Given below are quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. Bring out what they mean to you in the present context: (a) Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King Jr.

→ Being silent on important matters promote status-quo in society. Meaningful changes are prevented. Eg: silence around child marriage has perpetuated maternal mortality in the society.

→ Promote unlawful behaviour and action. Eg: silence on domestic violence in home creates a culture of gender-injustice. Later it is manifested through rapes and heinous crimes against women.

→ Causes moral disengagement with our own conscience. • Causes guilt when we do not speak where our morals are contradicting reality. • Dissonance and guilt lead to perpetual displeasure and an unhappy life. → Rights of the innocent are openly violated, the society becomes a chaos where Matsanyaya prevails, no law and order, no meaningful development. → Remaining silent about rights of animals and environmental degradation has created a living havoc, e.g. climate change, droughts.