Presentation:

Uniniversity of Sargodha

Department of English
Subject: Prose
Topic: True cost of War
Preseted by: Muhammad Sanwal Khan
Presented to: Sir Naveed Yousuf
 Welcome to My
First Presentation
What are the true cost of war in the view
of Ruskin’s essay?

The true cost of war extends far beyond the

financial expenditures associated with
military operations. It encompasses a wide
range of devastating consequences that
affect societies, economies, individuals, and
the environment. Here are some of the
major aspects of the true cost of war:
1. Human Lives:
The most profound and tragic cost of
war is the loss of human life. Both
military personnel and civilians suffer
casualties in armed conflicts, leading to
immeasurable grief and suffering for
families and communities.
2. Physical and Psychological
Injuries: War inflicts physical and
 psychological wounds on individuals
involved. Soldiers and civilians often
experience debilitating injuries,
including amputations, traumatic brain
injuries, and post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). These injuries can have
long-lasting effects, impacting
individuals' quality of life and requiring
extensive medical care.
3. Displacement and Refugees:
Armed conflicts force millions of people
to flee their homes, resulting in
displacement and refugee crises. These
individuals face the challenges of finding
shelter, food, and healthcare in
unfamiliar and often overcrowded
settings. Displacement disrupts
communities and can lead to long-term
social and economic instability.
4. Infrastructure Destruction: Warfare
destroys critical infrastructure such as
schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, and
utilities. Rebuilding these structures
takes considerable time, resources, and
investment, hindering post-war recovery
and development efforts.
5. Economic Impact: Wars drain
resources from economies, diverting
funds that could have been allocated to
education, healthcare, infrastructure, and
other essential services. Countries
engaged in war face decreased
productivity, higher debt burdens,
inflation, and increased poverty rates.
The long-term economic consequences
can be felt for generations.
6. Environmental Damage: War often
causes significant environmental
destruction. Infrastructure bombings,
 the use of chemical weapons, and the
disruption of ecosystems can lead to
contamination of land, water, and air.
The long-term impact on biodiversity,
ecosystems, and public health can be
severe.
7. Social and Cultural Disruption: War
tears apart the fabric of societies and
disrupts social cohesion. It can deepen
existing divisions, foster hatred and
prejudice, and create long-lasting
grievances that fuel future conflicts.
Cultural heritage, including historic sites,
artifacts, and traditions, may also be
irreparably damaged or lost.
8. Opportunity Cost: The resources
allocated to war efforts could have been
used for more constructive purposes,
such as education, healthcare, poverty
alleviation, and sustainable
 development. The opportunity cost of
war represents the missed potential for
progress and the squandered
opportunities to improve the well-being
of societies.
9. International Relations: Wars strain
diplomatic relationships between
nations and can have lasting geopolitical
consequences. The aftermath of conflicts
often involves complex peace-building
efforts, negotiations, and reconciliation
processes to establish stability and
prevent further violence.
10. Inter-generational Impact: The
effects of war can persist for
generations, passing down trauma,
social divisions, and economic
challenges to future populations.
Rebuilding trust, healing wounds, and
recovering from the long-term
 consequences of war require sustained
efforts over extended periods.
Conclusion: It is essential to recognize and
consider these multifaceted costs when
evaluating the implications of engaging in
armed conflict and to strive for peaceful
resolutions to conflicts whenever possible.

Thanks for your patience.