January 2, 2025 - Pyramid. The very thought of a pyramid reminds us of one of the Wonders of the World situated in Egypt; a triangular shaped structure with a broad base narrowing towards the top. For the more intellectual readers, it is about the pyramid as depicted in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs where the base represents the physiological need that is essential for one’s survival. This hierarchy, as represented by Maslow, gets slender as it progresses up towards the need for self-actualisation.

Moving to the real world scenario, the structure of our day-to-day and professional lives is also similar to a pyramid where the base is formed by a majority of service providers and ground level people who are the foundation or pillars on which this hierarchical structure rests. And as it progresses towards the top, it becomes leaner and compact, represented by a few people who are comparatively more sophisticated and dominating. This pyramid-shaped structure of the world where the masses are at the base and struggling for survival is controlled by the ones at the top of the pyramid who reign over the entire hierarchy.

Base Carrying the Burden

Be it the tussle for political power between economies or professional power between organisations or within an organisation itself... the ones at the top presume themselves to be so high that they look down upon the lower base as only a stepping stone to climb to the next level. They forget the fact that it is the base that is carrying the burden of all the top levels in the hierarchy, on its strong shoulders. It is the base that lays the foundation for the top. And it is the base that nurtures the roots of pyramid enabling the top levels to bloom.

The struggle for power, high ambitions and desire for being at the top and possessing authority is so strong that the ones on the top are resorting to all levels of brutal and barbarous activities. In the rush for political power, civilians are attacked, killed and rendered homeless due to destructive bombings. And in the rush for an organisational position, professionalism is killed and meritorious people are rendered jobless by portraying false incapabilities and inefficiencies.

This is because those reaching to the top of the hierarchy shed their ethics and values along the way. They start their journey as leaders but eventually become rulers, rather dictators, who terminate the freedom and identity of those at the lower levels in the hierarchy. With this system, practice, approach and mindset in place, we all are witnessing where our world is headed to. The geopolitical turmoil and risk, continued international instability and wars are together exacerbating the threat to humanity.

It is Time to Change

So this New Year, it is the time to change. It is the time to reinforce our value system. It is the time to revive the basic fundamentals of humanity and dignity. It is the time to convert the prevailing chaos in the world into serenity, bringing in peace and happiness to everyone. It is the time to transform this pyramid of power into a sphere where the leader is at the centre, binding together the outer layers through a bond of tranquility, sympathy, empathy, trust and empowerment.

Like the inner core of the Earth is important for the stability of its structure and a source of useful information, similarly the ones at the top of the hierarchical pyramid should rather become the core. For this, we should shape our real life world into a sphere where the stronger ones are at the core supporting the existence of the others. By no means are the others, the general masses weaker; they are only at a slightly different level of efficiency or surrounded by different circumstances. So, those leading the lower levels should step up to support them rather than resting their empire on the shoulders of the ones who are struggling. For those who are not at the core, they too have equal responsibility of practicing good values and sincerity in their efforts. It is their responsibility to show the mirror to those who are dominating. It is the responsibility of the masses to stand up for truth and honesty. It is the responsibility of the masses to stand and speak up for the righteous. It is their duty to be aware and educated about their rights and defend their position. It is their duty to fight back and not to surrender against the atrocities and authoritative behaviour of the tyrant. This struggle against the malefactors may lead to some short-term losses but will lay the foundation for converting the hierarchical pyramid of the world into sphere where the real life and happiness will be on the outer surface and humanity, ethics and values will be prevailing at the core.

It is time to step ahead and transform the world’s Pyramid into a Sphere in the year 2025.