Monday, January 26, 2009

Wish we could be better citizens………

It is republic day. The rhetoric of greetings in the form of scraps, messages and handshakes are in the air all around. It truly is time, for all us to introspect about our fundamental duties as citizen and how we have reduced the noble processes of our Constitution to the level of a carnival of cowardice, claptrap and chicanery.

A few days ago I was part of a discussion on radio about the reaction of public after the terrorist attack in Mumbai.
http://www.esnips.com/doc/f09fc8c5-6834-4bd3-a1b8-e7d87269a6a9/public-reaction-after-the-bombay-blasts

In this you can hear one of the anchors of the show and a young lady named Neelam who apparently had good knowledge of constitution pointing out how the constitution has failed us. The question that has been clouding my mind since then is finally forming into words on this republic day.

I ask myself whether the foundations of the Constitution are weak or it has been shaken by lack of sensitivity of our elite, the corruption of our politicians and the negligence of the common man.
I had an extra class this morning and the first question I asked the students was ‘how many of them had ever read the preamble of constitution.’? I wanted to probe their awareness about our fundamental duties but the usual ominous hush almost mocked me and I realized the stupidity of such question in what was supposed to be class of semiconductors physics. I am sure there could be a lovely discussion if I had questioned about the films that are released this Friday. This nonchalance of youth is worrying. In an Independent Sovereign Democratic Republic India, what I see that our thoughts and believes are limited to matinee idols, cricketers and of course the statues that we call Gods.

Well the preamble of the constitution talks about Justice, Liberty, Equality and fraternity.
Is it equality that a boy securing 90 percent cannot get the admission in decent college but an out and out second-rate student can have the privilege of best education just because he or she was fortunate to be born a so called Dalit? On the other hand, there are still villages in this country where dalits have to carry their foot-wear in their hands when they pass through the dusty roads of village where the upper caste Hindus live.

Is it justice that around 10 people lost their sight in neglectful eye operation camp in Pali and almost everyday we have people dying because of negligence of doctors? Was any doctor ever been convicted?

Liberty we have got but our attitude has not changed a bit, we are still slaves mentally. There is an enemy to be conquered and that enemy is WE. We have to change; we cannot afford to stand frozen on the escalator of mayhem and corruption in revulsion and apprehension.
The problems of the society cannot be solved by just having number of laws all we need are citizen who have respect for law, all we need are young people who have respect for their fellow citizens, all we need are teachers and parents who will consider making good and moral citizen rather than making a brigade of uneducated degree holders.
This poem of Gurudev Ravindra Nath  is my vision for this republic day….
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by Thee to ever-widening thought and action -
Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake.
Happy Republic day



6 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. problem still is the same who will come forward and lead ? people of strong opinions do not want to come to this trap of politics and politicians everywhere are same.A gentleman or lady has to stoop really low to be part of this political system.

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  3. You are so very right..this is a dilemma that WE Indians are faced with, and what is the solution? Unless WE, one person at a time is also good enough, change nothing is going to happen. My understanding is that we have a fine constitution and fine laws but our enforcement is very weak. How can we get credible enforcement of our laws. Educated citizens need to be less cynical - how can we acheive that?

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  4. @ Mr. Jp Joshi ,you are right, words of Ravindra Nath Tagore say it all
    "Let me light my lamp", says the star, "And never debate if it will help to remove the darkness”
    we the people only can change because India is what Indian swill make it....The day people start standing firm against kodas and Sorans ...things will change...
    Thanks for support

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  5. I would like to second the point raised by vinita! The political scenario has fallen too low and the able and serious leaders really find it difficult to join politics! Some days back a thought was cropping my mind - is it really possible for us to restrict the uneducated and ignorant citizens from entering into politics. I understand it is democracy and it is not sane to propose that. But then, doesn't democracy gives you equal opportunity to get yourself primary education? I understand there are ample obstacles involved. But education must be a mandate. At the same time personal responsiblity of citizens is paramount. However, the root cause of our plight lies on the current political system.

    http://shindeneeraj.blogspot.com

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  6. @ Neeraj. It is true that the present system needs a change but the fact remains that only when people of character enter into politics will clear the stink with fragrance of their character.
    If you are trying to suggest some kind of grades attached to vote then I am in total support .... how can be user be equal to giver........ They need to discriminate between assets and liability instead of beating the old trumpet of equality, where is the equality ????....but that won't suit our political masters ....truly a catch 22 situation....
    Thanks for visit and comment

    ReplyDelete

Your viewpoint will definitely give it wider perspective

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