The saying All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, meaning that without time off from work, a person becomes both bored and boring. The exact origins of the phrase remain unclear. It appeared first in a book of proverbs in English and other European languages published in 1659. Later, some writers are learnt to have added a second part to the proverb with the line All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy. This phrase is attributed to the Irish Writer Maria Edgeworth (1768-1849). The proverb's personification Jack may be a dull boy or a mere inept character portrayed as toy prompts one to embark on a fascinating discussion on India's workforce in various fields of the country's economy, not necessarily in lighter vein, and more importantly not meaning to cast aspersions on any in their tribe. In the parlance of lay sections of the literati, the terms work and working hours convey the impression that they are directly proportional although their inverse relation or even lack of any relation cannot be ignored in some sectors, particularly the government departments.
In the backdrop of the ongoing slowdown of the nation's economy resulting in laying off on a large scale in the industry sector, raising both the rate and numbers of unemployment, particularly those with proven skills, the clarion call by the country's leadership to the youth to work hard amounts to adding insult to injury.
