By Imlisanen Jamir
There’s a growing gap that most of us can feel even if we can’t quite put it into words. On the surface, life here seems to be moving forward—new buildings, fancy announcements, and headlines that promise change. But when you scratch the surface, it’s clear that the story isn’t one of shared progress.
At the top, those with wealth and power are quietly adding to their fortunes. They have the means to shape the conversation, to choose the projects that get built and the policies that get passed. These decisions, wrapped in impressive presentations and grand claims of development, mask the reality that the benefits rarely trickle down. Instead, they serve to make it look as though progress is being made, even as the people who need it most are left on the sidelines.
For many in the middle class, every day feels like a race with no finish line. They work longer hours, juggle more responsibilities, and often find that no matter how hard they push, they never seem to break through. The promise of merit and hard work leading to a better life has turned into a constant struggle, with the finish line moving further away with every step. There’s an irony here—a society that celebrates effort while making it harder for genuine progress to be achieved by the very people who keep it running.
Then there are those at the bottom, who face life with a sense of abandonment. For them, the glitter of new projects and the fanfare of development talks are just noise. Their daily reality is marked by the feeling of being forgotten—a state of constant hardship that isn’t addressed by flashy headlines or token gestures. It’s a life where the promise of belonging and improvement is more a dream than a reality, leaving many to feel both desperate and disconnected.
The picture that is painted by the day’s news and official statements is one of growth and prosperity. But if you look closer, you find that the story is about imbalance. The real workings of power show a system where benefits are not spread evenly. What is often called progress turns out to be a clever distraction from the reality that only a few are really moving ahead while the rest are struggling just to keep up or, worse, falling further behind.
This is not a new tale—it is a familiar pattern seen in different times and places, but one that resonates deeply here. The messages we receive about development and unity are powerful, but they often hide the simple truth: progress isn’t reaching everyone equally. When the conversation focuses more on impressive projects and less on the real lives of people, it becomes clear that something is missing.
In the end, the true measure of any society should be the well-being of all its people, not just those at the top. While the powerful continue to collect their gains, it is time to ask whether the current model of development is truly serving everyone. In a world filled with distractions and empty promises, we must keep our eyes open to the realities that many face every day—a reminder that progress, if it is to be genuine, must leave no one behind.
Comments can be sent to imlisanenjamir@gmail.com
