named Koru, a symbol of his immense wealth. But it raises the question: what do the super-rich plan to do with their fortunes when they inevitably leave this world? Will they leave it all to their children, or is there another plan for their vast empires? Microsoft founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett created The Giving Pledge to rally the wealthy and channel their fortunes toward philanthropic endeavours.

Gates, with a net worth of $155 billion, has pledged that each of his three children will inherit only $10 million, with the remainder of his wealth devoted to charitable causes. As Gates himself put it, “I definitely think leaving kids massive amounts of money is not a favor to them.”

Similarly, Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook, pledged 99% of his daughter’s inheritance to charity, driven by what he calls “a moral responsibility to all children in the next generation.” They are not alone; other wealthy figures like Elon Musk, Gordon Ramsay, and Elton John have made similar commitments regarding their fortunes. In the ruthless world of business, where ethical boundaries often blur—or even vanish—it’s heartening to see how many of the wealthy have pledged to share their vast resources to uplift others. Perhaps, after all, there is hope for humanity.