RAWALPINDI, Feb 2: Despite the large-scale discoveries, explorations, marvellous achievements and awesome advances, human beings are thirsting for peace, have been afflicted with frustration and are at war with each other.

This was the gist of views expressed by students at an inter- collegiate declamation contest, titled "Our age is the age of anxiety", held at the Government Postgraduate College for Women, Satellite Town on Wednesday.

Those supporting the topic said people faced anxiety and tension as a results of various factors and were compelled to use tranquillisers to get relief. Although science and technology has progressed but it has failed to bring peace of mind.

The invention of modern weaponry and machinery has only led to conflicts, wars, terrorism and crimes, they observed. Those speaking against the subject contended that this was not the age of anxiety but of inventions and advancement.

The man who lived in caves and had to hunt for food has harnessed the skies and the seas. Similarly, many diseases whose names were not known to the man were successfully treated today.

Sadaf Irshad from the FG College F-7/2, who also won the first prize, opposed the topic and said this was the age of maturity, advancement and wisdom - not that of anxiety.

"We are living in the best of times. This is not the age when Alexander the Great had to die for want of salt, or even Mohammad Ali Jinnah had to die of tuberculosis," she added.

"This is the age of medical wonders where we can analyse the genes and study the DNA, and where transplant of heart and liver or eye is a daily phenomenon. Today, anxiety itself can be treated in a much better way," she explained.

Sumaira Shaukat while speaking against the move said: "Hopelessness is a sin. It is not the age of anxiety but of security, freedom development and progress. Only those are anxious who lack commitment, courage and perseverance. But life is not the bed of roses, it is the name of continuous struggle," she quoted a philosopher.

Zahra of the host college also argued against the topic and enumerated the new inventions in science, technology and computer. Things which man could not even dream of have come within his reach. Man who would not find anything to eat has now everything at his disposal. The whole universe is in his control, she said.