United, we stand; divided, we fall
Dear Sir,
The inevitable has just happened — Britain has voted to leave the European Union (EU).
“If we remain united, we will be stronger; and if we are divided, we will fall” — this is what I used hear quite often from my grandfather when I was young.
Many of my teachers repeated the same advice to me and other students during our school days.
And these days, some of my senior colleagues say the same thing whenever the benefits of team work are discussed in the office.
But  Thursday’s verdict in the UK indicates that most Britons, though their majority is marginal, don’t subscribe to that view.
Thus a question arises: who is right and who is wrong? While some British leaders called the day the EU referendum was held “a sad” one, others saw it as “a day of independence” and of “victory”!
Irrespective of who is right or wrong, the British decision is final and its impact is already being felt — Prime Minister David Cameron has  announced his decision to step down; the first obvious casualty of the referendum.
Panic buttons have been pressed at many control panels.
Will the EU disintegrate? How far this change is going to affect the EU members is anybody’s guess and only time will tell.
Other nations may follow suit – Netherlands and France, to mention a few.
France is already gearing for an emergency meeting to discuss the future.
Then the bigger question: How far this particular decision is going to impact the world over? Would it have a far-reaching ripple effect? The answer is a big “yes”, at least from the initial reactions from many parts of the world immediately after the verdict.
Several stock markets showed significant dips. The UK’s pound value diminished by 10%. Oil prices declined after their recent recovery.
How do the other unions and economic groups like the GCC perceive this phenomenon? Eyes are on them.
As a well-wisher of humanity, I am, however, inclined to believe in the good old saying: United, we stand; divided, we fall.

Dr Mathan Ganapathi
mganapat2003@yahoo.com