If one begins with the dictionary meaning of property’, it means, “anything that is proper to any person”. But the gravamen (= that which causes grief) of the definition is the term ‘proper’. It entails hundreds of court-cases, disputes and murders, and what not, to justify ‘proper’!
The term is applied. to so many contents: landed or household property; intellectual property and ‘property’ as applied in science signifying ‘quality’, like the property of matter.
In essence it is a dignified concept, as it implies a kind of ownership that is self-earned. It signifies labour, sacrifice and integrity of character. But the crux (= the point that raise the question or the problem) lies in the fact that it is transferable or a thing that can be inherited.
When we had a closed society or community life, men lived under decent norms. Community values were respected by the family units, and the interests of the family were protected by the community. Naturally properties were handed down to their rightful owners. The gram panchayats were honestly representative and saw to it that a property was not a dice (= a gambling object) in the hands of frauds.
But today that cohesion (= quality of living together) is lost. Society has lost its quality of mutuality. Life has become a far-flung thing and the ratio between the individual and his has become topsy-turvy (= upside down). Formerly ‘property’ played second fiddle to the interest of an individual or of the society. Very seldom it interposed itself in human relationships.
Today, property has become a ladder for promotion of prospects. Naturally, whenever some property goes abegging, there is no dearth of claimants. In the scramble (= unlawful struggle) the well-meaning, peace loving rightful owners are often pushed into the margin in the fray almost in nine cases out of ten. Examples are not far to seek: the property of the Birlas still remains a bone of contention (= target of rival claimants).
Today it is extremely difficult to restore right ownership. And, over and above all these problems inherent in the situation. there is a third party that invariably plays the devil. It is the press and the media. Its prime objective is commercial gain. As such the more turbid (= soiled) the water, the more the sale, for readers in general, especially in India, hanker after sensational stuff.
Therefore, property today, is like a sweet-poison. It kills where it rempts.
